I just painted an engine block, and then thought about whether or not to remove the paint that will be under the timing cover gasket. I'm afraid that it might leak around the coolant passages for the water pump. Sooo.. should I remove it or leave it?

If it's just the gasket surfaces, then it shouldn't take more than a minute or two to sand down.

If it's underneath where oil or coolant is going to be moving around, I'd definitely remove that. Shouldn't take too long.

I don't have any personal experience with it. I just know when building an engine, best to err on the side of caution, so you can eliminate reasons for things going wrong down the road. This might cause no problem at all, but now is the time to make it right in your mind rather than worrying about it later.

I've done it both ways,either will work. The nice thing about leaving it on is that the edges next to the gasket don't rust.
Doug

The Mopar engine factorys painted the motors after they where assembled, is what I have been told. It looks like that is good information on all the origianl motors I have taken apart back when I have done it that way as well as painting each piece and then again when the motor is fully assembled, I do clean the mating surface like the water pump and oil pump gasket surfaces after painting Mask them off to start with and clean them up with laquer thinner before assembling the gaskets and pumps together Respray after fully assembled to make them look "stock"

ive left paint behind gaskets on almost every engine ive assembled and ive never had leak issues