Hey everyone I want to paint the engine cover on my 1998 Monte Carlo Z34. I want to paint it white to match the car. It's just the plastic cover with the v6 logo and the 3800 logo too. My questions are how simple is this? Other than make sure it's clean what sort of steps go into painting plastic? Could i spray straight from the bottle or should I get a spray gun. Lastly I have a brand new can of touch up spray paint from the dealership matching the cars paint. Even though the touch up paint is obviously for metal would I be able to use it on the plastic engine cover? Thanks everyone painting is the only thing I have yet to attempt with a car.

 

I used high heat engine paint and clear on all the engine covers I've painted

 

Do you bother to paint the other side too?

 

What other side? do you mean the underside? Um no lol

 

I just didn't want people to think it was a half a** job if I didn't paint both sides. I didn't see the logic in painting both sides so I'm glad you confirmed it. Why the heat resistant paint? I felt my cover after 45 mins of driving and it didn't even feel warm.

 

You'd never see the underside of the cover anyways lol, plus I'm sure yours has that padding under it like all 3800 covers I've seen

High heat paint just to be safe I guess, never really paid attention to how warm/hot mine gets but at least I know it'll last... not that I have a painted one anymore but the ones I've had always looked great

This one was my favorite

 

Beautiful cover Frank

I think Frank has a thread on that cover. You should find that as it's a good example of the process. Definitely use high temp paint, and make sure you take your time with the prep work as that makes the paint job.

 

Thanks Justin
In fact here's all three threads on the covers I did

1st one, which i think Mike (chibi) still has
>>> https://montecarloforum.com/forum/pa...e-cover-29306/ <<<

2nd, I threw this one away as it didnt fit quite well in my engine bay and in turn ruined the paint from rubbing on the hood insulator thing :p
>>> https://montecarloforum.com/forum/de...-needed-30464/ <<<

3rd which I sold as I didn't wanna use it on my shiny motor lol
>>> https://montecarloforum.com/forum/de...3rd-one-31904/ <<<

And here's what I'm currently rocking just because I had it laying around I removed all the padding and adhesive residue from underneath so that nasty padding wouldn't stain my UIM its spotless underneath.... and I also had to do a little trimming to get it to fit right

 

Love the Chevy oil filler cap! Where did you get that and second I have the stock engine cover it doesn't have that extra stuff on the top like yours that looks like a mini intake manifold. So my question is since mine is a little flatter is it still gonna rub against the padding? Would it even be worth it to paint it then? I wanna paint it white but I have read where people warn about putting clear coat on white?

 

Lastly what kind of prep work needs to be done to the cover? Just clean it with car soap and make sure it's clean and then I can start spraying from the can? Then what wait for that to dry and clear it? Sounds easy enough.