DIY - how you paint your valve cover

jdm_type · 10-25-2008, 12:54 AM

Just wanted to share with you guys.. it works really good on a friends.

1. First you have to go buy the essentials which can be found at your local Pep Boys/Autozone:
- engine cleaner (doesn't have to be that specific, I used brake cleaner because it does the same job, removes grease, dust, etc.)
- high temp paint (Pep Boys/Autozone sells paint specifically made for engines, any color you want, get low gloss)
- acrylic/gloss paint (any kinda for clear gloss will do, its used in the final step to put a protective coat on everything)
- 800 grit wet sand paper
- in all it should cost no more than $15 and all can be found at your local Pep Boys/Autozone

2. Removing the valve cover, very very simple, just the 5 bolts you can see right on top of the cover, and disconnect the hose that connects in the top left corner.

3. Lay the valve cover on something like a trash bag in order to protect whatever you have it resting on.

4. Time to clean, use the spray cleaner you purchased, follow the directions on the back of the can on how to use it, this shouldn't take more than a few minutes, after you spray it down, wipe it with a clean cloth to make sure it is totally dry.

5. Time to paint, using the high temp paint you purchased once again following the directions on the back, do nice even strokes over the entire valve cover, EVEN OVER THE WORD HONDA. Yes thats right you are going to be painting over the word, we will sand that paint off later, make sure to keep the spray paint can at least 8 inches away at all time, if you get too close the paint will get too thick in some areas. During this step apply one coat every 7-10 minutes until you are satisfied with the overall color.

6. Now heres the tricky part, but this makes it all worth it, first you need to get a block of wood, something small enough to wrap the sand paper around, because when sanding the letters you cannot do it free-hand theres too much of a chance of hitting the rest of the valve cover with the sand paper, the block of wood keeps the sand paper level across the letters so that you are only sanding the tops of the letters. Now you wrap the sand paper around your block, you wet the letters with water, and you begin to wet sand the paint off the letters. This is not easy and will take some patience and elbow grease, it will take at least 20 minutes to do this step, but in the end this is what makes the valve cover look so nice, much cleaner than if you were to tape it off. Throughout this step continue to re-apply water to the letters and changed the sand paper when you feel its getting dull. I say to use such a fine sand paper because essentially you are not only removing the paper, but polishing the aluminum of the valve cover letters, which give them that SHINE.

7. Now that the hard stuff is over time to clean everything off. I used a bucket of water/baby shampoo, and cleaned the valve cover down just like you would clean your car, what you are doing in this step is getting all the dirt and dust off that was created by sanding down the letters, clean it and DRY it really well, because its going to need to be absolutely clean/dry for the clear coat.

8. Time to apply the clear coat, just like when painting the valve cover, follow the directions on the can, and apply nice even strokes over the entire thing EVEN OVER THE LETTERS, for this clear coat is whats going to give everything a nice clean shine, and protective cover. Once again you can put on as many coats as you feel fit, every 7-10 minutes. Once you are done with the clear coat let it dry for AT LEAST an hour.

9. Now that everything is dry, CAREFULLY put the valve cover back in the car, remember the paint will not be totally cured for a few more hours, so be extremely care not to hit it against anything when putting it back in your car.

THE END, you are done and in just a few hours have totally transformed that old valve cover into a new mod you can proudly show off!

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sergent · 10-26-2008, 01:04 PM

nice... do you have ant tips painting my valve like this?

Raid3n · 02-23-2009, 10:51 PM

cool stuff man.

Sr20det · 03-25-2009, 09:09 AM

nice diy man.

lilredhonda · 06-04-2009, 01:29 PM

thank you ive been needing this

Raid3n · 06-04-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilredhonda

thank you ive been needing this

since your doing a swap to your car you might want to check this out http://forums.tunedtech.ca/f21/diy-b...-painting-256/

lilredhonda · 06-04-2009, 01:56 PM

yeah true
is that big of a difference

Raid3n · 06-04-2009, 01:57 PM

not really but just wanted to show you! hahaha

lilredhonda · 06-04-2009, 02:09 PM

ohhh lol

89y49rexsi · 06-04-2009, 02:26 PM

hahaha the b series is a much better diy no offense jdm type

Raid3n · 06-04-2009, 02:29 PM

yea i agree.. more detailed

jdm_type · 06-04-2009, 02:51 PM

i know i know.. lol

89y49rexsi · 06-09-2009, 03:38 AM

its ok we still love you lol

minion · 07-10-2009, 12:00 PM

i used to paint covers like that all the time. till i learned how easy powder is applied. "strip, spray, bake" and presto! powder coated and lookin amazing and more resistant to scratching. and powder doesnt run like rattle can can. just my .02. i would rather powder than rattle.

minion · 07-10-2009, 12:05 PM

maybe someone can do a powder write up on here. it really isnt that hard. i found a powder write up on another forum, we could just copy it over. this site really helped me figure out powder work.

How to Powder Coat - Powder Coating Manual | Powder Coating Help, information and powder coating advice

click the links on the left hand of that page to learn individual aspects within powder coating. you can do it yourself in your own garage if you have a shitty old oven that'll heat up nicely.