MikeekiM

Okay, about to go into the body shop in an few hours... Am having some hesitation on getting the engine cover painted...

Any downside to doing this? Will I be dealing with damaged paint over the years due to the amount of heat? Cracked paint, etc...needing rejuvenation...

Or will it have the durability of basically any painted item on my car (like the painted mirrors, etc)... Will I basically be able to also treat it as any painted item on my car (wash, wax, etc...)...

Thanks all!

MikePA

You won't have any problems. Get it painted.

TL_S_Driver

i had trouble with cracking and chipping but it seems to be a uncommon problem among others who have also done it.

fsttyms1

if its a body shop thats painting it there is NO down side to painting it, other than if you want it back to stock you will have to buy a new one. mines been painted for along time now (probably 50k miles) and its still in as good as shape as when i sprayed it. many others have done it and have no issues and wont.
just do it

Love my 99

As long as you prep it correctly, you will not have any trouble. I washed mine with dawn, let it air dry, and applied 3-5 light coats of spray paint. No sanding at all and I've never had any trouble with it. No cracking or peeling...

fsttyms1

thats not preping it properly. you should have used atleast a scuffpad and scuffed teh surface, then applied prmer

Love my 99

I guess I lucked out then, huh?

fsttyms1

sorta. the kee is being a clean surface. proper prep work will ensure the best and longest lasting

bkzjimmy

yea, u wont be able to drive with ur hood open for everyone to see it

fsttyms1

he could always cut a hole in it so every one can see it

bkzjimmy

i never thought of that!

fsttyms1

and if you want a really trick job he could superglue some plexi glass to cover the hole and stick neons under the hood to light up the engine cover!

Love my 99

Gangsta

joseph_99tl

i clear coated mine...looks great!..

MikeekiM

Hmmm...just got back... They are not going to do it as complimentary work...

They want $150.00... Not sure I want to do it that bad...

Bxscig

lol not for $150. It sucks that wouldnt just throw it in for a little more but for $150.

mezzerTL-S

just DIY, I"ve had it done for about 8 months and through the winter and no probs just like fsttyms says "proper prep" is most important

2001TL4KCdude

I've done mine several years ago and it still looks great. Do It!

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

$150...ouch.

DIY...

1) take it off engine
2) remove the LETTERING piece (or tape lettering to spray around letters)
3) dawn/orange glo and warm water to get it clean -> air dry
4) use sand paper to scratch up the surface
5) blow off any particles OR (what i did) wash it again and let it air dry
6) thin coat of primer -> air dry
7) thin coat of color -> air dry
8) repeat step 7 until everything is the way you like it
9) clear thin coat -> air dry
10) repeat 9 if you want

All in all, it took me about 4-5 hours on a blazing hot day. I air dryed everything on my deck in the sun. No probs since 06-07-2004. I'll try to find pics (they are somewhere among 650GBs)

BTW you could wet sand after color but I didnt find it necessary and I was satisfied with my results (GDS looking for pic)

Good luck!

MikeekiM

Thanks! Pics would be great...

To be honest, this was a project of opportunity... I have the car in the shop anyway... They've mixed the paint anyway... why not do it...

Now that it's been promoted to a DIY... I will need to find some spare passion to get this done separately...

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

$150>>$50 for paint, primer, sandpaper

Can't find the pics I took when I was doing it but here is the best pic I could find of it after I detailed (taken at night so a bit dark).



You'll figure it out, just remember thin, light coats

fsttyms1

here is mine and another members

mezzerTL-S

Here's mine, it needs a good cleaning but you get the idea

njzprettyboy

ive read that once, the paint dried up on the engine cover, and evaporated through the plastic and killed the engine. good luck!

njzprettyboy

^^also, you get about 3MPG less.

Love my 99

I also heard that OJ turned himself in

Love my 99

And so did Michael Jackson

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

this only true for certain colors.

UglyPsycho

Paint it. it will be fine. The paint stayed on so good it took a day to sand down my covers to do my CF covers.

VITEK

hey just wanted to show off my paint i just did it not too long ago i photochopped my pic and forgot to save a copy of the original but you see it OH and my car is green so i figure it would look good with this on here..






only downfall is that no one will see it but anyone you STOP n show it off too, not like too many will be jumpin up and down to see it but, yeah i think its a start to other mods!!! good luck!!!!!!!!

VITEK

hey just wanted to show off my paint i just did it not too long ago i photochopped my pic and forgot to save a copy of the original but you see it OH and my car is green so i figure it would look good with this on here..






only downfall is that no one will see it but anyone you STOP n show it off too, not like too many will be jumpin up and down to see it but, yeah i think its a start to other mods!!! good luck!!!!!!!!

njzprettyboy

hahaha @ the responses!

DAVERUBINO

Hey, that looks almost like mine! Paint it! I was about the only one with their hood open at the Fudrucker's meet.