painting the engine

While replacing the valve cover I noticed that the stuff I used to loosen the bolts got on the rubber boots to the engine. Well they looked like they were melting! So I sprayed the bolts to take them off and ended up breaking 4 out of 8! Fun Fun! I have ordered kroil and plan on using that and a reverse drill bit to take care of the bolts. Since I have the carbs off I was thinking about painting the engine. I've never painted a motorcycle before, so what kind of prep work will I need to do besides taping off and covering what I don't want painted?

Thanks!

 

Soda blasting is the way to go, time consuming but does no damage to the alloy below, and washes away with a little water, leaving a next to perfect surface for painting
Obviously make sure everything is well sealed up before

 

I have painted a couple of engines and I usually go the cheap way. I clean it up using a good quality degreaser with various brushes and use rags or pieces of rags to cover all holes into the engine. I then tape off anything I don't want painted using blue painters tape. Then I use the 500 degree paint sold at Autozone. Any chips and I just cut a small hole in paper and put that over the chip to mask from pant overspray. Cheap but it usually turns out good for my useage. I might only ride 1K a year.