Custom Valve Cover Painting
So you've changed a couple of things around the engine, maybe gave it a bit more power but there is nothing under that hood that says this is the labour of love. Sure you can change spark plug wires to glowing yellow but that can be purchased anywhere.
Let's add a creative touch to that engine to make it pop right out - let's repaint that valve cover. Obvious alternative for durability is the flat color powdercoating but it gets expensive and eliminates the creativity and uniqueness that comes with do-it-yourself projects.
Having said that - it does not take up much time - few minutes every few hours due to dry time. To make the valve cover retain its look longer, apply several paint coats at each stage followed by few finish coats at the end. Make sure to use high temperature paint.
In this example, I'll briefly go over a step-by-step walkthrough on an example cover I've done a few months back. Again use creativity as you see fit - but if you're going after 1 tone paint job - consider powder coating.
Step 1: Clean, brush & degrease it. Let it dry.There is nothing worse than finding out that you have a grease spot coming through and peeling at your paint half way through the job.
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Step 2: Apply vaseline to areas that you want to easily recover later. This means letters, symbols or other things that you would like to preserve from gettings sprayed. After you finish painting the cover, the parts properly coated with vaseline will easily peel away leaving you with original surface color.
Fill the spark plug holes with crumpled papers so that you do not get any spray inside the spark plug shafts.
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Step 3: Prime the cover - high temperature ground layer is important not only to make good ahesion for the paint but also to smooth out the surface in case of any minor scratches, etc. In this example, I used 2 coats.
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Step 4: Choose your underlying or background colorSpray with the light tone color (I used deep orange-red).
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Step 5: Tightly wrap the cover in a "mesh" net. It'll give you a nice top pattern for your alternate color and also a feel pattern you can touch afterwards. Make sure to strap the mesh net evenly over the cover.
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Step 6: Find a suitable spot to paint and spray it with several coats of deep-red.Avoid overspraying the hole areas where the bolts will be tightened. If the shell of the paint is too thick, it can break under the tightening load. As this valve cover is not powder coated, more caution should be taken during the initial installation.
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Step 7: Once sprayed, carefully remove the meshing - it will peel off from the paint, giving it bit of 3d look. Wherever the mesh didn't have contact, the surface will simply be the color you sprayed and it will follow with a "fade in effect" for the sections where the mesh held closer to the valve cover. Even out the lighter areas with the spray to give it a more consistent look.
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Step 8: Place a sticker of your choice on the valve cover lightly making sure it's easy to peel later..
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Step 9: tape off the areas around the lettering to create "boxed effect". Make it tight so you don't spray on other parts of the cover.
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Step 10: Remove the sticky letters from the valve cover carefully. Rub / scratch off the areas you applied vaseline on earlier. Surprisingly clear coat provides a good protection even at higher temperatures. Use several layers of clear coat to protect your finished cover. Again - avoid overspraying areas where the bolts will tighten the valve cover to prevent paint from breaking off.
http://www.makemilk.com/pic_hosting/s1495/diy/painting_valvecover_kat2/step10.jpg
Be creative and enjoy!
