DIY: Valve Cover Painting

[admin]

DIY: Valve Cover Painting
Author: Travis Butler

I know there's already a couple threads about this but not an official DIY writeup, thought i'd contribute. this is a pretty simple DIY that can make your engine bay look 100 times cleaner.

Materials:

• VHT or Krylon Wrinkle paint (I used VHT red wrinkle)

• Paint stripper (can be bought from Lowe's, Home Depot, anywhere)

• Paint thinner

• Sandpaper- I used 150,220,320, and 600 grit

• Valve cover (obviously)

• Tape

• ratchet and socket set

Here's some of the materials I used with my chipping old valve cover:


1. First take off your valve cover, I'm not gonna go through this process and if you don't know how to, consult your Hayne's or Helm's manual...if you don't have one of those then you need to get one now.

2. Make sure you remove the rubber valve cover gasket and rubber spark plug seals on the underside of the valve cover. Also remove all bolts from the valve cover.

3. Clean off all oil and dirt on the valve cover with water/soap.

4. Spray or brush the paint stripper on the painted surface generously and let sit for about 5 minutes (depending on how strong it is.) Then wash it off with a hose or run it under a sink and the old paint should come right off with a little help. CAUTION-avoid getting the paint stripper on your skin, it burns like hell here's what it should look like after this step:


5. Dry it off and begin the sanding process- start with the 100/150 grit and gradually work your way up to the 600 grit. Make sure you sand out all kinks and scratches. Here's what mine looks like after sanding:


6. Wash it off with water to get the metal dust off and then dry it and start taping off all parts you don't want painted. Look at the picture to see what to mark off, but basically everything that wasn't painted stock. This process takes a while. I used a pen or pencil to press the duct tape down in hard to reach areas lilke the spark plug holes.


7. After you mark everything off, apply the paint thinner to a rag and wipe it all over the metal surface to clean it, try not to touch the valve cover after this.

8. Now you're ready to paint, I didn't use primer on the wrinkle paint but some people will. Mine turned out fine. Shake the can thoroughly and spray 3 or 4 coats with a 3 minute break in between each coat. For the first coat spray it in horizontal lines, then verticle lines, then diagonal to get an even coating. Make sure you get the sides and hard to reach areas.


9. Let the paint dry for at least 12 hours, then remove ALL tape. Next, set the oven to 200 degrees and put the valve cover in for 20 minutes to set the paint. Make sure when you take it out you don't touch the paint with the oven glove as it may be a little wet still (that was my mistake and I had to touch it up)


10. Let the valve cover cool for a couple hours so the paint dries, then mask tape off around the lettering and sand the letters using the same process you sanded the valve cover before. Some people suggest putting chapstick on the lettering before you paint it but i think the sanding process is less messy.


And the finished product:


Now reinstall it, don't forget to put the rubber spark plug seals back on and the valve cover gasket. It might be a good idea to order a new gasket but it's not really necessary if the other one is in good shape.

Congrats you now have a clean looking engine and around 15 more whp


DISCLAIMER: The contents of this article are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the owner of HondaClub(com).

[90crxowner]

Nice write up.

[97civicferio]

Thanks for the help. I was planning to do this next week.

[DR Performance]

You don't see this type often.

[PrimeTimeV6]

That was pretty good info bro. Mahalo

[marcos]

thanks for the help man

[DriftMaster]

1.5L SOHC Valve Cover and Intake Cover

I'm gonna paint my cover, but while sanding, there are some spots I can't reach (like between the main body and side plate) and chips I can't remove. Not even with a scraper. My budget for this is just enough for a cheap can of paint and scrap sandpaper. Help?

Also, where can I get a can of Wrinkle paint, and what does it retail for??

[HondaME]

Drift, not sure which auto parts stores are popular in Canada, but if you're near an Autozone or CheckerAutoParts they should have cans of wrinkle or textured paint for a few bucks.

[DriftMaster]

We got:

Marshland Auto Parts
Home Hardware
Home Depot
Kent 'Home Improvement'
Canadian Tire
NAPA (UAP)
RONA
Dupont
and more...

[HondaME]

sweet, Dupont and Home Depot should definitely have it.