Stylinhonda

What is the best stuff to clean a valve cover and get it ready for paint? I have a SOCH (d16y8) and its in some nasty shape dirt wise. What all do I have to do to prep the valve cover? Once I take off the valve cover what do I need to do while re installing the valve cover? Do I need to get a new gasket? What is the best paint to use while painting a valve cover? I have a VSM (silver) 00 civic and im thinking ither RED or GUNMETAL paint.

SiYouLater

If you want to repaint it get some sand paper and sand it down. You can reuse the gasket if your are careful when removing the cover off. Just add some hondabond to it.

Stylinhonda

So sand it and thats all? How many coats, what color do you all think will look better on VSM and what brand paint etc. What is hondabond?

SiYouLater

Just sand, primer, and paint. Put how much coats you want. Krinke black wouldnt look bad. Hondabond is like a liquid gasket, it helps seal it.

SMC Integra

i just did the valve cover on my integra, got to autozone or advance auto and pic up some aircraft remover, high temp ceramic engine paint, rubber gloves, and a paintbrush. The aircraft remover does an awesome job to strip to finish off the valve cover. After that, a quick sanding and your ready for paint. Smear vasoline onto the parts that you dont want the paint to stick (the lettering).

photec2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SMC Integra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just did the valve cover on my integra, got to autozone or advance auto and pic up some aircraft remover, high temp ceramic engine paint, rubber gloves, and a paintbrush. The aircraft remover does an awesome job to strip to finish off the valve cover. After that, a quick sanding and your ready for paint. Smear vasoline onto the parts that you dont want the paint to stick (the lettering).</TD></TR></TABLE>

aircraft remover is awesome!!!

SMC Integra

hell yeah! that crap would strip the white of rice, the stink off ****, or any other well bonded material!

Stylinhonda

HAHA ill try and aircraft remover

Ricey McRicerton

Yeah that aircraft stipper will clean off any paint on it (but not powdercoating).

Just sand it down, wirebrush it and go to work with the paint.

elwood

If its just dirty and not chipped, I would just use
soapy watter to clean it.

I cant remember if the y8 is painted or not?

If it is, and it already has the crinkle paint on it,
and its not all chipping off, then I would just get normal
spraypaint. Im not sold on this hi temp stuff, it all looks
like crap for me if it gets too hot.

I dont think the y8 is painted though, so you will have to
get the wrinkle paint. I forget what everyone uses. Try
to search for "valve cover", I think its like kvt or hvt, something
with three letters and has a v in it. heh......good luck.

jmk2888

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elwood &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If its just dirty and not chipped, I would just use
soapy watter to clean it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I used Simply Green (Automotive) from Pep Boys and it works great.

Deemeetree

How do you get the Honda or VTEC or whatever is imprinted into the valve cover to be another color. I would hate to sit there tracing the letters out so I won't get any paint on the letters.

I was thinking on placing some Vaseline or some sort of gel over the letters and spary over it, then, wipe off. Do you think this would work?

Let's say spraying the cover a certain cover and leaving the letters the valve cover's color or paint it another color (like white).

elwood

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dimi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I was thinking on placing some Vaseline or some sort of gel over the letters and spary over it, then, wipe off. Do you think this would work? </TD></TR></TABLE>

A lot of people use vasaline.

hookedonvtec

you should use some paint thinner. WD40 also works really well. as long as it dries up by itself it should work pretty well.

Daniel

Since the Y8 valve cover is NOT painted, do you still have to sand it down or whatever? Or do you just clean it really well and then paint it? I've been contemplating about painting mine, too.

EDIT--N/m, found a good DIY thread. https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=782937

Deemeetree

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elwood &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

A lot of people use vasaline. </TD></TR></TABLE>

For the painting reason or for other reasons?

elwood

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Daniel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Since the Y8 valve cover is NOT painted, do you still have to sand it down or whatever? Or do you just clean it really well and then paint it? I've been contemplating about painting mine, too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would give it a good scuffing. They have red and gray scotchbrite
pads for this.

Red= If using a base, like primer.
Gray=If you are just painting.

Sand paper takes things with it, like paint, the scotchbrite will
just ruff up the surface you are painting. I use it at work, and
I love the stuff.

For your unpainted y8 cover, I would just use some gray scotchbrite,
then celan it up, then paint.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dimi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

For the painting reason or for other reasons?</TD></TR></TABLE>

heh.......well I personally dont use it for anything, but that made
me laugh.

hondaeg8

50 bucks and i'll make your valve cover look like the one in the pic. it can be any color you want.

Jmorin

how do i make one shave with nothing just plain?

Deemeetree

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elwood &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

heh.......well I personally dont use it for anything, but that made
me laugh. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well yeah, but there's some freaks on H-T who love to fool around. I just wanted to know if the this is an ok way to not get paint on letters and what not.

........

use primer the smoother the primer the smoother the paint

Stylinhonda

I want mine to look just like this. Anyone know whos valve cover this is and what I do to make it look like this?

The black one is what i want.

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/619579/3

TedR719

I used high temp engine paint back in the day.

Echo7847

Clean it off really well, sand if you'd like. Use chapstick or vaseline on the lettering and mask off any other areas you want to keep unpainted. Use a can of black Wrinkle Paint (Krylon/VHT) and follow the directions.

Stylinhonda

But is that Black valve cover wrinkle paint?