I took my valve cover off to replace the gasket and decided to clean it up while I had it off. It is presently black except where it peeled. I sanded down the stripes and the NISSAN OHC lettering to shine. I dont want to buff the entire cover, mainly because I dont want to have to maintain the whole cover. I want to repaint the cover black except leave the striping and lettering shiny. Should I paint the entire cover and go back and rub the letters down or is there something like vaseline to rub on the lettering and stripes ( I had even thought about using my wife's lipstick) to keep paint from sticking to the letters so i dont have to resand the lettering? I have also bought the Duplicolor engine enamel 500 degrees paint to use. Any help, suggestions or bad experiences would be appreciated. I am trying to spruce up my engine bay some for ZDAYZ. I was almost too embarrassed to open it at the ZNATIONALS in Atlanta Ga last month.

 

i used tape to do mine, you can get stuff that is thin like the lettering.

 

Or we used to use bearing grease on the cooling fins when we would repaint the heads on Harleys. Apply to where ever you want to leave metal, its just a little messy but it will work if your carefull

 

hmmm.... ingenious ^^^^ i wanna paint my intake (when i get a beter one) and valve cover a sort of metallic blue like wildmans, im hooked on that color... gotta ask him where he got it from.

 

Dude! Get yourself some pinstripes of 2 thicknesses ( Thick and Thin) and an Exacto knife and TAKE YOUR TIME!! Pinstripe is flexible and sticky and easily trimmed with the Exacto. Pinstripe also has a fine edge so the paint should not look jagged, just don't stretch the pinstripe and I promise you will be happy with the outcome. Just prep your parts man and clean it good. Acetone works very well or even the brake parts cleaner. Auto parts stores should carry the pinstripe. I like red.

 

and pin stripe in that matter (decal) is very tacky imo. lol and also,ive never liked ANY pin stripe job ive seen so far, paint or decal, some have looked nice up close to see the design, but when far back looking at the car, idk, just doesnt fit

 

Sorry.....Snw, what I meant to get across is to use the pinstripe to "mask" off the areas he doesn't want to paint...i.e. the logo and stripes on the valve cover. Pinstripe is very easy to bend around tight curves and what not and makes an excellent mask option for detailed areas such as the valve cover logo.

 

yeah, i kinda just got that. lol.....

ok nvm last comment,

 

Peace and Chicken Grease Brotha!!

 

grease is easier but if you want a primo job take it to a powder coat place they aren't that expensive.