How To Paint Your Engine Cover

[johnnyd6404]

I've heard of a lot of people doing this but no how to so here we go.You will need:600 sand paper (wet or dry your choice)Dupilcolor Engine Enamel and Clear Coat( I chose not to clear as the final coat came out pretty smooth)Start by cleaning the cover with some dish detergent and a scrub brush to remove dirt and oil, don't bother drying it as the next step is sanding. I chose to go with a 600 grit wet/dry paper. Start sanding the entire cover especialy around the 3.5 as there is a visable imperesion line from molding.After sanding once rinse it off and start sanding again take your time as this step is crutial to getting a good smooth finish.I chose to remove the Nissan logo as I could not achieve good results with tape. If you chose to remove the logo be prepared it is no easy task. Start by heating it up with a blow dryer then gently pry around the logo to break it loose from the double sided tape. The tape is super strong so be CAREFUL!! Then you have the chalenge of removing the tape I had a real hard time with this I scraped as much as I could with a razor and flat screwdriver. Then I used Goo Gone to remove the rest of the adhesive. Clean any of the solvent off with soap and water. Once clean you are ready to paint.Start painting per the instructions on the can. First two coats light folowed by a medium wet third coat. With 10 minute wait inbetween coats. First CoatSecondFinal

Now would be the time to clear if you chose just be sure to get all three coats of paint and clear on within an hour(per instructions). And thats it just give it at least 3 hours to cure before putting the logo back on as it may damage the still soft paint. I just finished paint and plan on putting it back on the car in the morning to give it enough time to cure. If further coats are needed wait 7 days for full cure(per instructions). And that's it now you have a nicely painted cover. Just rember take your time and do it right the first time as it would probably be difficult to fix if not done correctly. And the final product...Not the best pic it looks like there are inperfections but its just the lighting it came out real smooth. I'll post a new pic when it's back on the car.


Modified by johnnyd6404 at 3:15 PM 8/24/2008

[lightsout]

i like the write up man...just one question tho. what made you chose BLUE?

[johnnyd6404]

My car's blue so I figured it fit but it is a little lighter than I expected but I still like how it turned out.

[tigersharkdude]

please, please go back and clear it. u will regret it if you dont

[johnnyd6404]

please, please go back and clear it. u will regret it if you dont

why?

[tigersharkdude]

your paint will peel over time. my first paint job peeled after about 6 months.then i did this, had 2 years even survived a 50mph crash straight into a treewhich totaled the old car but this thing was unharmed. the only that happened was the clear cracked

[MinisterofDOOM]

Do the centering pins on the nissan logo go all the way through the engine cover? If so, that gives you an easier way to break it loose. Find something flat and hard and press against the pins. This is what I did with my Q's grille to keep the emblem chrome.

[johnnyd6404]

Do the centering pins on the nissan logo go all the way through the engine cover? If so, that gives you an easier way to break it loose. Find something flat and hard and press against the pins. This is what I did with my Q's grille to keep the emblem chrome.

I tried that and broke one of the pins that tape they use is no joke it took me over an hour to get it all off it's super strong.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yeah, I ended up pulling out the dremel to remove the tape from my grille. Nasty stuff.

[lightsout]

My car's blue so I figured it fit but it is a little lighter than I expected but I still like how it turned out.

oh...you can tint it a little darker, to make it match, then clear it...or you could just clear it.

i used Black Caliper paint on my engine cover...it's awesome b/c it goes on THICK, then shrinks a little as it dries!!

pic:

[stanthes13man]

engine enamel on plastic ? i think it looked better before

[D_roc]

your paint will peel over time. my first paint job peeled after about 6 months.then i did this, had 2 years even survived a 50mph crash straight into a treewhich totaled the old car but this thing was unharmed. the only that happened was the clear cracked

that is a very beautiful paint job where or how did u do it bro???/

[tigersharkdude]

my uncle and I did it. it was done with a few different colors. my uncle is an airbrush artist, he works with custom choppers, and crotch rockets.the snake skin look was achieved using a piece of mesh. but everything else was done using techniques of the trade