I'm curious whats involved with this, it seems I have seen some pictures of painters just painting right over the old paint.

Is it ok to paint without prep like that? What do I need to apply; just primer and paint or some kind of clear coat also?

I still have all my components and wires attached to the walls, so I don't know how I am going to do this. If I recall correctly, you need all new clips for the wires when you remove them. The only prep tool I have is 220 grit sandpaper

I've painted the engine for the most part now, and now I have parts of the compartment walls with chips in the paint that kind of ruin the look of the engine

 

It is best to remove the wiring from the compartment, it unplugs at the firewall, and a full set of clips and grommets is pretty cheap, and your old ones likely need replacing anyway. They could all be replaced for under $20.

The rest is up to you. Nothing was installed when the blackout was painted, so such as the brake lines would be bare metal, master cylinder (coincidentally) semi-black, and the steering column was interior color, an important detail.

The entire compartment should be degreased, cleaned, and sanded. Prime with self-etching primer, and paint with something like Eastwood's engine compartment paint.

 

Ah I see; the wiring harness just straight unplugs from the firewall near the master cylinder? It looks like it has been undercoated around it.

I see those wiring clips come in sets of 15, and I counted there being 20 in my engine compartment... Is there a trick to removing them (maybe I could save 5 of them )? Edit: actually, I found a kit of 19

Will 220 grit work for the sanding? And by self-etching primer do you mean the stuff like Krylon Rust Tough Primer?

 

Yeah, Glazier's sells 'em that way, and they'll sell them one at a time, too.

The paint, more like this
http://www.eastwood.com/ew-self-etch...lack-1-qt.html

or this
http://www.eastwood.com/ew-self-etch...16-oz-net.html

 

Hmm ok, do you think I'd need 2 of the aerosol cans or 3? (im on a tight budget)

 

If you don't expose a lot of bare metal, 2 should do. If the whole thing is bare, you'll need 3.

 

unless you take the compartment down to bare metal do not use self etching primer, use an epoxy primer and then the top coat color of choice

 

Thank you 2+2GT

Does the wiring harness plug on the firewall just slip out or is there some kind of clip holding it? I don't want to keep pulling and break something

I was kind of wondering about that. However, I do have some rusty surface spots and a few chips in the paint which have exposed metal? I do not plan to take it to bare metal.

 

the acid in the etc will soak into old paint as well as any body filler you use etc, you can just feather out the chips with sand paper and for the small rust spots i recommend a spot blaster

 

take your wiring loose from the clips and just wrap it tightly up in a bundle and cover with aluminum foil. You'll be fine.

Use a good cleaner/degreaser like SOS pads, Simple Green or Castrol Super Clean, smooth out any rough spots with your 220 sandpaper, then use Rustoleum 7777. Two cans should do you.