My busted valve cover

[ecogabriel]

Every time I popped open the hood I was greeted with a vision from Honda's Hell

http://img40.imageshack.us/i/beforef.jpg/

Almost every single valve cover from LX-is at the junkyard looked better than mine. I was tempted to grab one and replace mine. But the valve cover in my Civic was losing its wrinkled paint so I bought the paint and did that one first.
Today I had enough, so out of the car it went.
First, I sprayed it with sprayed with paint stripper and then into the sink for sanding. But the look after the paint was removed was even more appaling

http://img260.imageshack.us/i/cleaning.jpg/

I wonder what happened that it had those blackened stains. They became more evident without the paint. Anyway, I sanded it with wet sanding paper and the stains slowly disappeared. Then I baked it in the oven to dry it up, let it cool down and apply the paint

http://img260.imageshack.us/i/justpainted.jpg/

I should not have hurried it but it started raining; I over-sprayed it in a couple of spots and touched the paint when trying to clean the raised letters while still wet (but it was easier than when it is dry). I let it dry for a couple hours and then I baked it for another hour. Nobody was around thank goodness because with the civic cover I could not bake it as much as this one. Got a new gasket, new grommets (leftovers from those I ordered for the Civic, sealed the gasket in the critical parts, assembled and then cleaned up the raised parts in the cover.

http://img44.imageshack.us/i/finishedj.jpg/

I've seen amazing jobs done with the covers over here so mine will not compete for even a consolation prize. But now I feel better when the hood is open that there is not a junkyard underneath.

[Xybris]

That looks pretty damn good. I like it a lot better than the smooth black covers that the carbed models have.

[Vanilla Sky]

That wrinkle paint looks good, man. I think that's what I want to do, but in red.

[frantik]

looks good.. i had a busted valve cover too.. it's amazing what a little spray paint can do to improve the appearance under the hood

[Dr_Snooz]

Looks first rate sir! I really dig it.

[lostforawhile]

I thought I was the only one who baked parts in the house.

[Civic Accord Honda]

tits!

[carotman]

looks great

Those black spots are oxidized aluminium.

[87roach]

Yea that turned out really nice, looks better then new!

[ecogabriel]

That wrinkle paint looks good, man. I think that's what I want to do, but in red.

I thought about it when going shopping for the paint; in fact I first caught the red can... i got too conservative and went with black. But red will probably look wonderful on a modded engine bay

I thought I was the only one who baked parts in the house.

Maybe I am the only nustso that baked parts with my wife at home...
I learned my lesson though so that partially explains the rush in finishing the work before she was back and the overspraying in a couple of spots.
I would say "don't try it with wives/gf/whatever female is at home.
In their defense, the odor is not really nice. Since women have a kind of extra sensitivity for smells and other sensorial stuff maybe is more "offensive" for them.... or maybe they hate that one takes over their turf (kitchen) to do whatever there... any ideas here?

looks great

Those black spots are oxidized aluminium.

I knew that aluminum oxidizes but the aesthetics of mine were especially bad. It took me a little with a 320 wet sandpaper to get rid of them.

Yea that turned out really nice, looks better then new!

I take it as a compliment especially looking at what you did with your own cover... damn I like it!

When baking the paint the wrinkles get even tighter. I should have baked it for a couple of hours (I did the minimum one hour as per directions) so it will finish its baking in the engine bay.

That looks pretty damn good. I like it a lot better than the smooth black covers that the carbed models have.

Grab one at the junkyard and swap it (it should be possible right?)
I saw a few nice ones and probably are not that expensive.

Thanks 1,000,000 for the comments; they are appreciated.

[MessyHonda]

looks good

[Dat88Monstar]

hey could i pant my valve cover blue? how?? and would anybody know?

[AccordB20A]

blue paint

[PortugalFocus]

looks fantastic man. Awesome job.

[markmdz89hatch]

i'm a fan. very nice the way it came out. I did mine in wrinkle as well and between the stripes the paint puddled a little and once it wrinkled, it looks kinda funny in that area. Oh well, it's still a hell of a lot better than what it used to look like, although it doesn't compare to that first rate job right there. Props to you.

[2oodoor]

nice work!!

.... or maybe they hate that one takes over their turf (kitchen) to do whatever there... any ideas here?

yes come get this drop in sevanties green ge electric stove oven in my shed, free. Set it up in your work area away from the nose that knows. lol

flowers on the table helps too,

[ecogabriel]

hey could i pant my valve cover blue? how?? and would anybody know?

The only two colors I saw were black and red. I have not seen blue... red should look awesome though

[ShyBoyCA6]

how many screws does the value cover have? and is it easy to remove? and what paint is better to paint it? spray can or air gun?

[ShyBoyCA6]

how many screws does the value cover have? and is it easy to remove? and what paint is better to paint it? spray can or air gun?

i wanna paint it red

[ecogabriel]

i wanna paint it red

It is fastened with three nuts on top; unscrew them, remove the hoses attached to the cover and spark plug wires (if attached) and pull straight up. It may be a little difficult to get out if it has been there for a while (top grommets may get stuck)

Wrinkled paint comes in a spray can; I saw it in Advance autoparts a few days back for about $9. Dunno remember if I saw red paint but it should be available there too

[ShyBoyCA6]

alright thanks ill do this next weekend and ill post some pics and ill post pic of my console too i painted it black but im paint the bottom dash grey but it wont match with the beige but owell and looking for 3geez stickers i want 2 for the little back windows i just want to say 3geez anyone have spares im willing to buy them

[ecogabriel]

I have seen some custom made stickers but cannot recall if they were 3geez ones...

[ShyBoyCA6]

oh ok well any tips where i might be able to get some or where i can order them?