Fuel Distributor Cleaning Help

[NeedSpace]

I removed my fuel distributor from my 2.7 as it is a little rusty. I want to clean it up and repaint it. Any suggestions before I screw up this rather expensive part? My plan-o-action was carefully fully tape all the holes, wire brush it, then paint with rustoleum. Any concerns or things to look out for? Thanks for all your help. Hoping to bang this out over christmas.

[timmy2]

I'd recommend picking up some plastic pipe plugs and caps that will seal off all possible points of entry for the rust flakes and dirt.
You don't want to chance getting any of that in there.
Grainger or McMaster Carr should have them. Very handy to have for plugging oil lines too!

[T77911S]

yes, as above.
you may be able find regular bolts to just bolt into the fuel line holes.

be careful with the plunger. make sure it does not fall out. (might be a good time to just pullit out and inspect it.

i hope the inside does not look anything like that.

[bfunke]

Did that thing come off a running engine? I wonder what the inside looks like?

[E Sully]

You can pick up some short metric bolts at the hardware store, Home Depot, Lowes. I used the bolts to protect the threaded passages and taped off all the hose nipples, piston end, and id plate.
I wire brushed mine and then used Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer. After it dried I painted it with black Appliance Epoxy paint.

[NeedSpace]

Yes, it came off a running engine. The inside looks fine and the piston moves freely, I don't think there is an issue there but thanks for the recommendation.

Ed, PERFECT, I'll head out today and pick up the rust reformer. Is that just the rustoleum version of POR? You did a great job on it. I'll pick up a couple of bolts as well. Hopefully my "after" shot will look as nice as yours.

[T77911S]

get ospho or something like it. advance sells it. its a green liquid.
put that on first, let it eat the rust, then put the stuff on above.

the ospho is an acid that eats the rust. let it sit for a day or 2, then brush it off.

[E Sully]

Mine looked very similar to yours. The rust reformer worked very nicely. It is not like POR15. POR 15 is a top coat not a rust coverter. Rust Reformer converts the rust into a paintable finish, no ospho needed. If you put on 2 coats of the Rust Reformer it states no painting is needed. It actualy looked great with just the 2 coats, but the picture is after I top coated it with the Epoxy Appliance paint. You have to wait 3 days for the rust reformer to set, then spray it. Never hurts to have a backup distributor either.

[NeedSpace]

Done! Sully, you were right, that rust reformer stuff from Rustoleum worked VERY well. So well, that I think I am going to leave it simply with the 2 coats of the reformer as I cannot believe they paint will add that much more. Thanks for the recommendation!

Check out the results...

[timmy2]

Looks great. I think I saw that distributor in a picture you posted asking about a breather hose...I laughed when I read the "did that thing come off a running engine?" comment.
That rust reformer would work well on your brackets too.
Did you ever get that hose and air valve to line up?

[E Sully]

Glad I could help.

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Looks great. I think I saw that distributor in a picture you posted asking about a breather hose...I laughed when I read the "did that thing come off a running engine?" comment.
That rust reformer would work well on your brackets too.
Did you ever get that hose and air valve to line up?

Actually, it was your comment that prompted getting this cleaned up! I haven't lined up the breather hose yet. I have straightened, cleaned up and painted the bracket. I am waiting on some new gaskets to put it together. I'll update once I get it together. Right now, I am working on cleaning the engine bay while the parts are in transit. Next out is the other CV joint for some cleanin'