Like the title, anyone painting engine components. Im gonna paint my valve cover plate blue/tan to match the exterior. Also the crossover, intake, and air box will be painted. Eventually I want to paint the valve covers and most other pertruding engine parts. Then if money allows and Ive settled on a turbo, have it powdercoated. Does anyone know if turbo/housing will stay painted if powdercoated or will they burn off? Just playing around with the idea. . .

It will burn off unless you get it coated with Jet-Hot or similar. One thing I've found that's cheap, easy, and lasts a few months is dry graphite lube in a spray can. The gray is very close to the Cummins gray. Just spray it on the turbine housing and manifold when the engine is cool. A can costs about 5 bucks and it takes about 3 minutes to shoot the rusty bits so they look good from the top. :)

Sounds good. Will painting the valve cover plate work or will they flake off as well?

You can paint everything else with any decent engine paint.

I was only referring to the manifold and turbine housing in my previous post. [duhhh]

theres supposed to be paint under there ?[duhhh]

[laugh] At one time there was... Im gonna be building some custom intake and crossover tubing and adding the plate so I figure why not paint it all anyway. My truck will be getting a 5sp at the same time as new turbo so there will plenty time for the painting. Thanks Wanna...

Speaking of painting, whats the best way to clean the engine bay? Im afraid to just take a pressure washer to it for fear of water somehow getting in the engine. What about engine degreasers? Any potential damage from that? I think I read somewhere to use a steam cleaner but Im not sure if that would work, or where to even find one?

Simple green worked for me. marc

stay away from the reg engine degreasers they are hard on the aluminum...

since my truck is covered in rhino lining, think it'd be cool to pull the valve covers and get them shot? lol i think it'd be sweet.

Has anyone ever just tried to strip all the paint off and polish the aluminum valve cover? I don't really think it would look good, but I could be wrong

ya do a search. Cowboycustoms did it a while back and posted about it.