The Subject says it all. I want to repaint my valve covers, what type of paint will hold up to the heat the best?

 

I bought high heat engine paint and did mine. Got about 500 miles on them so far with no problems at all. Got the paint at Checkers by the way.

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Rob
'86 TA 305 TPI
Gutted MAF, Ported Plenum
TB Bypass, Home made Cold Air Intake,
Edelbrock T.E.S.
48psi regulator, (Nickel method)

 

checkers fast food resteraunt?
haha

 

I used high heat engine paint on mine also. I let them dry 24 hours before putting them on. On a few spots the paint scratched off while installing them. I probably didn't prep them well enough. But what was really irritating was that after they were on, when I drove the car around and the valve covers got hot, the paint got kinda tacky. Bits of dirt and dust collected in the paint, and two years later they look like total crap no matter how much I clean them. On my new engine I'm thinking of getting them powdercoated if it'll work.

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91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

Hmmmm.... wonder if there's some sort of high-temp primer out there. Surely there is. If I could just find out what Headers are painted with. Surely that would work, and wouldn't get tacky either, which is something I didn't even think about. I wonder if this is more trouble than it is worth, but I hate to spend 120 bucks on edelbrock billet valvecovers.


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91RS convertible 355 TBI 65# inj. custom compcam grind .480/.480, Edelbrock TBI manifold, open element, hedman hedders, Y-pipe, cheap cherry bomb muffler, Hypertech cop car thermomaster, Accel coil, wires. 2.02/1.6 cast iron heads. Engine specially made by Pflugerville machine shop. Forged bottom end, balanced. Coming soon: Vacuum controlled FPR, better exhaust, Torque converter, DIY PROM, bigger TB.

 

Any (quality,, not talking walmart 98¢) will do, most paint can withstand the 180-260° valve cover temp (you've got a prob if your engine is hotter than that). Duplicolor makes a laquer touchup paint that dries quickly, unlike enamels, and can be rubbed out & polished (if so desired). As long as you prep the covers sufficently, they should turn out alright.

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• my Formula Homepage
• Collision P/Ns & Diagrams (Camaros & some of the Firebirds, more on the way)

The mind is like a parachute, it only works when its open

 

yaa...my camaro is a 6 banger....so i'm gonna be putting Fiero valve covers on mine.......i'm tryin to think what color to paint them..........silver with teal ribs????

also, whats the painting process for valve covers??? after the color coats should we hit it with some clear gloss?

 

Don't use high temp paint, becaue it has to bake, and the valve covers will never get hot enough. My valve covers never get so hot that I can't touch them, so I'd go with a high gloss enamel or something like that for a real clean look. The only real problem I've run into painting engine parts is that they're almost impossible to get all the way clean and get all of the rust off. That's what get's in my way most of the time.

 

WHat should I do to prep them besides sand off all the old paint? Is there some sort of undercoat or primer I should use?

 

I used the DupliColor High-Temp Ceramic Engine Paint on my GTA's valve covers last year. It looked great when fresh, but it has really yellowed in the last year and looks horrible now. I completely sanded and primered them both before painting too.

Judging from the other posts here, the high-temp paint may be unnecessary.

Still.... at $37 (LH) and $33 (RH) each from GM, I just got went ahead and got new ones. It'll make a nice winter project for me.....

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Frankie Rider, 2
The GTA Source Page
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'88 GTA Red Hatchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Black Notchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Gunmetal Hatchback - 5.0L/A4