valve cover color
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,374
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you can google oem L98 corvette c4 to see an example.
i have a thread where i painted my valve covers with high heat enamel and all the prep work that went into it. its not a 2 hour job! maybe if you have a sand blaster it would be.
be sure to bake all the old oil out of them or the fresh paint which looks great will blister like hell as the oil gasifies under the fresh layer of paint. search my name with valve cover blister and u will find the thread.
i have a thread where i painted my valve covers with high heat enamel and all the prep work that went into it. its not a 2 hour job! maybe if you have a sand blaster it would be.
be sure to bake all the old oil out of them or the fresh paint which looks great will blister like hell as the oil gasifies under the fresh layer of paint. search my name with valve cover blister and u will find the thread.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Ecklers used to have a rattle can paint called Stainless Steel Blast. It reportedly contained SSdust that layed down a very nice coat of what looked like clean bare aluminum. No longer stocked and I used up the last I had on the intake/runners/VC and few other engine brackets.
Never did any serious prep other than clean and wipe with lacquer thinner. Got that compartment hot a few times and didn't have any troubles with blisters or fade.
Never did any serious prep other than clean and wipe with lacquer thinner. Got that compartment hot a few times and didn't have any troubles with blisters or fade.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
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several "metallic" topcoats out there - everything from satin nickel, cast aluminum, SS blast, pewter silver, etc - all are close, but IMO, nothing "dead nuts-on the money." reference this thread - https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-blisters.html - and READ every post - a lot of good info, and a lot of bad info. i'm sure you can sort through it. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
- prior to any topcoat, use an etching primer. if you want to add a sandy-textured finish prior to color topcoat, I did use this on my last refinish - looks more like the factory texture -
FINE texture stone. it's been several months, 2K miles, many heat cycles - no issues. I did use a product from eastwood, but they quit carrying it, so I tried the krylon - seems to work. bought it at lowes or home depot - don't remember.
remember, prior to any paint, clean and degrease several times, and when you think you have it clean, clean and degrease it again -
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
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on the l98's at least i think they called it "magnesium". which for me anyway, is confusing because im not sure if they were made with magnesium metal, then painted with a "magnesium" colured paint. or made with some pot metal alloy then painted with magnesium coloured paint!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
on the l98's at least i think they called it "magnesium". which for me anyway, is confusing because im not sure if they were made with magnesium metal, then painted with a "magnesium" colured paint. or made with some pot metal alloy then painted with magnesium coloured paint!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
WARNING.. do not use the acid for cleaning bricks to clean those MAG. covers. (its something like metric acid). A fire will result(or worse). Ask any concrete finisher or brick layer. Some concrete finishing tools are made of mag., only takes once to learn.
Last edited by ghoastrider1; Aug 8, 2016 at 08:41 PM.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
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are you talking about muriatic acid?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 354
Likes: 54
Yes, muriatic acid. Muriatic acid is just a diluted form of HCl.
HCl does not play well with magnesium valve covers.
Mine are painted with a nice primer and automotive paint in Competition Yellow like the exterior. It has held up well over the years. :-)
HCl does not play well with magnesium valve covers.
Mine are painted with a nice primer and automotive paint in Competition Yellow like the exterior. It has held up well over the years. :-)