Repaint motor

[The Old Mud]

I have an old 1978 mercury 9.8 motor and the hood has seen better days. The motor runs like a champ but it looks like ****. Can I repaint the hood? Has anyone tried this? Looking for a good excuse for some garage time.

Thanks

the old mud

[drbrand]

If the hood is fiberglass, scuff it up completely with a scotchbrite pad or 400-600 grit wet sandpaper. Then paint. If you paint the lower end, you need a good aluminum epoxy primer prior to painting or the paint will blow off with your first trip to the lake.

[Phil T]

My kicker is a year older than yours. Go to your Merc dealer, talk to the service department. You'll need a primer, probably chromate (poisoness) and the black paint.

[rebs]

My kicker is a year older than yours. Go to your Merc dealer, talk to the service department. You'll need a primer, probably chromate (poisoness) and the black paint.

why do you need a special primer ? The motor has paint on it already, why couldn't you just sand it and paint it ? You would be painting on the old paint which has been sanded.

[drbrand]

You would only need primer if there was bare aluminum showing. It sounds like he just wants to paint the shroud, which I'm betting is fiberglass.