paint

[Roman Tasel]

I was thinking about painting my valve cover the cheap way (no powder coating) with engine spray paint. Since i have never done this before, do you guys have any tips?

[DanielC]

Valve cover on what? Is it aluminium, or stamped steel?

Steel needs paint to prevent rust. Aluminium does not. Paint on aluminium makes your engine run hotter, brcause the paint insulates the cover, and holds the heat in.

[Skib]

heres some pics of mine.

primered and then painted in black wrinkle paint with the letters sanded back down to alum.

 

[Cuts metal like mad]

why would a painted valve cover cause an engine to run hotter? Valve cover has nothing to do with cooling...

 

If you gonna paint, prep is the key... I used steel wool and degreaser with a tooth brush to get into the creveces(sp?) like around letters and such where it so the most likely to lift the paint...

 

I wasn't able to find the color I wanted in high temp paint, so I used high temp primer coat, color coat with reg paint, and a coat of high temp clear... Turned out great and never had a problem.

 

Lots of light coats, and warm up you paint with a bucket of warm water (flows better), also you may want to heat up the valve cover a little... Just a little (100* F or less) to get a better adhession.

[Skib]

If you gonna paint, prep is the key... I used steel wool and degreaser with a tooth brush to get into the creveces(sp?) like around letters and such where it so the most likely to lift the paint...

 

for sure, forgot to add that bit. mine was bead blasted before i painted it.