best way to prep for paint?

i have my head and block apart and want to paint it.
i just wanted to know the best way to clean them. they are oxidized and dirty and i dont want to paint over it!
it there a way to clean it (glass bead blast)? any other ways?

Bead blasting is always gonna be the best surface prep for painting rough castings likes heads n' jugs.

Quicker you get to painting after the blasting/blowoff is done, the better the paint will stick - within hours if possible, less if it's humid. Raw aluminum will start to oxidize *immediately*.

Pterosaur wrote:

Bead blasting is always gonna be the best surface prep for painting rough castings likes heads n' jugs.

Quicker you get to painting after the blasting/blowoff is done, the better the paint will stick - within hours if possible, less if it's humid. Raw aluminum will start to oxidize *immediately*.

Steveo... Pterosaur is correct.. BBBBUUUUTTTT HHHHOOOOLLLLDDDD ON a sec...

De-Grease first.... from what I have found from getting ready to do the same thing is this.

Aluminum, as found on our KZ's, is soft and porous.

Bead blasting will not remove the grease and other undesirables that will F UP all your paint labor... it will look clean, but grind those yummy oils into the metal....

de-grease in a tank first then blast.. and then clean some more...

Don't bother painting if it's not clean...

Let us know what you are using for paint.. Please!!!