Painting Outdrive

[Mahoney]

I have an old OMC sterndrive I have off the boat to replace water pump and seals and was thinking as long as I have it off I could refinish it. It is really old looking rough white paint on it, looking as if it was just repainted and never sanded down in all its years. It it worth it? Will I run the risk of damaging something, original metal coating etc?<br /><br />If I do go ahead with it, what are the best steps?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Painting Outdrive

After you clean it up use an etching zinc chromate primer, then a good durable polyurethane over the top.<br /><br />Here's a Merc article on the subject. OMC would be no different. Look a lot sharper when you're done.<br /><br /> http://mercstuff.com/painting.htm

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Painting Outdrive

This outdrive is VERY pitted all over, nothing really to bare metal but to a point that immediately made me think of using a drill and wire wheel attachemtnt to grind all the old paint and everything down. Is this acceptable as a beginning step or will this cause problems?