Removing Finish on Valve covers

[martyb]

What is the best way to remove the red factory paint from the valve covers? Any easy tips/tricks?

Also, has anyone had luck painting them vs powder coating? One of my winter projects is to match the Roe intake tubes with the valve covers. The powder coating on the Roe intake tubes is checking badly, so I figured I will strip them both and make them perfect.

martyb

 

[EllowViper]

I did my valve covers a few months ago to match the Viper Yellow. Just scuffed the valve covers really well and removed all oil, grease, etc with thinner. Did an epoxy based primer with flex adative and then base/clear coat with flex adative. No problems at all! Shines like glass and thus far, engine heat has been no issue. I had done my ROE tubes to match too but changed them this week after looking at some fast Fords with a black crinkle finish on their Whipple Chargers.

 

[AZTVR]

Did an epoxy based primer with flex adative and then base/clear coat with flex adative

Just wondering why you used the flex additive ?

 

[TAILWAG]

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These are the ones that are on my car...I think they look good.

 

[bluesrt]

are smooth tubes intake to airbox?if so do they make a huge hp differance?

 

[martyb]

Tailwag,

Powdercoated or painted???

 

[EllowViper]

I had some extra flex agent so I used it in order to address any heat expansion issues. Not sure if that is an appropriate use for it, but what the heck..

 

[martyb]

Can you use paint stripper on magnesium??

 

[2001 GTS]

Tailwag....what was the turn around time on a job like that?

 

[GTSnake]

Tailwag,

Powdercoated or painted???

Inquiring minds want to know.....

 

[propsail]

That looks amazing!!
~craig

 

[martyb]

So no one has ever removed the factory red finish on the valve covers?

 

[dave6666]

Liquid strippers or soda blast.

Tailwag's stuff is powder with clear coat.

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

Yes, you can use house paint stripper (I got the gel type) paint it on with a brush (junk afterwards) and do it on a garbage bag liner, wrap the cover once gelled to stop drying out, and give nasty stuff a chance to strip!

Pics here:
http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/612936-black-valve-covers-mods-pics.html

 

[martyb]

Perfect, thank you!!

 

[mbccenter]

Marty

You can just send it to Mitch and he will paint or powder coat them what ever color you like.

 

[Jerry Dobson]

Tailwag is paint. Powdercoat color will be slightly off. Since the windshield cowling is painted, it would be noticeable being right next to the engine.

Paint stripper works best. The valve covers come out smooth. The intake will need many hours of sanding to get a smooth finish. Very labor intensive.

That motor looks like $1m bucks!

 

[martyb]

got a local guy that is going to powdercoat the valve covers, intake tubes for next to nothing. I will post pics when done.

thanks everyone.