2005 Mustang Gt, I am changing the cams next month. While I have them off I would like to paint the value covers. Do value covers get hot enough to warrant using high temp engine paint? Or will using an aluminum primer and regular spray paint work? I saw the products at Eastwood, but its $25 per can. The automotive Rust-oleum, is $5.
Painting Aluminum Value Covers
- Thread starter LAGA
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Is there a great deal of value under the covers?
Every engine is different, but I doubt the valve covers get hot enough for the paint to burn. For what it's worth, my Fusion has a composite (plastic) valve cover, as do many other cars.
What ever happened to proofreading? Surely you can see the 'value' in it.
Seriously, for a touch of individuality, see if you can have them anodized economically.
It becomes part of the aluminum; filling a "hole" in the otherwise hexagonal matrix of the Al molecules.
What color is the car?
Seriously, for a touch of individuality, see if you can have them anodized economically.
It becomes part of the aluminum; filling a "hole" in the otherwise hexagonal matrix of the Al molecules.
What color is the car?
For aluminum make sure to use zinc chromate primer (not zinc phosphate) after cleaning the aluminum well and washing it it down with 5% vinegar otherwise you may have adhesion problems. Any color engine paint works fine as a top coat.
Isn't zinc-chromate (I remember it being pea green and relatively thin bodied) very hard, if not impossible, to find now?
It is sold in mostly green and yellow and readily available, I just bought 6 cans a few weeks ago. It is not cheap but if you want the paint to stick to aluminum and prevent corrosion its the best game in town.
Oh yes. An older aircraft mechanic turned me on to it after I pop-riveted a crude aluminum patch to the side of a $100 car.
As luck would have it, it matched the color of the car close enough.
As luck would have it, it matched the color of the car close enough.
I always used to glass bead aluminum valve covers and paint them with Plasticote engine paint. Stayed on perfectly.
Try soda blasting aluminum, you will be shocked at the difference, it looks like brand new aluminum.
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