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Have a 93 sporty that previous owner painted the engine black. Appears to be more than a few coats on the engine. Some paint had fallen off so I took the heat gun and removed a little more to expose the aluminum on the cam cover and it looked nice. Not sure if it left the factory naked aluminum or with a coat of paint on the side covers.
What products are out there that would remove the paint and be kind to the aluminum?
If you're gonna polish the aluminum or even go for a mill finish then you'll be flapping then buffing, so.... I would just go ahead and do your damndest then polish away. If it is chrome underneath and you wanna keep it then disregard.
When new it's polished covers, if not chromed, will have been clear coated. It doesn't take all that long for the coating to start bubbling and the covers lose their appearance, which is probably why a PO painted the engine.
I've used aircraft stripper with great success. Takes the paint off and doesn't affect the base metal. It's available at most auto parts and hardware stores and is made by several different manufacturers. Available in aerosol or liquid. Then the buffing begins.
Go to the local home improvement center or hardware store and get a pint of paint remover/stripper. Brush it on, let it stand for a while and hit it with a hose.
Use scotch brite pad to get the stubborn spots.
This is the same chemical that is sold in aerosol cans as gasket remover (at a much higher price).
The stuff is nasty, wear proper gloves and eye protection.
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