Painting Engine Covers

[jpb308]

Hi there

Has anyone repainted their VN-VS engine covers in the factory style finish?

I'm waiting on a quote to Soda blast them (the factory paint's starting to flake off in places) - won't be cheap.

Local mag wheel restoring place wants 250-300 for the set (rocker, fuel rail and throttle body covers)

More than I can afford anyway.

Any paint at Superc#$p I can use or something??

Cheers

Jeremy

[VSPantha]

Hey. I think the factory finish is powder coated... If you want the same finish it'll cost $$$.
If you want to pretty it up, give this a go. You need to strip off the old powder coat, go to autobarn and grab some spray on gasket remover (permatex brand), a can of etch primer and a can or two of VHT engine enamel in whatever colours you want. Be careful with this stuff... buy some chemical resistant gloves from bunnings... you REALLY don't want to get it on your skin or any other surface you want to keep paint on (i.e. do it away from your car... I put my bits in a large box to keep any overspray under control).
Leave it for 15 mins or so and the coating will have bubbled up. Wash it off properly with water, any left over bits might need a second application (the lettering on the V8 engine covers might need a wire brush). Once it's all clean, let it dry, give it a rub over with a wire brush and a bit of soapy water to get all the stripper off. Wipe it over with some turps, let it dry then hit it with some heat proof paint.
I used an etch primer on the alloy covers, 2 coats followed by 3 coats of VHT engine enamel. Follow the instructions on the can... let it dry in the sun. You can throw it in an oven at 100 degrees for an hour to set the paint properly, or just put it back on the engine and after a few hours of driving it'll harden properly and become chemical resistant.
Cost?
Permatex gasket remover - about $18
Etch primer - about $15 a can
VHT Engine Enamel - $20 a can
Chemical Gloves - about $10

I got quoted $100 - $150 just for soda blasting the fuel rail and throttle body covers, you want the rockers done too so expect it to cost more.
For under a $100 and a bit of time and you can have it looking smick

[jokerflingo]

Hey. I think the factory finish is powder coated... If you want the same finish it'll cost $$$.
If you want to pretty it up, give this a go. You need to strip off the old powder coat, go to autobarn and grab some spray on gasket remover (permatex brand), a can of etch primer and a can or two of VHT engine enamel in whatever colours you want. Be careful with this stuff... buy some chemical resistant gloves from bunnings... you REALLY don't want to get it on your skin or any other surface you want to keep paint on (i.e. do it away from your car... I put my bits in a large box to keep any overspray under control).
Leave it for 15 mins or so and the coating will have bubbled up. Wash it off properly with water, any left over bits might need a second application (the lettering on the V8 engine covers might need a wire brush). Once it's all clean, let it dry, give it a rub over with a wire brush and a bit of soapy water to get all the stripper off. Wipe it over with some turps, let it dry then hit it with some heat proof paint.
I used an etch primer on the alloy covers, 2 coats followed by 3 coats of VHT engine enamel. Follow the instructions on the can... let it dry in the sun. You can throw it in an oven at 100 degrees for an hour to set the paint properly, or just put it back on the engine and after a few hours of driving it'll harden properly and become chemical resistant.
Cost?
Permatex gasket remover - about $18
Etch primer - about $15 a can
VHT Engine Enamel - $20 a can
Chemical Gloves - about $10

I got quoted $100 - $150 just for soda blasting the fuel rail and throttle body covers, you want the rockers done too so expect it to cost more.
For under a $100 and a bit of time and you can have it looking smick

Lol all that and no smick picture? Nah good writeup.

[VSPantha]

Dude.. it was like midnight when i posted that lol

I might try to snap one off this arvo when I get home to show you.

[jokerflingo]

Dude.. it was like midnight when i posted that lol

I might try to snap one off this arvo when I get home to show you.

Just for me, your such a cutey

[VSPantha]

They're a bit dusty but you'll get the idea. I did the manifold aswell... used a wire brush on the end of a cordless drill then hit it with some 550 degree aluminium look paint... Still need to do the rockers when I get some time.

[jokerflingo]

Very nice m8, looks tops.

[vsv8berlinawag]

They're a bit dusty but you'll get the idea. I did the manifold aswell... used a wire brush on the end of a cordless drill then hit it with some 550 degree aluminium look paint... Still need to do the rockers when I get some time.

Same treatment on the rockers and it will complement the bay nicely ! I went the other way and polished everything till I ran out of beer !



PS since this shot I have changed the colouring of the lettering of the injector covers to red as it compliments the red top gun leads.

[VSPantha]

Thanks jokerflingo.
VS8berlinawag... I toyed with the idea of polishing them when I got the covers down to bare metal... but painting was easier, less labouring... and I've seen some nice polish jobs that need redoing every few months due to tarnishing etc. Plus the red kinda sets nicely against the red SS bumper and side striping on the car.
I've got a couple weeks off over the xmas/new year period so will probably get bored and do the rockers then. Also want to finish off the rail covers and do the silver highlights like the TB cover.

[jpb308]

Hey VSPantha

Looks great.

Was that aluminium paint the Septone engine one?

Aerosol Eng Enam Aluminium 400, Septone Products Australia

Does it look factory??

Did you paint it on the engine??

Cheers

Jeremy

[VSPantha]

Hi JPB308,
The aluminium look paint I grabbed from Bunnings... they have a few different temperature ranges... I got the hottest handling stuff I could find (550 degrees).
As for the factory look.. it's a lot brighter and cleaner than factory look... it really does look like aluminium.
No I haven't painted it on the engine.. only the intake manifold. It's been on there for a few months now and hasn't flaked or discolored. I'm really happy with the quality of the silver.
When you do it just make sure you clean the surfaces properly.. and make sure the engine is cold before you apply any paint. Follow my write up earlier in this post and you shouldn't have any problems.