I would like to paint or powder coat my valve cover gasket on my 22re. If I paint it what would be a good flat black or satin finish brand that would stand up to the heat?
If I powder coat it, what would it cost? I can't seem to get a straight answer from the local powder coating place here in town. They want me to bring it down to look at it.

 

powder coating would probably be the best way to go. the problem with painting engine components is the high heat level and exposure to chemicals oil, gas, etc. if you go with paint you need to get it really clean and get some kind of etch primer or adhesion promoter specifically for aluminum. any high quality paint should work well. you could always just polish it which would look really good.

 

Thanks Wheatus!
Any suggestions on a brand of polish?? Whats the best process for polishing?
Thanks
D

 

do you have access to a decent sized air compressor? if so i would use a die grinder. you will have to use different grits of polish, basically polish is super fine liquid (or paste) sandpaper. you will need to work through all the grits to get the best results. you can get polishing wheels and compounds at lowe's. there are many good resources online i would just put it in google and read through a few.

best of luck

 

Thanks man!

 

i used dupli-color engine enamel, about 4 coats, it came out nice just prep good, i used a die grinder with a red scotch brite pad, i even knicked it with the pad after i painted it taking the paint off the ridges and was able to polish it out with some rubbing compound

 

Powder coating a valve cover involves:

Cleaning
Outgassing (cooking it after clean to get the oils out of the metal)
Re cleaning
Degreasing
Drying
Powder Coating
Detailing

I did my valve cover in about an hour.

 

You do Powder Coating Wabbit??
If so I might send it to you and have you do it.

 

Email me.

 

So what did you guys do to keep the Toyota lettering from being painted with the rest of it?

 

File it off after painting/powder coating.

:wabbit2:

 

Sounds easy enough.

 

i also recommend powder coating over painting. maybe Wabbit can do an exchange for ya with a "core charge" if he's got one available to send in advance. here's a pic of mine just to give you another option to consider. i had the intake manifold done too.