Some newbie tips?
 

I recently bought a '62 with a 292 2 bbl. Since winter is almost here, I am about to begin my engine touch up. This is my first real solo non deisel engine project. I have a few questions for you experienced guys.

This engine has quite a bit of old debris (grease, dirt) and paint. If I tear it down to main components (manifold, heads, block) and ball blast it, do I risk any unreparable damage?

After I clean it, I plan to high temp paint it. I am thinking silver or ford blue. Any suggestions?

Has anyone ever used exhaust manifold wraps?

I thank everyone in advance for helping out a newbie.

Stock color is gloss black block, heads and intake and old ford red on the valve covers. The air cleaner is semi gloss black. I would not recommend bead blasting as it gets everywhere. The Y will clean up with brushed and cleaner. Eastwood makes a really nice engine cleaning/paint kit with a high solids brush on paint. This paint works really well.

Do not wrap the y block manifold or crossover pipe. It needs to bleed off the BTUs. the Y has sodium filled exhaust valves and wrapping will keep the heat in on shutdown.

Garbz

Thanks for the info Garbz. I appreciate it. Feel free to post anything else that may help.

Ok....stripping paint off this engine is not going smoothly at all...

Anybody have any tips? DO I get a wire bit for a drill?

Just found the thread.
Congrats on buying the new piece.
Yeah what your doing is a bitch, there's no two ways around it.
Go have a beer when you get pissed.
I'm assuming you are leaving the engine in the truck to clean.
Yanking the exhaust will make it a little more accessible. Of course block the exhaust ports with rags or........
Wire wheels will help.
It's hard work but it will give more satisfaction to you and value to others when done.
It's worthwhile, keep after it.
Good luck.

I use wood chisles in various sizes to scrape alot of the real deep grease off followed by drill with various size wire wheels. Next spray down with oven cleaner and let sit for a good long while. If still not to your liking repeat the oven cleaner again. Final is wire brush loose paint and grease then paint.

This

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...0/100_0225.JPG

with some patience and elbow grease (not the same grease you will be cleaning off) will look like this

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...0/100_0278.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/100_0280.JPG

After this cleaning some engine paint leads to this.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/100_0454.JPG

Finally installed

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/102_0558.JPG

Again be patience and use alot of elbow grease. Rustoleum engine paints used for the engine block. Valve covers are just a gold standard rustoleum paint.

Good luck with your clean up. Post up some pics of how it turns out.

Marc and Vic,

Thanks for the pointers. I am trying to do it by leaving the block in but I am starting to feel that if I am going to do this right I am going to have to pull it.

Marc, There have been a few times already where I have had to walk away for a bit due to bruised feeling and knuckles (and a little blood).

Vic, were you able to pulled the motor cleanly by just removing the the left front fender? I dont have alot of room in my garage so I would have to do it efficiently. Did you use a primer before you painted it?

Thanks.

Adam

Adam
If you do pull it, be sure to watch out for one very important thing.
It's very important to have a plan in mind so that you don't succumb to the idea of "well as long as I did that I may as well do this too!". This can lead to disappointment and a pile of parts in your driveway.
What is your time frame? How much room do you have? How much money do you have? How important is it to drive?
I have made almost every mistake there is related to restoring.
Don't get discouraged whatever you do. Hanging out on FTE is very helpful with that.
Have fun!!!!!!!!
And take some pictures and post them like Vic did. We all love that.

Adam I did not prime the motor before paint. I dont know of a hiheat primer. The front clip was completely off of the truck. I do believe it could be done with the motor still in the truck but it would be a tuffer job motor in truck. Also this was an engine I had on a stand and it was summer time. I did the cleaning in my driveway in warm weather. I dont think I would attempt this outside in colder winter weather. I agree have a plan if and when you do this. If pulling the motor I would take the time to clean front frame as it would all be exposed at that time. If you remove the front clip to do this I would stick to just the areas easy to clean an then reassemble. Is this a driver or complete restore? You will have to make those choises. Frustration does set in when I think things are not moving fast enough. Sometimes I have to step back get a beer or cup of coffee and take a think about this realize its a hobby not a job and then go from there. If you check my build down in the projects forum you will see what I started with and see my plan for this truck. Suffice to say it is a project driver with a little overkill as turbohunter says dont get carried away. I did a few times. ;):-X22

Block color
 

Check out this fellows page. He has all kind of good info about your y block

http://www.y-block.info/enginecolor.html

Thanks. I just got back from vacation and am ready for some greasey dirt.

In case you haven't found it yet here is a great site for Y block info.
John helped me a great deal in my rebuild. I highly recommend him and his stuff.
FORD Y

I already had it bookmarked. I will definately be ordering from him.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=106865

Sorry it took so long to get a picture up, I have been to busy driving it.