So I bought these polished aluminum valve covers about 6 months ago, and already they are pitting and tarnishing a little...and I cant simply buff it off with metal polish. Not cool. To remedy this...I was thinking about painting them gloss black to match the outside of the car. Does anyone know what kind of paint would produce the best results? Im hoping for a powder coated kind of look...but with paint (cheaper and easier). Thanks!

 

If it is really aluminun covers, go to sears and get a polishing kit and use the tripoli (brown) bar to polish with a hard type polishing wheel. They will come out like new. I polish things on the side and have done this many times. The kit is like $10. Try that first.

 

You want some of this stuff.

Be advised...

This is a serious paint.

Do NOT use it indoors without at least a dust mask.

Also, your valve covers will be off for several days, since the paint takes 24 hours to dry enough to spray a second coat, and 48 hours after the last coat to dry completely, and THAT'S assuming you have decent temperature and humidity conditions.

It's not as tough as powdercoating, but it ain't far from it either, and it matches well enough that I have used it to touch up powdercoated items.

 

I have stock valve covers powdercoated black if you are interested.

 

a buddy did mine in black chrome for $40