Prep for painting engine braces?

[Deezul_AwT]

I am going to paint my engine braces and the STB. I got some junkyard braces that have a bit of rust and oil on them. The oil I know I can take off with some brake cleaner and some good wiping. Should I use steel wool or just sand paper to clean the rust up and prep the braces for painting? I know I'll need to put a few coats on so it's got a good shine.

 

[GR8racingfool]

Prep work makes the paint job.

If you want to do it correctly the first time, have them sand blasted. That will remove everything, rust, oil, and loose paint off them. Then primer, paint, and clear coat for protection of the paint job.

If you want to do it the low cost way, sand-sand-sand with sand paper. If you hit bare metal you must for sure prime them before you paint them, and do not touch the bare metal with your naked hand. Oil from your skin will cause the primer or paint not to stick. If you do touch, degrease the area well, with some sort of liquid prep. such as lacquer thinner as it wont leave a film behind like brake cleaner. Brake cleaner is for cleaning brakes, not prepping for a paint job.

Have any questions, feel free to ask away. And take some pictures and show off what you have done when finished.

~F~

 

[Egleone6]

I am thinking of doing the same thing. I saw a couple of posts. I am not going to paint the heat shield or the Fuse box, YET!!. Can I just use Krylon? Or do I have to use extreme heat paint? Is there a special or preferred paint to use?

Last question, could I just send them to an autobody shop and have them spray it?

Ok, last question, I have a bright red paint on the outside, what color would look GREAT, just paint it the same red, or a different color?

 

[Egleone6]

Here is my Engine Bay as of now. Can you get a new black fire/hood thingy? Is it worth it? Can you fix it up a little?

Also, is there anyway to fix up the front plastic pieces in front of the radiator?

 

[whitcomb]

wether you sand blast them or sand them by hand u should take down to the metal as much as possible, as farns stated itd be best to sand blast them, and when you do so use a self etch primer, its ment for metal....