E30 Valve Cover Refinishing - Wrinkle Finish

I bought this 1986 325es with the engine components as you see it at the beginning of the video. Since the exterior of the car is grey, and nothing red, I've always wanted to refinish the valve cover and intake manifold to better suit the car. I like wrinkle finish found on the valve cover of the s54 motor inside the e46 m3, as well as some of the machined top of some aftermarket valve covers for these e30s, so that's what I was going for.
A note - I could have taken this part to the powdercoater and gotten a much more durable and possible better looking finish, but I wanted to have this done over the weekend, and I also love DIY projects so I decided to refinish on my own.
I always remind myself that 95% of painting is prep, so I made sure I was patient in cleaning the part before laying the first coat of paint down. Here are the steps I took in the video:
0:24 - Removing the valve cover form the engine is straightforward enough. A few nuts holding it to the head, a bracket that connects the cover to the manifold, a breather hose, and plucking off the ignition leads (which is required, but is quick to do and makes space).
0:55 - Off with the old gasket, which looks alright but I will replace just in case. A humble shop towel covering will make sure no debris gets in the head while it's nude.
1:05 - A good scrubbing with degreaser will allow the paint stripper to get some more real estate. I used some "aircraft" paint stripper, brushed over the valve cover and let sit for a half hour before brushing off with a stiff household brush (that you might use to clean grout). All of course with some chemical resistant gloves because I like my fingerprints just how they are.
1:35 - Soap and water cleans off the part while also diluting the stripper for disposal
1:52 - I'll tape off areas that don't need to be painted. I used the better, more expensive, green tape on the surface that contact the gasket since I want that to be very clean, and blue elsewhere.
2:42 - A few times over with a solvent that will take any lingering oils off the part makes it ready for paint. I didn't bother sanding at this point because the surface of the valve cover should be fairly receptive to the paint.
2:49 - Three heavy coats of this high-temp, wrinkle finish paint is what is called for. One goes on horizontally, the next vertical, and the last diagonal. I usually don't like to leave paint on heavy, but this will help wrinkle as it dries. Even coats here, as that will mean the finish is consistent across the part.
3:05 - The paint dries for 24 hours before I put it in the oven for a half hour to 'cure'.
3:17 - Sanding the raised portion and 'BMW' I started with 160 grit sandpaper to knock off the wrinkles, then I took the metal down a hair so there were no more dimples and pock marks with a dremel and sanding wheel. Final finish comes from a 220 grit, then a 400 grit and then a 800 grit wet sand. All of this was done with a block of wood so the sanding was even, and the raised portion of I was sanding wasn't rounded on the edges. A note - I put some tape around the work area so any stray strokes wouldn't damage the rest of the finish.
3:53 - The part goes back in the car, complete with a new gasket.
Thanks for watching! And if you have any questions about how this was done, or and comments on how these videos could be better, please share!

[@Thorhack]

This video is fantastic. Really well done! The lack of commentary really speeds up the process.

[@brady5829]

Damn this is really high quality stuff! Honestly amazed this channel is so small.

[@AirandFuel]

Thanks man, for all of your super nice comments on my vids. I really enjoy making these so i'm glad you like them. Also, love watching how it's made, so I appreciate the comparison.

[@guythomson9487]

Nice work! Your attention to detail is amazing

[@AirandFuel]

Thank you Guy! I want to get some more videos out but have been very busy.

[@mercedes300ETURBO]

Wow super clean job it’s tempting want to do my m62 covers 😺

[@stanmarsh912]

That looks incredible

[@mercedes300ETURBO]

Soooo cool great job

[@DKendrick1]

This looked way too easy lol. I have my valve cover off as we speak and I’m now tempted to paint it. Hmmm

[@ERRBERR]

The paint stripper didn’t melt the plastic tub somehow?

[@thewedge8823]

so who painted it black and red? looked pretty good to me. Are u gonna do the intake manifold too?

[@contrivational7470]

Looks awesome bro, you've motivated me to do this to my m20b23, what is the high temp paint that you used though?

[@AirandFuel]

Thanks my man! I used VHT high temp black wrinkle plus.

[@mojious1887]

ure doing great dude

[@FreakPusher]

Ahhh yeah!! nice!!!

[@Aynal-kz7yr]

Danke 👍👍👍👍

[@joshgurr585]

Hi why put into the oven for cure .And what's the temperature to be set up

[@WictorEmma]

Awesome! U DA MAN.
THANX!
Which type of paints? Please open the secret ...
p.s. Yes, I find - VHT Wrinkle Plus ...yes?

[@dediego00]

Can you provide some details Oven temperature and time . Did it stink up the entire Kitchen?

[@taccra]

Welp. Here I go

[@stevenroman9649]

What was the oven temp at?

[@BCH37501]

What temp did you put it in at?