Questions about painting an engine

[The PIG Smith]

Here is a posting about me cleaning and painting my 360, getting it ready to swap in my J10.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=109765

Even though I have several closely related questions, I thought it best to start a new posting.

Paint Runs
Late last night, I went out to check on my engine (maybe to gloat a little) and I noticed I where I got careless and have a few runs in the paint.

What is recommended to remove these runs?
My first thoughts are to use some steel wool, sand the area smooth and repaint.

Accessories
Next, I was checking out at how well the engine was looking and then I glanced over at my next task: the Accessories.
I will be wasting my time to get the engine to look so good and then cover it up with all the nasty accessories.
The alternator, and power steering pump brackets will be easy to clean up and paint.
I am guessing the A/C compressor bracket should also be as easy as the other brackets.
The power steering pump will stay on the truck. (connected to the power steering gearbox)
It looks to be black...so maybe I will clean it some and spray some black paint on it.
The alternator looks to be natural aluminum.
With it loose on my workbench, I will take some orange degreaser on a scotchbright style pad and just clean it up.

Items that I dunno what do with
Not for sure what I am to do with the A/C Compressor.
It's really grimy and dirty.
It will be loose on my workbench as well.

The pulleys seems to be black..I might hit them up with a coat of black paint.
..or should I paint them AMC blue? or that rattle can chrome paint?

The Distributor housing is heavily oxidized and dirty.
What color should I paint this? AMC blue? Black? Leave natural aluminum?

The fan looks to be okay...I think I will clean it...maybe a real light coat of black (..or AMC Blue?)
..but the fan clutch is a heavily oxidized and dirty.
Any suggestions?

[ClovisMan]

Paint everything including the engine block black. It dissapates heat better and you will never notice the grim build-up as it will match the paint.

[tgreese]

Re the distributor housing, it should clean up fine with a wire wheel. If you have a grinder, mount the wheel in that. SHould work for the fan clutch and alternator too (don't get any broken-off wires in the alternator!)

[Fiodh. Argus]

the power steering bracket is cast aluminum on mine so I just scoured it and left it au-natural .Gives a nice look.

[Billygoat]

Use oven cleaner on the aluminum parts. I would clear coat the alum parts, I like the AMC blue with alum. looks, black is good to. Another option is to paint your accesories to match your body color.
Click my for sale link in my sig and you can see that on my CJ.

Also get a spray can handle/trigger thing, they make 1 heck of a difference in getting even coats.

I swear not to long ago I read on a thread that you can "cut" runs off with a razor blade, had a good description on how to do it too.

Wish I could make it to you WOT.

[ThisGuyUKnow]

I saw an electroplating kit on Eastwood for around 60 bucks i was thinking when I pull my engine in march of getting the kit and trying it on some of the brackets just for S & Gs.

[The PIG Smith]

Use oven cleaner on the aluminum parts. I would clear coat the alum parts, I like the AMC blue with alum. looks, black is good to.

Oven Cleaner sounds good.

Another option is to paint your accesories to match your body color.
Click my for sale link in my sig and you can see that on my CJ.

My body color is black

Also get a spray can handle/trigger thing, they make 1 heck of a difference in getting even coats.

YESS! I am sure the would eliminate the runs and my AMC Blue finger tip.

I swear not to long ago I read on a thread that you can "cut" runs off with a razor blade, had a good description on how to do it too.

I searched but was unable to locate that posting.
Do you recall what the next few steps were after cut the run off with a razor?
I am sure some sort of sanding is involved and is where I got my idea to use some steel wool.

Wish I could make it to you WOT.

I do, too
I want to think we will have a great time!

[The PIG Smith]

Re the distributor housing, it should clean up fine with a wire wheel. If you have a grinder, mount the wheel in that. SHould work for the fan clutch and alternator too (don't get any broken-off wires in the alternator!)

Any tips for getting the swirls marks out of the distributor housing from the wire wheel?
I'll be using a small wire wheel or a 2" scotchbright pad in my die grinder.

[Billygoat]

found it - I think this was the 1
post #16 - a lot of tips before that on removing runs too.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=108744&highlight=paint+runs

[The PIG Smith]

Thanx!!
This a fellow FSJ enthusiast and friend from Lima, OH.
I think he mentioned he was coming over for my WOT.

go along and take a razor blade to the runs. You wont get then with sanding you'll end up sanding all the paint except the run. Take a razor blade and hold it at about a 60-80 degree angle down then drag it down acoss the run. it should shave it down. Once you get the runs off. you can either now wetsand or make another coat depending on your paint type.