Started to prep the block today. Here's the block as I picked it up from the machine shop. Covered in 2 layers of protective plastic and parcel tape.
Basically, the below is the plan. These are all POR-15 products. The Marine Clean (green label) is an industrial strength degreaser, which needs to be diluted 1:1 and sprayed on, brushed in and then rinsed off. It's water soluble, so it's easy enough. Then the Prep and Ready (blue label), which is a rust converter and stabiliser. It's supposed to help the next coat adhere. Again, it's spray on, keep wet by more spraying for 30 mins, and then dry back off. The result is that you end up masking and taking off, masking and taking off.
Here's the block, upside-down with the bores and bottom end masked up ready for the spraying of the degreaser/prep.
Another view:
The block came with a base coat of satin black. I've been scrubbing at this to see if it will come off. It won't.
From the top. Again masked up like the gimp:
Unmasked from bottom:
Unmasked from top:
Down the bores shot:
Big aren't they?
Anyway that's it. The problem with water based products is that machined surfaces and water are not good. The surfaces rust just as soon as there's a hint of water. So this means all water needs to be wiped off, and then WD40 applied to keep the rust at bay. Trouble is then that you need to keep the WD40 off the recently degreased and prepped outside of the block, otherwise all that effort in prepping is wasted! Paint next weekend!
Basically, the below is the plan. These are all POR-15 products. The Marine Clean (green label) is an industrial strength degreaser, which needs to be diluted 1:1 and sprayed on, brushed in and then rinsed off. It's water soluble, so it's easy enough. Then the Prep and Ready (blue label), which is a rust converter and stabiliser. It's supposed to help the next coat adhere. Again, it's spray on, keep wet by more spraying for 30 mins, and then dry back off. The result is that you end up masking and taking off, masking and taking off.
Here's the block, upside-down with the bores and bottom end masked up ready for the spraying of the degreaser/prep.
Another view:
The block came with a base coat of satin black. I've been scrubbing at this to see if it will come off. It won't.
From the top. Again masked up like the gimp:
Unmasked from bottom:
Unmasked from top:
Down the bores shot:
Big aren't they?
Anyway that's it. The problem with water based products is that machined surfaces and water are not good. The surfaces rust just as soon as there's a hint of water. So this means all water needs to be wiped off, and then WD40 applied to keep the rust at bay. Trouble is then that you need to keep the WD40 off the recently degreased and prepped outside of the block, otherwise all that effort in prepping is wasted! Paint next weekend!
