Painting valve cover

[Micah 89LXi]

how should one go about doing this..i knwo u have to sand it and stuff but do u primer it and what kind of paints should be used..and is there any special way u need to put it back on like witha torque wrench?...i wanny do this mod..cause it makes the engine look soo much better

[turfnnsurf]

OK, here you go, this is a really easy "HOW TO" for painting a Valve Cover. Well, at least as i see it..
1. Goto to your local hardware store and buy a can of paint remover, any kind in a Spray can should work. (I used a product called JASCO paint remover, it can be washed off with water making for easier cleanup)
2. Remove the valve cover from your engine. (3x10mm cap nuts hold it on)
2a. make sure you CAREFULLY remove the VC gasket from the VC. (It usually sticks in the track on the VC.)
3. After you remove all the old factory paint from the VC sand any rough areas with 120 grit sandpaper. Final sanding should be done with steel wool or a green scotch brite pad.
4. Clean with a strong soap and water solution to remove all dust and oily finger prints. Dry completely with a lint free cloth.(tac cloth)
5. Options at this point are to prime it or not. I have done 3 VC's as of this posting and not primed any of them, however i used more than 5 coats of paint on each. (3 base coats of silver metallic flake then 2 top coats of Candy Apple Red or Candy Apple Blue) Basically use your own judgement on a primer coat.
6. Let paint dry according to manufacturer instructions, and ad a few hours to that just to be safe.
7. Put VC gasket back into VC track on bottom of VC and replace on engine. Tighten 3x10mm cap nuts till you they are VERY snug.
8. Step back and admire your artistry, also take a pic to share with the rest of US!!!!

Examples of my work: http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?UV=807058990247_19413083205&collid=48104291205&photoid=38104291205
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?UV=807058990247_19413083205&collid=48104291205&photoid=78104291205
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?UV=807058990247_19413083205&collid=48104291205&photoid=84429043205
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?UV=807058990247_19413083205&collid=48104291205&photoid=11924213205
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?UV=807058990247_19413083205&collid=48104291205&photoid=11532083205

[mzabeefy]

you might want to switch numbers 1 and 2, if you only have one car though :D

[turfnnsurf]

Good point mza, hahahahah OK switched it to make it work better for guys with only one car...

[Jims 86LXI HB]

I'd like to comment on the painting process itself. It is important to not rush the process. And to keep the valve cover clean, extreamly clean, no dust and NO FINGER PRINTS (oil from your finger prints is a bad thing). If you read the directions on the side of the can (dupi-color high temp paints) it says to wait 5 days between coats. Either wait or put the cover in a oven to cure the paint. Rushing past curing it properly will effect how long the finish lasts.

BTW, 500 degree paints are gloss, 1500 degree paints are flat. Life is easier if you pick a gloss paint. But if you do use several coats of gloss you'll get a awesome finish, even if appied over the gloss paints.

BTW, I now mask off the valve cover bolt holes and gromit seating area's since I noticed that the RTV sealent melts the paint and effects the bond.

[89AccordLvr]

hey what type of brand spray paint is the best to use and where do i get it at

[Mike89Accordcom]

That's a lot more directions than you really need. I took mine off, cleaned it, painted it with primer, then with the color I did, let it dry and put it back on. Doesn't hurt to go with those directions though.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by 89AccordLvr
hey what type of brand spray paint is the best to use and where do i get it at

You should be able to locate high temp paint at any auto parts store. Even walmart carries some color's. The brand I use is Dupi-color.

[Micah 89LXi]

did you mask off the stripes and the honda logo and everything..and how hard was it to do that...man some of what my problem is i cant have the VC off my car for more than a couple days..but i wana do this badly


[corrected, per posters wishes]

[Defiant[YD]]

yah mun!!!
that valve cover u made is sweet jim!!
must've taken u a while to get it looking like that didn't it?

i was thinking of just going to the junkyard and getting another valve cover to work on so i don't have to take the car out of commision.

[88 Accord DX]

i dont know what he did but it looks like it would be easier to paint the whole thing one color then go back with a small touch up paint brush and paint what you want.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by Micah 89LXi
did you mask off the stripes and the honda logo and everything..and how hard was it to do that...man some of what my problem is i cant have the VC off my car for more than a couple days..but i wana do this badly


[corrected, per posters wishes]

No masking was used, while I have sucessfully repaired some of my own mistakes and masked the silver parts off to fix those mistakes, it's way to difficult to cut the tape super close to the raised parts for it to work. Instead I used a piece of 1" maple as a sanding block, being super carefull to keep the sand paper really tight on the block. I'am now working on another valve cover and I'm going to use a Ryobi (ms?) detail sander, instead of by hand. I'm hoping for NO time consuming sanding mistakes. :D

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by Defiant[YD]
yah mun!!!
that valve cover u made is sweet jim!!
must've taken u a while to get it looking like that didn't it?

i was thinking of just going to the junkyard and getting another valve cover to work on so i don't have to take the car out of commision.

Excellent idea, and if your's turns out really nice, paint the one off your car and try to sell it.;)