Painted Finned Valve Covers

[mopowers]

Do you guys have any tricks to painting only the recessed portion of finned valve covers? I was going to try to mask the sides and paint the tops. Then wipe the tops carefully with solvent. How do you guys do it???

This is what I'm shooting for. Here's a before picture before I started cleaning them up:

 

[dano]

My dad paints the whole valve cover then goes back with a palm sander and knocks off the paint off the top of the fins.

Granted, he sands them all flat prior to paint.

 

[440abody]

Tape off the sides where you don't want paint. Paint the entire top of the valve cover and while the paint is still wet take something flat wrap a rag around it tightly and wet (don't saturate it or it will drip) it with thinner. Keep a good even pressure on it and it will take the paint from the raised parts.

 

[EL5DEMON340]

I painted the whole thing then sanded the raised fins. I did sand them before using 120, 220, 400, then 800 so they are polished.

 

[mopowers]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll post up some pics when I get it done this weekend.

 

[mopowers]

Got them done this weekend. After I painted the tops, I just wiped them down with some brake cleaner. Worked like a charm.