Engine paint removal

Hey guys,anyone have a trick for removing engine paint without tearing it down? I have a low mileage engine that was painted black.Is there a safe chemical for this or is there a paint that is close to the aluminum color? The motor is out of the frame.

This was painted black, a combination of good paint stripper, scotchbrite, a dremel wirebrush, and elbow grease did the trick. Not gonna pretend it was quick or exciting to do but the results speak for themselves I think. 

I would pull the engine apart and vapour blast the parts.

Warren3200gt wrote:

This was painted black, a combination of good paint stripper, scotchbrite, a dremel wirebrush, and elbow grease did the trick. Not gonna pretend it was quick or exciting to do but the results speak for themselves I think. 

The time required to pull that off had to be extensive. We’re not worthy!!! 

I’ve had ok success with the two on the left. Will be trying the rustoleum next. Waiting for 2 sets of hand controls to come back from vapor balst. They are just blasting the inside to remove rust and corrosion. I’m going to chemically strip the outside to help preserve the letters.

 

That's a tall order.

If you're intent on stripping without disassembly, drive rubber stoppers, NOT wood corks, very firmly into intake & exhaust ports.  Junk spark plugs in the plug holes.  Do both regardless of method chosen.

Chemical - Aircraft Stripper.  Do it outside, wear hazmat gloves & eye pro.  Use a stand at working level, so you're not on hands & knees.  Take your time;  It's gonna take days, multiple brass toothbrushes, some Q-tips & flux brushes. And some cussin'.

If you can take it to a commercial surface prep operation, do soda blast.  It won't change the surface appearance of the bare aluminum significantly, but must be neutralized afterward.  Next best media would be crushed nut shell; takes longer $$.  Dry crushed glass will leave a more polished finish.  Sand blast will leave a very dull finish.

Honda used silver motor paint on some bikes, but we don't know anything about it.  Surface prep would be very critical.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Valve cover as purchased.


After. used Jasco premium paint & epoxy stripper from Lowes. not sure if the product is still available. It's been more than a few years. 
Then dremel w jeweler's brass wire wheels. needs more work. I didn't try polishing it w mothers or anything which might be all it needs.
It doesn't look anywhere near as good as the pic Mikaw posted. It was a lot of work.

I stripped my engine cases down and this stuff did an OK job  Citri Strip
It helps to wrap it up in something. I used a large trash bag and let it sit overnight. Then I took my pressure washer to it.
It took some time but did a decent job.
 

Looks good. No matter what you use it can be a messy job. Are you going to have it vapor blasted now?

ThatGPzGuy wrote:

I stripped my engine cases down and this stuff did an OK job  Citri Strip
 

Was that the OEM motor paint?

Good Ridfn'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Cra-z1 wrote:

Looks good. No matter what you use it can be a messy job. Are you going to have it vapor blasted now?

No. It's a GPz so it is getting the black treatment. 

slmjim+Z1BEBE wrote:

ThatGPzGuy wrote:

I stripped my engine cases down and this stuff did an OK job  Citri Strip

 

Was that the OEM motor paint?

Good Ridfn'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Yes, plus some additional engine paint over the years.