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Thread: Valve Cover Paint

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hockinson, Washington
    Posts
    2,499

    Default Valve Cover Paint

    I had decided to Paint my valve cover to make it look like 535ise's valve cover while i had it off to adjust my valves.

    Prep: I got the paint on the 20th and prepped it that day and the next. I first used soap and water to get much of the looser grime off. I then took it outside (so the fumes didnt suffocate me) and used paper towels, q-tips and paint thinner for about an hour try to get it clean enough so that when swabbed with a paint thinner soaked q-tip it would come back clean. I got it nearly perfect and the switched to brake cleaner (nasty stuff) which proved to be better for removing baked on grime deposits than the paint thinner. I then put it in the sink and used an "aluminum-ware scouring brush" (i have no idea why it was even here) to ! remove the last two remmnants of cosmoline from the aluminum. I then did one final wipe-down with the brake cleaner and pronouced the surface prepped. I then masked the oil-filler tube and the threaded studs.

    Painting: My older brother, having much more experience with spray paint than me, offered to spray the valve cover; so took him up on the offer and soon it was drying in the required 70 degree heat in the shop above the lower garage (where i park). The directions on the can recommened using a hair dryer or oven shortly after applying to "tighten the wrinkles and accelerate the drying process", so i used a hair dryer on it for about 10 minutes while wearing a chemical respirator.

    Sanding: After the requisite five days of drying time had elapsed, i set out to sand the raised areas down to metal and create a polished surface. I started with 60 grit paper (probably a bit too high) and removed most of the paint. Then i switched to 100 grit paper and removed the last of the paint and began the polishing procedure. At this point it had a kind of brushed metal appearance. I used 220 and finally 400 grit paper to create a polished surface on the raised areas.

    The finished product actually looks a lot better in real life than it does in a photograph (as do most things i take pictures of) but these should give you a general idea of what it looks like.

    Blurry



    Bad angle, decent quality



    Blurry

    Last edited by Alexlind123; 12-30-2005 at 10:08 PM.
    Lowered with blue h&r(?) springs, Bilsteins, tint, 19# design 3 injectors, Dual Magnaflow
    southwest WA

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    1,305

    Default

    Looks very nice!
    What paint was used?

    1990 E34 535iA, 215,000kms (130,000 miles).
    Dual Climate, Rear Headrests, Rollerblind, M-Tech Wheel,
    Memory Seats, EAT Chip, T-Stars.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hockinson, Washington
    Posts
    2,499

    Default

    I used VHT high temperature "wrinkle plus."
    Lowered with blue h&r(?) springs, Bilsteins, tint, 19# design 3 injectors, Dual Magnaflow
    southwest WA

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    3,395

    Default

    Alex, that's an incredible job! Sounds like a big return on a cost effective cosmetic upgrade.

    best, whit

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    232

    Default

    Nice job.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
    Posts
    14,839

    Default

    Awesome job! I love the way it turned out.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Cleveland, OH
    Posts
    1,279

    Default

    Looks great....
    If it cannot be fixed by the dremel or ducktape.. get out the sledge...
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    I miss my e34

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Central NJ - USA
    Posts
    1,540

    Default

    so u didn't put a clear on the raised parts?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hockinson, Washington
    Posts
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    Default

    I thought about using a clearcoat, but i didnt have any and i decided to take the chance on whatever corrosion or whatever that might occur. I dont think polished aluminum is very reactive, so i shouldnt have any problems, especially since it wont be directly exposed to the weather.
    Lowered with blue h&r(?) springs, Bilsteins, tint, 19# design 3 injectors, Dual Magnaflow
    southwest WA

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    868

    Default Looks great!

    I sent mine in for a crinkle powder coat leaving the raised stuff clear as well. I think you will be fine without a clearcoat. Just keep it as clean as possible

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