Johan928

Is there a best way to sequence the tightening of the valve cover bolts when refreshing the valve cover gasket and grommets?

I was thinking of starting in the center and working my way outward, going diagonally from one bolt to another.

Just curious if there is a recommended procedure.

Thanks,
John

Jay Wellwood

When I replaced my gaskets, I did basically what you're thinking about. Started from the center and worked out in a diagonal pattern.

I don't recall anything being in the FSM's regarding the cam cover installation.

Johan928

Thanks Jay,

When you had your covers off, did you strip and repaint them as well?

Assuming you did, do you think a coating or two of engine enamel primer will suface for the underside of the vavle covers? Or should I paint the undersides in addition to the top sides.

Thanks,
John

ErnestSw

I wouldn't recommend painting the insides of the covers. A paint chip could do nasty things to your cams.

Johan928

Ernest,

What is the stuff on your cam covers at the moment?

It's on the underside too, and it cracks and pops, and peels underneath as well as it does on the outside where you see it.

Jay Wellwood

I didn't paint the underside of the cam covers - but rather stripped them and left them bare. It's my understanding that the covers are made of a magnesium alloy, which shouldn't be affected if bare.

Painted the exterior after stripping - black with yellow letters.

ErnestSw

My cam covers have been powder coated on the outside and left bare on the inside. I have no problem with powder coating the inside also, but mine were not.

Johan928

Ernest,

That is great the outsides of yours are powder coated. Where they coated when you bought your car, or did you coat them? Are there no concerns of corrosion on the insides if left bare? I would probably leave mine bare, except over some spray from the outside painting has already left some paint on the undersides. Could strip the underneath again, but I don't think I will take the time.

The point I was getting at about the stuff on your cam covers was the cars came from Porsche with the undersides of the cam covers painted as well, and I don't wonder how many 160,000+ mile cars are running out there with original valve covers, peeling and cracking on the insides and outsides?

The thick Porsche paint would have to have more potentially damaging chips than a layer of enamel, don't you think?

On the other hand, leaving them stripped would eliminate any more paint chips falling of underneath, so your point is well taken.

After stripping mine, I understand now why the Porsche paint is put on so thick, as the castings are not the best quality.

I've seen your car Jay, and remember the black seats w/ yellow pinstriping. Don't remember if your covers were painted then or not though, this was SIM 2001 or 2000 (fuzzy.)

Z

I had my valve covers stripped and then powder coated on the outside and teflon coated on the inside. That was several years ago. I had the valve covers off again just recently and the teflon still looks as good as the day it was put on.

Johan928

Z, Ernest,

Whad did the powder coating run you?

Is life expectancy that of the car?

borland

I stripped my factory powder coated covers with paint stripper, baked them to remove oil, acid etch paint prep, then used Duplicolor Engine Enamel spray can (3 coats of Aluminum, one coat of clear, 10 minutes between coats). Over a year later, they look as good as any powder coat I've seen.

I only used 2 coats of clear on the underside. I think that gave a better gasket seal than if I had left them uncoated.

UKKid35

I can't see my cam covers when I'm driving...

Then again I couldn't see my cambelt when I was driving either, and now I can't drive my car. However I can't see how the paint on my cam covers is going to affect how well my car performs.

Johan928

Cam cover was leaking oil, so I replaced gasket. Friend has media blaster in his shop, so why not blast the cracking paint off and put some fresh on there? $8 for paint and $2 for a paint strip and it looks pretty on one cam cover.

Sure you don't see it, but nothing wrong with stopping an oil leak.

UKKid35

You're right, sounds well worth $10, wanna do mine? It's actually something I could do easily now they're off, and I won't need them for some time, but I'm sure if I found someone here to do it that would just add another $150 to my repair costs...

Johan928

$150 for both would be a fair price :-)

$10 of paint. It was my time, but it took also 40 mile drive to my friend's shop, 10-15 minutes to media blast each valve cover to remove original paint, one hour to primer and base spray the cover and paint in the Porsche letters (allowing for 24 hours for primer and other paint to dry, before applying enamel paint to the lettering.)

End result is okay:

http://68.10.235.8:81/pictures/index.cfm?oid=14&gid=281