Looks like you are abusing the wagon.

So who helped you load and unload the block?

I think I'd get cans of paint and brush the paint on. Goes on thicker and may be cheaper.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb but electronic ignition and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.

Dylan,

I have a few questions. The first is what did you have the machine shop do to the block? In the past when I have taken a block to the machine shop I've had them "hot tank" it to remove all grease and paint along with boring, honing, refacing, and on a rare occasion welding. If the block was tanked, the freeze plugs should have been removed first... period. Did they just pressure wash it and do the machining?

As far as paint goes, I mask off all machined surfaces with green masking tape followed by a good coat of primer. That gets followed up with two or three coats of Duplicolor rattle can engine enamel. NOTE: If you use Duplicolor paint, NEVER take the car to the local car wash and use engine degreaser on it, the paint will come off entirely! Only use citrus based degreasers!

BTW, knock the freeze plugs out and flush the cooling jackets at a minimum, follow up with a fresh set of freeze plugs lined with JB Weld.

jorrell
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92 245 287K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Actually I kind of like your patina, but if you must, I used the off the shelf duplicolor engine enamel in the rattle can and it seems to hold up OK. Easy to use and dries fast. The only down side, it takes three or four coats with the red orange to get good coverage.