Powder Coating Prep

[Powling]

I'm currently prepping a spare valve cover and intake manifold for my M42 to be powder coated black and I'm curious to the prep process before I drop it off with the powder coaters. Currently, the valve cover has old chipping heat paint from the PO and I need to remove it. What would be the best solvent to remove the old paint with, and to clean / prep the metal?

I've already sanded down as much as I can with an air grinder, now it the small areas that I can't get to that are giving me trouble.

[jeffnhiscars]

I would ask your powder coaster first since a) they probably will clean it anyway and b) you don't want to use something that might leave a residue.

[ELVA164]

They should prep the pieces themselves if they're any good.

[MSGGrunt]

You need to ask them to be VERY thorough with masking off the underside of the valve cover and plugging the PCV and oil filler cap hole. They will sand blast the cover to prepare it for coating and you don't want any abrasive getting underneath the baffle on the underside of the valve cover. I took mine off to clean under it. This requires grinding the rivets and using screws and red Loctite to reattach it but, I know I don't have any sludge or blasting abrasive under the baffle. This is the link for my project over on Bimmerforums.

I also had my high spots fly cut on a milling machine after they finished coating it.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2327284-Powder-Coated-Valve-Cover-Project