Do you have a painted engine cover?

[Vintage Merlot]

I am getting ready to paint a salvaged engine cover and would like to tap into the experience of the few members here who have tackled this mod.
What kind of prep did you do....what primer worked and didn't work....
Did your paint discolor or crack or burn due to the excessive heat of the engine....? and any other observations including what would you do differently the second time around.

Thanks

[Sandman]

Re: Do you have a painted engine cover?

Roger, I painted mine years ago and it still looks the same. Mine had the original clear plastic over the V8 emblem so I used an Exacto knife to cut around the chrome lettering. Wiped the cover good with mineral spirits and then spray painted the cover with a can of red paint from Discount Auto. I got the paint as close to the car color as possible,it was almost right on. Had to apply quite a few coats,used 2 cans. One thing I didn't do, which I should have is spray a clear coat afterwords. Also painted the shock covers. I was concerned about the heat issue but it never was a problem. Easy mod!

[bronzebird]

Re: Do you have a painted engine cover?

Roger;

I got a quart of matching color lacquer for my bronze at a local paint supply house. The first time I sprayed it myself using a compressed air set up I bought and added reducer and hardener to the mixture. It was okay but I never felt it was glossy enough.

Second time round I took the cover and shock tower covers to a local auto body shop. I supplied the paint (I only had used a couple of ounces out of the quart I bought) and had them do it professionally.

It cost me $125 and to me it was well worth it. I added the chrome strips after it was dry that I bought at Auto Zone.

Here is a post with photos from a few years ago.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ad.php?t=28543

Bronzebird

[tattwo98]

Re: Do you have a painted engine cover?

Here's mine no problem for 2 years

[PaulD]

Re: Do you have a painted engine cover?

Here's mine no problem for 2 years

How much extra varrrooommmm did that add to your engine?