USMC3040

Hey all! Wondering if any of you attempted to paint your valve covers. If so, was it easy? Anything I should worry about before doing this project myself?

Thanks!

-Tom

jz78817

it's hard to get paint to stick to aluminum, so proper surface prep is important.

DRAGUL

Get them powder coated.

tx_zstang

Painted a couple of sets and they held up good; just keep gas and other solvents off of them!!!
Cleaned off the covers real good, using a wire brush in a drill and by hand. Once clean, used high-heat primer, allowed to dry, then high-heat paint, 2 coats, then clear. Came out nice.
Did one red, another set in blue (still on my car).

But, getting a good powder coat may be more appropriate, or buy a set already painted

ghunt

I painted the aluminum cam cover on my old 2.3L Turbo. Tried to be very meticulous about it, put wrinkle black on it with some body color accents in the middle, it looked awesome. Held up for about a year and the wrinkle black started peeling. Redid it, a year later it was doing the same thing.

The gloss paint on top seemed to hold up much better though, I dunno why.

USMC3040

Looks great!

Rocket Ray

I removed mine and had them powder coated. It has been many years and they still look like new. They are made of magnesium, not aluminum I believe. Without painting or powder coating they look terrible in a few years.