Block Painting

[E30-TourZing]

Hello friends!

As you would/should with a freshly built M20... I would like to paint my block. My machine shop said to paint the block before getting them to bore/deck. Figuring that I just put some good amount of time making it look good, I found it kind of odd for him to say that. I figured new paint would likely get marked up pretty good with their jigs, and I don't want to do the same job over.

Should I paint the block before bringing it over? Or should I go against the mans word and just paint it once I receive the fresh work?

Thank you all!



P1012498 by Jan Willem Wilderom, on Flickr

[digger]

Most people just carefully mask it and paint over at the end. You know about the intermediate bearings ?

[E30-TourZing]

Most people just carefully mask it and paint over at the end. You know about the intermediate bearings ?

I figure I would do that too. Did you install your freeze plugs? or did you get the machine shop to do it? Also, any tips for plug removal?

I have heard about them. I assume I need to get the shop to size them up and replace them? I heard a rumour they were a challenging size to replace.

Thanks again for your input digger.

[digger]

if they are good then i think the procedure is to leave the shaft in when cleaning the block and not to use any really aggresisve cleaning agents.

if they need replacing then there is some info here

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/for...t-bearing-wear

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...hing-questions

welsh plugs the machine shop did mine and they said to use genuine parts not cheap aftermarket which were poor quality

[JehTehsus]

I just masked off the raw block after getting it back from the machine shop. Zipped over the two sides with a wire brush to clean off some rust then threw on some engine enamel... looks great (IMO)for the amount of effort involved.

Note: don't leave the tape on too long (like overnight) on your gasket surfaces, I ended up with a few tiny rust spots on the head gasket surface. Masking tape pushed off the oil in some spots.

I can't figure out photo sharing with the forum from my phone, but I do have some pictures if you're interested.

[ForcedFirebird]

I paint them last using a high quality enamel. Definitely have them inspect the intermediate bearings. If you have to remove them, then the block can get a chemical bath that will strip the whole thing to bare metal.

To get the plugs out I use a small punch to turn them in the bore and locking pliers to yank on them. Going in, I use a socket almost the same size as the plug with a little green thread locker on them (which only started doing in recent years for some reason, been installing them dry since the 90's).