First off I'd like to thank both Dirtcrasher and El Camexican for the help and correspondence on this project. Im definitely using ideas from you guys to try and make this thing work out.
As some of you may know, I'm in the middle of rebuilding and frame off restoring my '84 200M. Part of that process was tearing the motor down, blasting the cases, and rebuilding it. I decided to paint the motor once it was all assembled, instead of when I had the cases bare.
I scuffed the cases with scotchbrite, wiped with acetone on a microfibre cloth, and then lightly used a tack cloth to make sure I got all the particles. Paint used was VHT engine enamel for the silver, and PJ1 fast black for the black side cases. No primer.
When I painted it, the day kinda turned out wrong and it started spitting rain. I dont remember the exact temperature but it was probably at least 70 or so. Anyway, I got it all painted up, then decided to coat it again. The can said to apply all coats within 1 hr or after 7 days. I applied maybe 3 coats (1 can) within that hour. Then used a heat gun to cure the paint while it was drying, as suggested on the can (can actually says 1 hr @ 200 degrees)
I ended up getting a 2nd can of paint to touch up a few spots. Before applying the 2nd round about a week later, I scuffed lightly with gray scotchbrite and used an air compressor to blow off any debris. I actually had a spot or 2 that the mere blowing with the air compressor flaked off some of the paint. I blew off all I could, then sanded, wiped off and made sure no more was loose. Then applied the next coat.
Then I waited till a week later, used blue painters tape and masked off the engine so I could paint the left side covers black. Painted it with PJ1, waited 2 days like the PJ1 can said. Then I removed the tape, and the problems started. Paint started peeling from both the VHT and the PJ1. If I brush it with a wire brush the paint is tough, and won't come off. But if I get underneath it, it will peel up like an orange. So I get to scraping, and basically the whole motor will peel.
Really sucks cause I spent so much time trying to get it right and now the exact thing I was trying to avoid happened. But no use crying over spilt milk, gotta try and make the best of it.
I considered tearing down and powder coating or Cerakoting. But looks like that will cost $4-500 along with tearing the whole thing back apart, which I don't care to do. I could tear down and repaint, but then again, I gotta rip it apart and that won't be fun.
I'm going to try and strip and repaint it as-is, I can't be the first to have this happen.
So, I'm looking for options and opinions on not only what I might use to strip the motor as-is, and also what steps I should take to avoid these issues next time. Any ideas are helpful!
Attached a few pics....