Engine paint job

[Sten]

Just sharing a couple of before/after pics of the GSX motor before it goes back into the frame this weekend.

This was taken in November last year; the bottom end wasn't too bad but check out that cam cover - what a mess eh. It's a common problem on these bikes; seen a few on Eblag that have had just the top ends resprayed.

After a few hours graft with a rotary wire brush and some scotch-brite pads; followed by a good degrease with some isopropyl alcohol I had kicking around. That blue 3M tape you see blanking off the ports e.t.c. is the dogs bollocks; even the wire brush barely scuffed it and as it's waterproof, it stood up to the degreasing - highly recommended. Cut a piece of thin plastic sheet to shape and stuck it over the gigantic alternator hole with some silicone sealer.

Et voila!, one 1998 GSX motor looking a whole lot better than it did before. My only minor gripe concerns the front of the crankcases where if you look real close, you can see what appears to be tiny white spots; this is spatter from the casting process that wasn't cleaned-up at the factory - tut, tut. Wish I'd noticed this beforehand but nevermind; it'll at least do me until the bigger engine  Wraith suggested comes along

Oh and the paint is PJ1; chosen mainly because the engine paint I normally use is only available in gloss black and I wanted some colour contrast between the engine and the bike's (gloss black) bodywork - the PJ1 is more of a satin charcoal grey and not a million miles from the original.

Cheers folks

[Swiss Toni]

What a difference! Good job! 

[wraith]

Looks good 

[Lachie04]

Like a bought one but better

That's some serious oxidation well done

 

[Sten]

2 hours ago, Swiss Toni said:

What a difference! Good job! 

 

1 hour ago, wraith said:

Looks good 

Two OSS thumbs-ups; that'll do for me!, thanks fellas.

Should be lots of fun wrestling this into the frame tomorrow, the removable cradle should help though. After getting all the mounting bolts torqued up, the new exhaust studs will go in.

Next week I'll be dropping the front end (again) as it was only fitted to move the bike out of the way during painting. Got the legs rechromed recently by Dynasurf who did a bloody good job; rebuilt the forks with fresh seals, upper bushes and decent oil. The previous owner had an advisory for steering head bearings on the last MOT so I've bought some SKF taper rollers to replace the genuine jobbies.

Can't wait to get the front end back in cos' then things will really start coming together

 

[Sten]

26 minutes ago, Lachie04 said:

Like a bought one but better

That's some serious oxidation well done

 

Thanks mate, that comment makes all the graft worthwhile

Too right about the corrosion; I've seen better engine paint on 34 yr old slabbies

[IceKat]

Great result  

[Sten]

3 hours ago, IceKat said:

Great result  

Thanks fella, always good to get to this stage of a build with the motor painted. Not easy getting the lump into the frame on me own though; I now have more blisters than a schoolboy with a free subscription to pornhub lol

[Bigdez33]

Hi @Sten, sorry to be a pain mate but could you send a link to that colour of paint please I cant find it.

 

thanks 

Dez.

[Wagola]

@Bigdez33this one I think  www.mandp.co.uk/products/pj1-satin-black-engine-and-case-paint-400ml-522877

[Bigdez33]

18 minutes ago, Wagola said:

@Bigdez33this one I think  www.mandp.co.uk/products/pj1-satin-black-engine-and-case-paint-400ml-522877

The one @Stenused is silver is it not? I found the black one but can’t find the dark silver one mate, cheers. 

[Bigdez33]

Got the same issue on this lump and it needs a refresh. 

[Upshotknothole]

4 hours ago, Bigdez33 said:

Hi @Sten, sorry to be a pain mate but could you send a link to that colour of paint please I cant find it.

 

thanks 

Dez.

Unfortunately they haven't been on the site in almost 5 years so I don't think they're gonna be of much help.

[Wagola]

On 3/27/2020 at 7:56 PM, Sten said:

Just sharing a couple of before/after pics of the GSX motor before it goes back into the frame this weekend.

This was taken in November last year; the bottom end wasn't too bad but check out that cam cover - what a mess eh. It's a common problem on these bikes; seen a few on Eblag that have had just the top ends resprayed.

After a few hours graft with a rotary wire brush and some scotch-brite pads; followed by a good degrease with some isopropyl alcohol I had kicking around. That blue 3M tape you see blanking off the ports e.t.c. is the dogs bollocks; even the wire brush barely scuffed it and as it's waterproof, it stood up to the degreasing - highly recommended. Cut a piece of thin plastic sheet to shape and stuck it over the gigantic alternator hole with some silicone sealer.

Et voila!, one 1998 GSX motor looking a whole lot better than it did before. My only minor gripe concerns the front of the crankcases where if you look real close, you can see what appears to be tiny white spots; this is spatter from the casting process that wasn't cleaned-up at the factory - tut, tut. Wish I'd noticed this beforehand but nevermind; it'll at least do me until the bigger engine  Wraith suggested comes along

Oh and the paint is PJ1; chosen mainly because the engine paint I normally use is only available in gloss black and I wanted some colour contrast between the engine and the bike's (gloss black) bodywork - the PJ1 is more of a satin charcoal grey and not a million miles from the original.

Cheers folks

According to the original post the colour finish is 'satin charcoal grey' not quite silver. But not black either !

[TraxX]

didnt want to open an extra topic for this ...

has anyone of you sandblasted an assembled engine ? I mean if you seal everything proper why should there be a problem? Take out the cams, close everything with bolts, Plugs and play dough.

 

btw always painted my engines with either VHT Engine Enamel or just plain 2k paint. Always came out allright  but would prefer a 2k, as its more resistant to fuel.

[Bigdez33]

16 hours ago, TraxX said:

didnt want to open an extra topic for this ...

has anyone of you sandblasted an assembled engine ? I mean if you seal everything proper why should there be a problem? Take out the cams, close everything with bolts, Plugs and play dough.

 

btw always painted my engines with either VHT Engine Enamel or just plain 2k paint. Always came out allright  but would prefer a 2k, as its more resistant to fuel.

Hi mate, I have been asking around the central belt for a while now and the companies I have asked all said no, the reason they say and quite rightly is they won’t take the risk as they say the blasting media will get in the engine somewhere. That said my mate got his Vapour Blasted but the garage doesn’t do it anymore so it’s wire brush action for me! And I still can’t fine the charcoal satin paint in the picture above!?!?!