87 rag

I need to repaint my stock 87 valve covers.
I'm looking for any tips on stripping the old paint, prepping for painting, what paint to use, primer, etc.
Anything anyone can tell me that will help me with this is welcome.
Thanks
Jeff

Jerris

I cleaned mine up and primed with yellow zinc chromate primer sold for use on outboard motors before spraying with red engine paint and they have stood up very well. This primer is made for harsh conditions and can take the heat as well.
Jerris

87 rag

Thanks Jerris, how long ago did you do yours?
What did you use to clean off the old paint?

87vette

What I did was just sanded down the old paint on the valve covers... then hit it with two coats of engine primer that you can buy at Pep Boys in a spray can. Then I hit it with 5 coats of Red paint. Looks great ! Pics below...

AGENT 86

If i were to do it again i would not strip the paint. I would degrease it and sand it. Once i stripped mine i saw how ugly the castings were (pock marks). Thats why GM plasterd them with primer. I filled these with a producrt similar to JB weld and then one coat of zinc chromate, a coat of epoxy primer followed by 3 coats of PPG concept paint. 2 years later i can see swelling where the fill is,

Jerris

2 years, no problems yet. I sanded off the paint as mine were really bad but if the GM paint is good in any areas I would just sand it and paint over it as the oroginal primer is hard to get off. I also tapred off the raised ribs and left them shiney by sanding them with a sanding block, adds to the looks of the 1992 I think.
Jerris

silver86

www.corvettemagazine.com has a great article on how to refinish your valve covers.....

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...vr/valvep1.asp

87 rag

Thanks for all the info guys.
I have paint stripper on one cover now. Lets see how it works.
I want to get the original paint off because it is flaking. I would hate to put all this work into it and have my new paint flake off because it was sitting on the crappy old paint.
I may regret this once I see the naked cover.
I picked up some high temp paint that is good to bake in the oven.
I'll give that a shot with lots of coats to hide the imperfections.

I'm going to check out that link now. It didn't work for me yesterday.
Thanks

87 rag

I forgot to ask if anyone has any tips to strip the paint around the corvette logo without getting stripper on it.
Maybe mask and sand around it?

87vette

Why not just pop off the emblem with a screwdriver where you see the black tab at the bottom ? Then just take off the old adhesive and get some new high temp 3M adhesive? I popped mine off with no trouble. That way you can get all the areas painted.

Jerris

Take off the emblems first, dental floss works good the remove glued on emblems. Did you buy the zinc chromate primer available at most parts stores of boat supply stores? I think this is important as it is formulated not to react to metals like magnesium or alumimium and to keep down oxidations problems like electrolisis so that the paint dont bubble too soon.
Good luck
Jerris

Jerris

Take off the emblems first, dental floss works good to remove glued on emblems. Did you buy the zinc chromate primer available at most parts stores of boat supply stores? I think this is important as it is formulated not to react to metals like magnesium or alumimium and to keep down oxidations problems like electrolisis so that the paint dont bubble too soon.
Good luck
Jerris

87 rag

Now that I see how messy of a job it is I will take the emblem off.
I didn't want to take it off because I just glued it back on in the summer with an epoxy. I think it's on there good.
One way or another it will come off.

One cover is down to bare metal, one to go.
I used paint remover twice and sanded the rest of the way with my dremel. I will likely fine sand it before I start to paint.

Jerris: you sold me on the primer, I'll see if I can find it tomorrow.

Thanks.
Jeff