How to give your valve cover a durable wrinkle finish
 

I decided to wrinkle black my valve cover. This is not my first time using the product so I figured I'd share my expertise with you guys.

Tools you'll need:

• Red Scotch Scuff Pad
• Self-etching primer
• VHT Wrinkle Black Paint
• Parts cleaner (Brake cleaner)
• Oven

I started out with a parts cleaner spray or brake cleaner to remove all of the oil, then pressure washed it, scuffed it and I primed it with self etching primer.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323408571

The deal with Wrinkle black is to do thick, multiple coats and very evenly. Spray your first coat on nice and thick. Let this coat sit 8-10 minutes. You're looking for the surface to dry up just a bit. I used to paint professionally so an aerosol can is hard to mess up.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323408571

Throw on a second coat and give it another few minutes minutes between this and the third coat and then baked it at about 110-120 for 20 minutes or so.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323408571

She came out perfect. If you've found that your wrinkle effect is patchy or you've missed an area, just touch up the areas with a light coat while the valve cover is still warm, it's like magic when the paint is still hot. You'll see an instant wrinkle fill in.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323408571

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323408571

Sweet thanks

Hmmmm, makes me want to redo mine. maybe after motor build. Everything will be crinkle coated! Or just drunk, still want

The baking is the hard part for most people. My valve cover won't fit in my EZ Bake Oven.

A friend of mine did my valvecover as he is a painter by profession. I asked him to do it in red. It is finished now, but I haven't seen it yet. He said he could "steer" the wrinckle effect by using a heat-gun. I'll post some pics when I have it on the car. Next up is the manifold in wrinckle black...

Yours looks very nice! I also like the fillercap!

I power washed mine, sprayed a few coats of VHT, then left it in the garage in August for a few days and it turned out great.

I did mine with Rustoleum Wrinkle black, in the dark in 5 minutes , little prep work (scrubbed with brass brush) and tossed it on the car wet. It came out perfect with a nice tight wrinkle...but now the very front of the VC area is starting to peel. Time to pick up a spare and get it painted.

Painted mine in the driveway:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323458804

Looks good OP. If you have not already, you'll probably need to take the oil cap sealing surface back to bare metal so it doesn't leak.

Did the same with mine but ran it through a parts washer first. Hand washed following that, then sprayed on the front porch, "cured" it in the dining room for a few days.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323459217

Nice. Any tips on getting the recessed lettering painted right?

No beer during the process, and use a really small brush. I took my time and two coats + dry time in between was about an hour. Also used a sewing needle to help the paint get into the tight corners. Yeah I'm that ----.

It is possible that I will likely fail when I'm about to paint mine.

Wrinkle FTW

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1323466457

Sprayed in the back of my truck and cured in the oven for about 1 hour.

Caliper paint. The kind that comes in the small can with a brush. You can brush it in carefully. It's a ceramic paint so the color won't fade at engine bay temps.

That blue recessed lettering looks great. I need to redo my valve cover, is peeling and looks crappy.

Thanks man

Also a tip I've used in the past. If you have access to a syringe, remove the needle part of the tip. You'll be left with a plastic opening that you'll be able to suck up enamel paint with. Then just fill each letter and let it dry.

Or just get something like this from a hobby or craft store:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1329405742