stickboy

I finished painting my valve covers. They are the original '81 covers that were black with silver fins. Originally the plan was to polish them and then clear coat, but the casting was horrible so I decided to paint them instead. I used duplicolor engine paint from the local autozone. Primer, Ford Red, and then clear. I was going to pull the intake and paint it too, but I decided to wait until I had to pull the intake for something else. Please ignore the airfilter setup. I know it's ugly, but it's funtional. Something will be done in the future to make it look better.

Brettmc

Looks good!!

Brett

CA-Legal-Vette

It does look good. I'm still working on my covers. One of the covers is done and already back on. The polish on this one turned out fairly well.

Like yours, the other casting is terrible. I haven't decided yet if I'll just polish it up and hide it under all of the 81 paraphernalia or if I'll just paint them up like you did.

I'm surprised that it runs, though, with Ford red. I've been using Chrysler red on my pan covers to avoid issues of rejection

stickboy

I figured I'd catch some heat for the color, but I didn't feel like having a custom color made up, and I like the color.

doug.storch

I had mine powder coated and they turned out very nice. Someday I will figure out how to post a picture and show you later.

I have a question for you folks; I have my covers on the opposite sides (oil fill cap on drivers side). Which is the factory correct placement?

1Z87L8

i like them,and it doesnt matter what everyone else likes so dont worry about catching heat so long as you like the color

pws69

Yours are correct.

blackcorvette1980

Looks great. I did the same on my 80 but painted GM blue. I will try to post a pic. If I can find one.

CA-Legal-Vette

I agree. Having said this, stickboy doesn't have all the ducting and tubing that is standard on these cars, so it doesn't really matter. When I got my car, they were on the wrong sides and I had to remove the air filter and ducting to fill the oil.

CA-Legal-Vette

Glad to oblige! Incidentally, did you tape off the tops of the fins or just remove the paint afterwards?

doug.storch

They will look a lot better if you paint them and then sand the ribs. I used a rubber sanding pad with 80 grit until I got to the aluminum then switched to 150.

danboback

I think it looks good!!

blackcorvette1980

Here is a picture.. It is kinda big..

fl_rider

I tell her that all the time...

The red looks good and I like the injection system too.

Chris B

stickboy

I painted the entire valve cover red, then striped the top of the fins, then put the clearcoat on.

I did put my valve covers on the wrong side. I was hoping to get better access to the oil fill hole. The only problem doing this is the tube that goes from the air cleaner to the valve cover is bigger than the PCV valve so you would need to replace the rubber grommet. I put new grommets in both covers since the old ones were impossible to get out without tearing them.