Painting rocker covers

[MidnightGTR]

I'll be getting some new parts installed soon (turbos, cam gears) etc and I was thinking while most of it will be apart how hard is it to paint the rocker cover and maybe the plenum?

I can get the gear needed easily enough (compresser/spray gun), but what do I have to do to each piece to prepare for painting.

Is there any protective under/overcoat I have to apply to the paint to stop it cracking/bubbling from the engine bay heat? and do I have to sand back either items (i guess the cover probably doesnt, but the plenum would yeah?)

Is it a big job to remove the plenum/covers? is it something time consuming and how much would be max I should be charged for the workshop to do it (as I dont trust myself to try)

1 last question, is there anywhere in Brisbane where I could buy the "top secret gold" colour? maybe even buy interstate?

Thanks in advance.

[MidnightGTR]

Im looking at painting my rocker covers soon and would like to do them that gold colour that you see a few GTR's with (im assuming the top secret gold)

Anyone know where in brisbane I can buy it? or should I just try getting some mixed somehow.

[pinoi_boi_r33]

mate there is a dude on nissansilvia.com that will powder coat ur rocker cover in a wide range of colours. his nik is shakiel or something and heres the thread: http://www.nissansilvia.com/forums/index.p...showtopic=44766

the limited time cost is 100 bux but i think its going up to 120 coz of metal stripping is an expensive process. Plus postage since ur in Brissy and he in melb. Not sure bout the plenum tho...

otherwise if u wanna do it yourself it ain't really that hard. Get fireproof spray paint or engine enamel spray paint doesn't cost that much get a few cans, can get it from autobarn, bursons, repco supercheap bla bla bla. u will need some degreaser as well. Really clean ur rocker cover with degreaser and sanding u don't want any dirt on it as the paint won't stick as good. Then just follow the instructions on the cans and spray away. Do a coat then sand it back then do a coat over it. Keep going with coats till ur happy and thats it!!!

removal: removal of the plenum i dunno. The rocker cover is really easy tho. My rocker cover gasket is weeping at the moment and i will be replacing it soon. When i do i'll write a DIY for it with pix.

best of luck mate,

Rom.

[mindflux]

Apparently you cant get a hold of this colour, as topsecreat have the paint code and will not release it, I was looking at painting my car /rocker this colour and could not get the colour code.

However where theres a will theres a way, and i can not garentee my comments, Its just what ive seen and heard.

Just dont wanna give you false information bro

[Jimbo2000]

why is this in the DIY/FAQ section???

moved to gerneral auto

[MidnightGTR]

Sorry dood, I didnt think my other rocker cover post went through so I made this one instead, didnt realise it took so long for threads to come up.

[Jimbo2000]

moved to general

can you guys maybe merge this with the other gold paint thread

[Laurence]

Just FYI, the cover looks great in silver (also it looks factory to the untrained eye/cop)

[Jimbo2000]

FYI and all others please note:

a thread posted in the FAQ/DIY section has to be approved by a moderator and could go unchecked for up to 12 hours (usually not that long) please dont post questions in there and if you see that your thread hasn't gone through dont post the same post again

not lecturing YOU, just informing people here cause not many people read the sticky announcements at the top of the DIY section

cheers all

Jim

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

Okay, what you need to do is strip it back to metal... it depends on the finish but it cant hurt to get the metal a bit flatter ie sand is back with around 240 wet sand paper.... you will have to primer it first, make sure the primer you use is right for straight on metal as some arent!!! Make sure there is a good build up of primer so a good 2-3 coats... You then need to wet rub the primer with 400 grit for straight colour and with 800 grit paper if you intend to use a metallic... Make sure you dont rub through anywhere, if you do you will need to re-primer.. Then prepsol the area really well and dont get any fingerprints on it or anything else then paint it.... If you need any advice on the rest of the process let me know...

You wont need any special paints or ect automotive paint will stand up to 140 degrees or so and be fine!!!

It is a mammouth task to get the plenum off a gtr while the engine is in the car, do a search on my name and plenum removal and there is a thread where i did it on my r32 while in the car its a tough job but can be done.... the cam covers are pretty straight foword!!!!

Hope this is a help!!!

Daniel

[MidnightGTR]

ok ill forget the plenum, do the covers need sanding back and primed like u mentioned above, or was that just for the plenum

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

if your covers have no chips in the paint you could get away with a light sand with 400 then paint ect.... if they have chips you can patch primer by rubbing out the chips and spot primering them, then rub the whole lot to get rid of the edges on the primer build up, then paint....

You should primer cause it acts as a bonding agent and you will get alot more professional and smooth looking job....

Also i would rub them back cause they are cast and still fairly rough upon closer inspection!!!

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

oh and that gold colour you want lucky your not painting a bonnet it isnt the easiest colour to paint on and get an even finish without a spray pattern showing through... lucky your only painting small parts!!!

[SKY031]

I used VHT enamel for my purple bits.

All that prep work just sounds like too much hard work... I stripped the factory paint, and gave it a light sand so the paint had something to stick to, cleaned it with thinners, and sprayed the paint (from an aerosol can) directly onto the metal.

[EVL R33]

Dude, just remember to put new gaskets on the cam covers (including the 'd' seals) when you put them back on. I forgot to when I had my covers painted and had an oil leak within 24hrs at the 'd' seals. Doesn't cost much from nissan....

Cheers

Brett

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

yeah but all your purple bits wont last and wont look as good in a few years, and an aerosol can paint job cant look as good as a properly preparred 2pak paint job.... but its cheap and achievable on the other hand!!!!

Another note if you look after the gasket when you take it off and make sure it is clean and totally dry they can be reused easily!!!

[Bax]

Well I dunno about you but a mate did his engine with aerosol can, mind you it was black, and it came up flawless. Many a light coat was done.

[Fitzpatrick Speed Works]

show me top secret gold in a can???????

[SKY031]

yeah but all your purple bits wont last and wont look as good in a few years

The airhorns that can be seen on the left hand side of the engine bay were painted over 10 years ago.

I think 10 years is a bloody good effort, and if I only have to paint it once every 10 years, i'll be happy.

Something that hasn't been mentioned, is the use of clear coat.

If clearcoat is used, the heat in the engine bay will eventually cause it to go yellow.

[Bax]

At the end of the day I'll be ripping my cover off and taking it into the panel beater to get him to paint it for me, same colour as the car.