Got bored ... Painted my engine cover

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 10:09 PM

Another EASY mod and this was VERY cheap. I took my time (~2 hours) so it looks pretty nice. IMO

Here are the Step by Step pics:

Before/After

The Supplies (~$20)

I had to buy:
1 can High Temp Dupli-Color Red $6
1 can Clear Coat Dupli-Color $6
1 Pack of Acrylic Markers $6
1 Pack Touch Up Brushes (Cheap) $1
1 Roll of tape 80 cents

Taped and Trimmed

First 2 coats

3rd Coat and Tape Removed

My helper ... with a little motivation (Bud)

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 10:14 PM

Before and After Clear Coat

I am sure this is not on the level of a professional job, but I am pretty "Anal" about my car and I think this looks 1000 times better than the OEM look. I was going to pay someone else, but I got bored tonight and decided to "try" it myself. If you take your time, then you should be able to achieve close to a professional look.

I spent about 2 hours and $20 bucks to complete this mod and even watch TV in between coats.

I just need to do my brakes now (decals and G2 paint in the mail) and I am thinking about doing the SOLSTICE on my engines hood BTW, the only part that made me "nervous" was the black stripes. My friend is an artist, so I let him do the black ... my hands are not as steady as his.

ElixirMan · 05-03-2007, 10:15 PM

Great job, Msg Mckee!! I like it a lot. Now, can you do mine next??

Aspenrose · 05-03-2007, 10:15 PM

Very nice-if I can ever have a free evening/weekend, it's on my to-do list!!!

Sweet!!!

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 10:18 PM

One last pic ... with no flash, because the cover is not as "shiny" in person as it appears on my thread.

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 10:23 PM

Thanks

I do have another can left ... but I do not make house calls.

This really was a "spontaneous" mod and I really did not plan on doing this until late May. However, after seeing Spikys cover it made me want it too.

Not too bad for $20 and 2 hours of work.

jag767 · 05-03-2007, 10:31 PM

great job, i hope like hell the clear and the marker doesnt bubble on you, i use a hig heat clear and i use high heat paint with a pinstripe brush and obviously i do the base coat with a high heat paint. i dont know if the engine compartment gets hot enough to bubble things which are not make for heat but ill keep my fingers crossed for ya.

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag767

great job, i hope like hell the clear and the marker doesnt bubble on you, i use a hig heat clear and i use high heat paint with a pinstripe brush and obviously i do the base coat with a high heat paint. i dont know if the engine compartment gets hot enough to bubble things which are not make for heat but ill keep my fingers crossed for ya.

Thanks for the concern.

The red paint is safe to 1200 degrees and and the clear coat is high heat too. I will keep an eye on the black, but I think it will be okay too.

I ride my car hard and take 300 mile trips every couple of weeks and the top of the engine cover has never got too hot. (don't ask ...

) I have not seen any other forum having issues and I am sure that people are using engine paint.

jag767 · 05-03-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSG_McKee

Thanks for the concern.

The red paint is safe to 1200 degrees and and the clear coat is high heat too. I will keep an eye on the black, but I think it will be okay too.

I ride my car hard and take 300 mile trips every couple of weeks and the top of the engine cover has never got too hot. (don't ask ...

) The cover seems to be metal on the bottom and coated on top to reduce the heat. I have not seen any other forum having issues and I am sure that people are using engine paint.

the engine cover get over 300 believe it or not. i know this because i grabbed mine off the engine hot and actually burnt myself hahaha. not bad, but enough to let me know im alive

jag767 · 05-03-2007, 11:05 PM

btw i just noticed what you said about the stripes... and yes they are a bitch and a half if you dont do this kind of stuff. i think the hardest part when i first did it was establishing where to cut the line in. make them too narrow or wide and it looks like crap, not to mention if you dont have a steady hand it'll look like an unborn fetus decided to try and paint

MSG_McKee · 05-03-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag767

btw i just noticed what you said about the stripes... and yes they are a bitch and a half if you dont do this kind of stuff. i think the hardest part when i first did it was establishing where to cut the line in. make them too narrow or wide and it looks like crap, not to mention if you dont have a steady hand it'll look like an unborn fetus decided to try and paint

I know my limits and I am glad to have talented friends.

He did a great job and the black is and auto enamel paint (not high heat) and it is not too thick, so I hope it holds.

I think it will be okay, but will post either way after my next looong trip (Monday).

MSG_McKee · 05-04-2007, 06:01 AM

Here are my "first light" pics and I think the paint scheme flows quite well.

smartin · 05-04-2007, 07:37 AM

I noticed the Bud Light in one of the last pictures. Must have been a reward.

Looks nice

AustinTashis · 05-04-2007, 07:47 AM

You might want to think about gluing foil to the underside of the cover on the exhaust side. This will reflect away most of the radiant heat from below instead of absorbing it. If you don't want to use foil, it would also help to just paint it white, or any color lighter than the original gray.

Chuck · 05-04-2007, 09:42 AM

Great job...Looks really good and professional.