Help with Removing Engine Paint

I'd try an aircraft paint remover. That should be safe for aluminum. I'd do it outside, and use a fan, to keep any explosive fumes too lean for an explosion

 

Most paint removers are MEK based, or MEK & Toluene. Both evaporates very quickly. A thin coat will dry completely in a couple of hours, thicker overnight.

I would expect that you'll be wiping it off so any residue would be extremely thin. Highly unlikely to burn after an hour, probably even after 15-20 minuites.

 

Probably not a good idea to use paint stripper as when you go to wash it off you may end up blowing droplets on painted surfaces and causing a big mess, its hard enough to use that stuff in an "easy to reach" area without trying to do the front bank cover. Take a day and remove the covers and have them media blasted. Alot of work but a job worth doing is worth doing right (and once) If your not up to going this route you probably should wait until next service as I can almost guarantee you will not be happy with the outcome. just my 2cts.

 

I agree, this IS the best way.

 

Ditto on the plenum - it's not that tough to remove. You'll be able to do a better job of cleaning these parts (and not risk "unintentionally stripping" other things), and it'll be more enjoyable, if you remove the parts and work on them on the bench.

 

you see all those little acorn nuts take em off and remove the cover

go to your local honda dealer and get a tube of honda bond.
order the replacment gaskets for the valve covers

 

Its a little more involved than that, you will need to unbolt the fuel management system and pull the lines up out of your way so you can remove the rear bank cover, be careful not to kink the plastic lines. I put my new gaskets on and used a fine bead of Hylomar sealant insted of Honda bond, had to go gack the next day and give each acorn nut a 1/4 turn, doesn't leak a drop. As far as removing the Plenum, the best advice I was given was to "loosen all the nuts and then slide a piece of construction paper between the plenum and the manifold, then take all the nuts off and remove the plenum, because there are round spacers than can drop into the manifold when you lift it off and this prevents that from happening" Do a search on the subjects and read as much as you can so there is no suprises, you'll be glad you did.

 

You are getting good advice. If you are concerned about the appearance of the valve covers, the only way to do it right is to remove the parts from the engine, strip or bead blast, clean completely and reinstall. The paint stripper will definitely get onto things you don't want stripped and it will leave a mess.

Also, if you have dual distributors, they should be loosened and pulled out a bit before you lift the cam covers. You will probably rip the distributor gaskets if you don't loosen the distributors first. When I remove the cam covers, I find the gaskets are reusable and don't leak if I am careful.