Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

[QOH'S]

HELLO GUYS, Ijust bought a 1992 four winns and im super proud of it. the lower unit is looking a bit rough cosmetically speaking. I have attatched a photo and would love some suggestions on painting it to make it look better. THANKS!!!!!!

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[Chris1956]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Sand it smooth, prime any bare metal with Zinc Chromate primer and spray it with Matching paint or antifouling paint.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

90% of the work will be prep. use coarse sand paper depending on the crud buildup for a rough said. Sand it a couple more times with finer grit up to the recommended grit of the paint/primer system you'll use. Before you do any of these, wipe it really good with acetone to remove any oils. If you forget the acetone, say goodbye to all your hard work.

Good Luck. POst pictures before, during and after!

 

[QOH'S]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

thank you 2 so much!!! I will post before during and after photos ..starting tomorrow morning. 1more silly question tho. concerning the water jackets where you drain the water from the motor.

is it a good idea to leave them off during the winter and after you drain the water or should you always put them right back on ?

 

[turfman]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

I use a thing called an air wizzer. Basically a small angle grinder with scotch brites on it. you can get the set up for your drill ; look at any auto parts store and home depot has them.

Took me about an hr to do an entire outboard down to the metal.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

is it a good idea to leave them off during the winter and after you drain the water or should you always put them right back on ?

Wish I could help you there buddy, but I have yet to winterize my boat in South Florida. I'm sure and up north expert will chime in soon.

Welcome to Iboats!!!

Good Luck.

 

[w2much]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Just another 2 cents. I wish I could show the beautiful paint job on my motor. All of it except where I did not get all of the grease cleaned off at the lower unit drain plug. Make sure the surface is clean as Imannyr says.

 

[donnymac]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

thank you 2 so much!!! I will post before during and after photos ..starting tomorrow morning. 1more silly question tho. concerning the water jackets where you drain the water from the motor.

is it a good idea to leave them off during the winter and after you drain the water or should you always put them right back on ?

I do, cuz if I don't, I'll forget

 

[QOH'S]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

I do, cuz if I don't, I'll forget

YA I CONSIDERED THAT BUT THE GUY AT THE MARINE SHOP ALWAYS LEFT EM OUT AFTER WE TOOK THE BOAT OUT THIS WINTER FOR TEST RUNS THE LAST MONTH OR SO....

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

If you are talking about the little wing nut drain plugs, I leave them out. I put them on the top of the engine, by the thermostat housing so I can see them and reinstall them before I start the boat in the spring.

 

[borz170]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

There is one other thing you may want to do prior to priming. After I clean the lower unit with degreaser, sand all of the imperfections and completely rough up the whole unit. Wipe/blow awau all dust, then use a product called alumaprep. This contains a type of acid that eats away any imperfections in your lower that will cause paint/primer not to stick. Read the lable on the bottle for exact useage, it's been a while since I've used it. After that, use the zinc chromate primer. then use a marine primer. Use 3-4 coats of primer, allowing approx 30 minutes to dry between coats. Sand lightly with 220 or 320, then paint.

mike

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

While you are doing your lower unit paint recon might as well replace your zinc anodes. It's possible your unit has deteriorated because they weren't replaced when needed. And of course...don't paint over them...

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Good old spray oven cleaner will save you some steps. It'll take everything off back down to the bare metal and etch the surface in the process. I do this first, then sand lightly with light grit, clean with diluted vinegar and water, then rinse with water...do not touch or wipe with anything. Blow it dry and then paint with a self-etching zinc chromate primer. Know the open time of the primer...follow directions, then apply your color coat. Make sure the chemistry of the paints, primer/color/clear coat, are compatible...should preferably be the same brand and type.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

is it a good idea to leave them off during the winter and after you drain the water or should you always put them right back on ?

Bad idea. ..the cast iron will rust, and have a heck of a time getting them back in without re-tapping. I pull them, let it sit for a day or so, and back in. Use a little pipe dope too.

 

[QOH'S]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Bad idea. ..the cast iron will rust, and have a heck of a time getting them back in without re-tapping. I pull them, let it sit for a day or so, and back in. Use a little pipe dope too.

thanks for the answer. why use the pipe dope? isnt that gonna make it hard to get back off?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Bad idea. ..the cast iron will rust, and have a heck of a time getting them back in without re-tapping. I pull them, let it sit for a day or so, and back in. Use a little pipe dope too.

I won't swear to it, but I think all the drains all have either a brass or plastic fitting screwed into the iron, ( I know both my manifolds have plastic and the starboard side has a brass fitting for the knock sensor) so that's not an issue anymore. But even if my port side was a little rusty, wiping it out with a rag would allow you to screw the pastic drain plugs right back in.

 

[Coors]

Re: Painting A Rough Looking Lower Unit

Pipe dope is a sealer/ lube. It works.