how do i paint the valve cover?

[McGyver]

like the title says, how do i paint that and the intake matte black? i plan to paint them when im changing my timing belt tomorrow. i was going to use a wire brush on a drill to clean them up, but then what?

1) do i need primer?

2) what kind of paint?

3)and can i use the oven to decrease drying time?

[sector6]

Imposter! Your not the real McGyver!!!! The real McGyver would have never ask that question!

[Jand3rson]

The valve cover really doesn't get all that hot, but it should be hot enough to properly cure whatever paint you use. Clean it really well with a stiff brush (not wire) with SuperClean or Simple Green, rinse well, and then wipe it down thoroughly with acetone.

[Atreus]

what anderson said.

simple green+wire brush+scrub the shit off+wipe down with acetone+clean again just to be sure+then acetone again just in case.

its all in the prep dude, get the crinkle finish paint, i plan on doing mine, just don't wanna replace the VC gasket...

[Jand3rson]

Don't use a wire brush, or you're going to make little marks and scratches all over it, it's aluminum. It's total overkill, a good stiff nylon brush will do just fine.

I used VHT wrinke red on mine, and it came out amazing:

[Cha Ching]

Don't use a wire brush, or you're going to make little marks and scratches all over it, it's aluminum. It's total overkill, a good stiff nylon brush will do just fine.

I used VHT wrinke red on mine, and it came out amazing:

Looks killer! Did you score a set of polished stainless acorn nuts as well?

[Jand3rson]

Sure did, I actually got those at ACE. The perfect finishing touch to a nice valve cover paint job.

[McGyver]

so i just looked at the VHT site and they say it should have their VHT engine primer. is that them trying o get extra money out of me, or the truth?

[Jand3rson]

I didn't use primer, but I also had my valve cover sandblasted.

[Atreus]

janderson, slight question since we're talking about brushes here.

with the aluminum parts, and brushes, i notice there are two types of brush metal material,
stainless steel, and some weird other steel....Neither of those would be good for aluminum valve covers??? what about a brass wire brush? i never see the nylon ones, and sometimes the grease is really caked on...

[BDK]

I used a self etching primer about 3 very light coats, fills in any scratches that you might have and then hit it with a couple coats of krinkle coat...
if you let it dry in the sun, it will krinkle more fwiw....
I also clear coated mine when done,
don't know if I would do that again or not, looks good but hard to tell if there is a leak of any kind cuz it looks wet...

[e30trooper]

Josh, whats with the engine? Was this a I head swap? just a eta? I noticed you placed the ICV where it should be for a b25. Just wondering..clean eng bay!

[Jand3rson]

Josh, whats with the engine? Was this a I head swap? just a eta? I noticed you placed the ICV where it should be for a b25. Just wondering..clean eng bay!

It's an eta with a 325i intake manifold, throttle body, and valve cover. Turner Motorsports chip, with port-matched intake inlets on the head.

[e30trooper]

It's an eta with a 325i intake manifold, throttle body, and valve cover. Turner Motorsports chip, with port-matched intake inlets on the head.

Nice! Pulls better up top?

[Jand3rson]

Definitely. Who knows how much of that is attributed to the butt dyno, but it feels very snappy.