Engine Assembly: Paint And Core Plugs

Time to give the block a small facelift. Before paint I noticed that there was some loose rust and dirt still on the block so I cleaned it with a wire brush. This naturally created a lot of dust that found its way everywhere and would have to be cleaned later. I did not install the core plugs before paint so cleaning would be easier.

Next I masked all the gasket surfaces with some tape and started brushing. I was rewarded with a pretty nice looking block but some metal was still showing through. After letting the paint to dry for 24 hours, I applied another layer and let it dry again. Then I removed the tapes and cleaned the edges.

After paint I poured some water through the coolant passages to get the dirt out. Then I could install the core plugs. I applied some Hylomar sealant to both surfaces and let it dry for few minutes. By placing a suitable sized socket on the plug, it was easy to hammer them in. I will add some pain on the plugs later.