Painting Aluminum Valve Covers

[gedmeyer]

I need to paint my valve covers (stock ones that were black with white fins). They've already been sandblasted. Can anyone recommend a paint that I might be able to pick up locally? I've been told that epoxy paint was originally used to "smooth" out the rough cast aluminum. I've also been told I could could use rustoleum. I don't really care what I use, as long as they look good when I'm done (and have a somewhat "tough" finish so they don't scratch easily)!

your input is greatly appreciated!

-Tim G.


...getting closer to lighting the candle on the new stroker!

 

[Robin7TFour]

HELLO, if you want a really gloss finish ,two ways. krylon color ,followed by krylon clear. or if you want to really fill in the casting find some Mercury Marine paint and then top it off with Mercury leveler.

good luck

ROBIN

 

[Roy]

I have used black spray epoxy coating on aluminum valve covers on vintage BMW air cooled motorcycles and it holds up extremely well. The epoxy seems to cure well in hign temperature applications. Becomes durable and impervious to oils and other engine compartment byproducts.

If you want the fins to remain unpainted, it is easy to run a piece of masking tape down the fin, then use a sharp razor blade to trim the excess away. Once the expoxy is sprayed on and cures for a day or so, simply peels the masking tape off and your fins are in their natural state.

If the expoxy holds up on high temperature air cooled motorcycle cylinder head covers, it should last forever on your Corvette cylinder head covers. The black spray epoxy is inexpensive and available at any Ace hardware store.

 

[gedmeyer]

Awesome! Ace is the closest store to my house! Do you think I would be able to block sand the fins after I painted, instead of using masking tape? Someone suggested doing it that way, that's why i ask.

Thanks
-tim

 

[Roy]

You can block sand the fin edges or block sand AND polish the fin edges.