Cosmos99

So the search function is not my friend anymore on here. I cannot get any results on media blasting and painting or powdercoating the magnesium valve covers. I searched a few weeks ago and several links came up....

Anyways I am in the middle of a clutch/flywheel, valve adjustment and general leak fixes and my valve covers are completely peeling on both sides. I want to refresh them but wanted to see some others and get some insight. Anyone have some links or wisdom to share?

Thanks!

FeralComprehension

I blasted and powdercoated mine in the garage early last year, using a Harbor Freight cabinet and coating gun and an oven I got from the side of the road.

After ~23,000 miles, I think it's holding up fine, but it was quite a bit of effort to get the factory coating off, particularly the undercoat. I'll put up some pictures in a week or so when I take the engine tray off for the summer.

You should also take the time to lap the covers if you're going thru all that.

Cosmos99

Thanks for the info. Did you also blast the inside of the cover? If so did you leave it uncoated?

FeralComprehension

Both sides blasted and coated.

Cosmos99

Thanks! Blasting and doing mine this week. I'll eventually replace them but I have to stop spending money on the "while the engine is out syndrome"

PeterS911

I had mine done a few months ago, as part of my total rebuild.

I was told that the key thing was to make sure they were primered before powder coating.

I don't know how long it will last as my car still isn't finished! (So its lasted 6 months so far!)

FeralComprehension

If you're doing it yourself, know that the covers are magnesium. A nice long pre-bake is recommended before coating.

964Heaven

pics?

Cosmos99

Roger that.

ThomasC2

My cam covers aren't painted and I'm 99% sure that they never have been. Was this a change during some model year? My car is a Row car MY 92 and built in september 91.

Thomas

Cosmos99

92 MY has unpainted aluminum valve covers. Earlier models have magnesium which need to be protected. Unfortunately after 20 plus years the coating flakes off inside and out. I will be replacing mine later this year so I just need a temporary fix.

ThomasC2

aha, so there was a change in 92. Good to finally know. Wondered about thi safter seeing all the threads here about painting them.

Thomas

FeralComprehension

If it's temporary I'd rattle can it or ignore it altogether; blasting took ~3x longer than I expected owing to the toughness of the black coating under the flaking gold paint. That stuff is *tough*.

Cosmos99

Damn...Thats not what I wanted to hear. The exterior is not too bad and the interior has VERY little peeling gold. I am just worried about it getting worse and into the engine.

FeralComprehension

Well, what to say. The flaking on the interior of mine was pretty much terrible, and the outside none too good. That said, I bought my car with 112,000 on the clock, it's north of 135 now, and my oil consumption is 1l/3000 miles, so.... I think the risk isn't great.

If it's really bugging you and you intend to replace the covers anyway, wirebrush the hell out of the internal (oil-exposed) parts of the stock covers and put them back on until you get new ones..