Hippy's Not Quite an Engine Rebuild Thread

[Hippie]

I've rebuilt three T1 and one T4 engine in the past, and I ain't got the time or desire to do it again right now.
This time, for better or worse, I've ordered a long block from VW Off-Road Motors/Headflow Masters. Adrian there says it should be crated by tomorrow but says he forgot to tell me when I ordered that he needs to ship it to a business address. I can't do that, so I hope there are no delays.

But anyway, I though I'd start this little thread and post some pictures later on.

The Bus has been sitting since last September or October....I don't even remember now...sitting with all the tin and other anciliary engine stuff inside it in the far end my driveway. I'm sure the old battery is toast from being mostly discharged all winter. No biggy as it was pretty much an antique as batteries go. I have to replace the muffler and heater boxes because I'm not putting that rusty, holey junk on the new motor, and I have all that stuff including the clamp kits and gaskets. New damper and tailpipe and bracket, too.

So my question is what do you guys use to get the factory/storage primer off them? Last time I replaced exhaust stuff with new, I left the primer on and discovered it was not high-temp primer like it should have been, and the exhasust paint I put on over it peeled off almost as soon as it got up to running temperature for the first time.
This time I want bare metal to start with. I used "aircraft" spray-on paint stripper with modest results. Two applications and still scrubbing it with a Chore Boy under running water with nitrile gloves on. I want something that just rolls it off. I'm not into hours of scrubbing in the hot sun. I may be able to get the last of the paint with laquer thinner and a wire brush. Anything stronger out there?

[hambone]

I used oven cleaner to strip the paint and laboriously painted the parts with hitemp, which is delightfully rusty patina now. Must be the Oregon. Not sure if I'd do it again, it was a lot of work for nothing.

[mross]

I recently went through my engine and exhaust. The thing that worked best for removing paint and surface rust was a knotted cup brush on an angle grinder. Takes the paint and stuff right off (412 muffler to bare metal from factory paint and surface rust in 10 minutes!). Wear goggles, sturdy gloves, and hearing protection when you use it though. Also, don't use the cup brush on anything threaded (bolts, studs), as it will damage the threads, and never let it touch your skin or clothing (potential for serious injury).

[ruckman101]

Left the primer on, coated with hi-temp rattle can that Paige had left over. Only been on there a couple hundred miles, so don't now how it is going to wear yet. How's Miss Zora's holding up?

[Hippie]

My primer gotta come off. Got most of it. Prolly go at the corners with an angle grinder/cup brush like suggested.
Nothing is easy, huh? Well thanks y'all. I suppose the strippers they sell are pretty lawyered down by now to protect us Darwins.
I wish someone wouls sell me some old-timey stripper from the days of responsibility...I promise to wear a crash helmet when spraying it.

[vdubyah73]

they have to ship to a business for the truckers. it might be delivered by a 53' trailer on a long wheelbase tractor with a sleeper like a motorhome. they don't like residential streets at all. what with cul-de-sacs, tree limbs, or heavens forbid a new england historic district with paved cowpaths. do you frequent a particular lumberyard or any business that uses forklifts. someone will do it for you for a little scratch. I had mine delivered to a regional transfer station, trash trucked in by the ton and hauled out by train, they unloaded it from the truck with a monster front end loader. i needed one guy to help lift it into the trunk of my ole merc. then i got home, had to wait for the pop warner football players to to show up, this was a long block type 1.

[Randy in Maine]

I have had stuff delivered to the local lumber yard (where I have spent thousands of dollars for stuff) and just picked it up there. Other options are work (we have a loading dock and a fork lift), school, local auto repair shop, etc.

Semi trucks are a nightmare down here at the beach. Narrow little streets with trees limbs in the way.

[Hippie]

Thanks guys, but they roll down my street and get stuck at the 90 degree turn all the time...they just roll over and crush the storm drain at the corner and the city rebuilds it every few years. LOL.
Adrian said they'd drop it here. I could maybe find a garage nearby, but haven't had time to talk to anyone.

Rob

[Sylvester]

My primer gotta come off. Got most of it. Prolly go at the corners with an angle grinder/cup brush like suggested.
Nothing is easy, huh? Well thanks y'all. I suppose the strippers they sell are pretty lawyered down by now to protect us Darwins.
I wish someone wouls sell me some old-timey stripper from the days of responsibility...I promise to wear a crash helmet when spraying it.

Strip Eze is what I used before. Anyplace that sells paint ought to have it, Ace hardware and such. I intend to use it on my Bus nose and bumpers soon.

[Hippie]

That's what I have.
I finished the remnant today with a Scothchbrite pad and laquer thinner. Took a couple hours.
I need some more VHT paint now. Then start baking. I hope that stripper works better on the tin.

[Sylvester]

That's what I have.
I finished the remnant today with a Scothchbrite pad and laquer thinner. Took a couple hours.
I need some more VHT paint now. Then start baking. I hope that stripper works better on the tin.

So it sucks? Crap I was going to try the thick enamel on the bumpers with that, not now.

[chachi]

...

[Hippie]

Ya Sly, it sucks on muffler primer anyway. Can't speak for bumper paint. Still better than sanding.
Let me text a buddy of mine that uses this stuff. He gave me a brand name a while ago and strip-eze wasn't it.
Said it rolls the paint off before you even hit it with the water. I'll get back to you. I want to get that brand myself...whatever it was.

[Hippie]

chachi, I thought about soda, but too messy for where I have to work. Thanks tho.

[Hippie]

It's alive.