Painting Rocker Cover...

[Guest PacMan]

Is it necessary to use high-temp paint when painting a rocker cover?

 

I have some (don't laugh) radiator spray on paint asnd was wondering would this be good enough for the job. I wanted to do it white and i couldn't find any white high-temp paint. Failing that, i might just do my best to take the existing paint off and polish it, but i thought it might look good white against my freshly painted slam panel..

[Guest J-16]

No it's not necessary. Ive resprayed my Mi cover with normal car spray paint and it's fine. The Mi cover is magnesium though i think - don't know if this will make any difference, the 8v cover may react differently.

 

James

Edited August 23, 2003 by J-16

[Guest Gibbo]

I've painted my 8v cover with hammerite smooth and it's fine after 2 years. The rocker cover doesnt get 'that' hot.

[Guest PacMan]

Yeah, thats what i thought. I painted my slam panel in this paint and it gives a decent finish for what it is, although it seems to take ages to dry, its still slightly tack after a full day's drying...

 

...think i'll give it a go tomorrow and if it don't work out then i'll just take it all off with my wire-brush drill attachement!

 

One more thing, is it necessary to replace the rocker gasket after having the cover off the car?

[Guest Hungrytang]

Its not alway nessary to change the rocker gasket unless is hard and visably nackered

Its worth having the rocker cover powder coated as it is the center piece of the engine and this does give a very hard wearing profesional finish

 

And its not that expensive either!!

 

 

This is mine powder coated samco blue.

[Guest Hungrytang]

My spelling is bad really bad

 

Sorry

[RichE 0]

Its not alway nessary to change the rocker gasket unless is hard and visably nackered

Its worth having the rocker cover powder coated as it is the center piece of the engine and this does give a very hard wearing profesional finish

 

And its not that expensive either!!

 

 

This is mine powder coated samco blue.

Did you get the underneath of that coated as well?

 

Becuase Ive heard that you shouldnt...

[Guest Hungrytang]

No mate only the top it stops under the gasket

and looks reel fine!!

[Guest PacMan]

That looks good, how much was it to get done?

[Guest PacMan]

Well i stripped it down to the bare metal and gave it a few coats of paint, but the paint has seemed to react with something on the rocker cover as its leaving small bubbles around the edges. Dunno whats going on with it...

[cybernck 403 1 Cars]

i've asked exactly the same question on PSC forum couple of days ago

when i saw some painted rocker covers, and they said it's ok to spray it

with any kind of paint and it won't flake off, but the pain goes a bit soft

when the rocker cover is hot so just don't touch it.

[Guest PacMan]

Well mine looks great painted white, apart from the slight bubbling, but i'm gonna try and rub down the bad bits and give it another few coats tomorrow.

 

It'll probably all go belly-up once i fit it though...

[Guest Hungrytang]

The reason the paint reacts is because the alloy needs to acid etched to get the paint to key properley

 

Enamal gives about the best painted finish

 

As for the powder coating it cost £5 to have it grit blasted and £15 to have it coated so not that bad really

[Guest PacMan]

Well i rubbed down the bits that the paint didnt take to and gave it another few coats of paint, and its looking a bit better now.

 

I'll post a pic of the end result shortly...

[Guest PacMan]

Heres a couple of pics :

 

 

[cybernck 403 1 Cars]

looks well nice mate .

[Guest PacMan]

Thanks.

 

I was thinking of putting a small Peugeot logo like the one below on it, but don't want to go to all the hassle of getting a graphic made up, so i'm thinking of making a template on the computer and then spraying it on with a blue aerosol. I'd probably cock it up though.

 

 

[Doof 11]

Im just painting mine now and its scratched quite badly in places, could i use a few coats of primer on it to get a better surface for painting?

[Guest PacMan]

I didn't want to use primer on mine incase it was less resistant to the heat, and then the whole thing would have been a waste of time. Just my theory though, could work perfectly fine.

[Doof 11]

I guess theres only one way to find out....

 

Cheers anyway, i'll let you know how it goes

[Guest PacMan]

Yep, let us know cos i had primer sitting here and was wondering the exact same thing as you are, but in the end decided against it. I actually probably should've used some sort of primer as the paint seemed to bubble slightly after a few coats, but i just sanded it down and painted over it.

[Doof 11]

Been to halfords and got some metal filler primer stuff. Im hoping it'll be ok but we'll just have to wait and see. Worst comes to the worst i get it powder coated

[chriswhiteuk 0]

hi

 

Would the Mi rocker cover polish up ? or would I need to get it chromed ?

 

Chris

[Doof 11]

I think you'd need to get it chromed. Its so intricate you'd be buffing all day....ooer

[chriswhiteuk 0]

What did you guys use to strip off the paint ?

 

Paint stripper ? Or do I have to do it the 'proper' way and sand away ?

 

Chris