Reviving an engine cover!
 

Its pretty simple!

All you need is.....

painters tape
razor blade
red (or whatever color for stripes/accents)
all purpose semi-gloss black (I used Rustoleum all purpose)
plastic primer(white will bring out the color more)
Sharpie silver metallic markers
400 grit sandpaper

First! focus on the letters and sand down the original paint. Once removed wash off the cover with dishsoap and water (removes oils and residue from sanding)
Next....spray a light coat over the entire cover with the semi-gloss black paint. (multiple coats if the cover is severely faded)
Then sand down the areas your coloring (such as stripes or the center 'humps' on your cover and letters)

When you tape your sections take your time!
Attachment 27926
I used a thin piece of tape. Lined up one edge to the top of each stripe, molded the tape inbetween the stripes and cut off the excess on the next stripe with a razor blade.

Once you taped everything (it will be a while!) cover areas your not painting. Leave the area with the letters removable in between coats on the stripes/center humps.

Once your taped up and covered, leave one light coat of primer. When it dries to the touch start your first coat of paint.
Remove the layer your covering with for the numbers.
When you color the numbers try to keep your strokes in the same direction.
Attachment 27927
Attachment 27928
once you color it you should be able to do the next coat of paint.
Wait atleast 30 min- 1 hour for the paint to dry and apply another coat.
after the next coat of color go back to your letters and go the opposite direction of the first coloring.
The letters should take up to 3 coats.

After the first 2 coats of paint I let my cover sit over night to completely dry, then re-applied paint the next morning. By the end of the day the cover is completely dry.

Pull your tape and bam!
Attachment 27929
Attachment 27930


Any overspray or screwups on the letters can be hidden by the same semi-gloss paint and a q-tip.

Look's good! I tried to do the letters on mine but I didn't like the way it turned out so I just painted the whole motor!lol

That looks great! But the masking looks like a lot of work! And sometimes the paint lifts when unmasking. The stripes can also be done easily with 1/4" pinstriping. For extra effect, add a second layer of 1/8" pinstriping in contrasting color. Then clear coat the whole thing too seal it (optional).

The effect:

Attachment 27925

Looks great like new! I was going to go out and buy the stickers but I might give that a shot.

Looks great!! And I never once thought about the silver Sharpie (as I'm looking at one now). Brilliant!!! :)

I never thought of it until i noticed its almost exatly the same color as factory...

And wow the pinstriping looks amazing!!!

That looks fantastic...:congrats:... A Sharpie, who knew, wonder if you can use it on the bowtie on the 6th Gen steering wheel, my paint is starting to flake...:(

oh if any of you seen my engine cover in person, the lettering was filled in with silver sharpie, I decided to re-do it since it still had original paint underneath.

Very nice work :congrats:

Mighty fine lines