Does anyone know if painting the valve cover with the same paint that is used on the exterior of the car will work? or will it flake/melt off?
Thanks!

I know a bunch of people that have used the same paint that's on the exterior of their car on their valve covers. Most have sprayed down a high temp primer first, then paint, then high temp clear coat. I did the same thing to mine, but never got a chance to test it out.

I don't know, I know the valve cover gets hot, but if I were you, I'd go to autozone or somewhere, and buy some 500degree paint. But its your world

Originally posted by oMInOUs97RS
Does anyone know if painting the valve cover with the same paint that is used on the exterior of the car will work? or will it flake/melt off? Thanks!

I'd use some engine enamel. The block itself can reach 550* so at least 250 will hit the valve cover, so I'd recommend something stronger than exterior paint with high temp primer

I used Dupli-Color High Temp paint for both my exhaust shield and my valve cover. You have to cure this paint in the oven at 600 degrees for 1.5 hours and its designed to withstand 1200 degrees.

Is there a high temp color for all of the oem paint codes? Or do you have to get something close and hope it looks similar?

As far as I remember there was no factory color high temp paint at the place I bough it. So I guess you would have to hope for the best with a close match.

my sig. high temp spray paint. YES, the valve cover gets hot!

So the right way to do it is primer first (you have to clean it first right?), paint second (how many layers?), and lastly clear coat (how many layers?) also can you paint your coil and plug wires the same way? of course you have to cover the metal and plug places. How do you get it to where the raised letter are a different color?

Thanks

I painted my valve cover with exterior paint and clear coat to match my intake. It's still sticking. If I knew what I was doing I could even make it look good.

My valve cover was painted the exact color from my exterior by my bodyshop. It WILL NOT fade or crack. It holds up fine. The valve cover never gets any hotter than your hood on a summer day.

Cost me $50 to have it professionally done.

i sand blasted mine first, then scrubed it with MEK to get rid of any remaining nasties. i used the high temp engine enamel from autozone. i porbably used 15-20 applications until i got it to the right finish. baked the whole thing to further cure it.

to get the "DOHC" silver again, i used a piece of aluminium bar stock and some sand paper. if your careful and just lay it flat on the letters, it will shave off the paint down to the metal. start with corse grit paper until ya hit the metal, then switch to a finer grit till all the paint is off the letters. finally go over it with some ultra fine paper.

i didnt clear coat mine but i guess you could after the letters are done

can we reuse the gasket? I had my headgasket changed not too long ago...can I reuse it?

My valve cover was painted by my bodyshop the same color of my car. It has held up perfectly. Ths the valve cover does get hot, but I dont think it gets any hotter than your hood sitting out in the sun after a drive on a summer's day. The paint will be fine.

www.smpolishing.com

they make pretty covers. it's treated so that it won't absorb any oils or anything that might splatter on it. you're supposed to be able to just wipe it off. i think with regular paints they leave a porous surface or something

*edit*
damn nevermind they closed :(