Painting rocker rovers and manifolds
Moderator: martauto
Im going to be getting mine powder coated but girlfriend wants to do hers on a budget and just spray them herself is the rocker cover safe to just take off and put back on without upsetting anything and what would be the best paint to use thanks
you can use high temp paint. mask off holes (including the oil filer cap hole as it needs to remain paint free) and the bottom that mates with the gasket (mask the whole inside). You will not upset anything as long as you take care not to tear a breather hose or something. While your there you can check rocker clearance. Also change the gasket (unless it is a good rubber one like on the m42).
As the rocker cover is usually made from aluminum take a razor blade or a block and sand paper and remove the paint from the BMW symbol or raised parts if you want to go that route. Note that you need to wait for the paint to cure.
To paint the manifold, you will need to take it off to do a good job. Again if you take you time, not much to mess up. Basically watch out that you do not tear the rubber boots for the intake, make sure that the accelerator cable is detached. Remove the throttle body as a whole. You will need to use new gaskets for both the throttle body and intake manifold (paper gasket)
As the rocker cover is usually made from aluminum take a razor blade or a block and sand paper and remove the paint from the BMW symbol or raised parts if you want to go that route. Note that you need to wait for the paint to cure.
To paint the manifold, you will need to take it off to do a good job. Again if you take you time, not much to mess up. Basically watch out that you do not tear the rubber boots for the intake, make sure that the accelerator cable is detached. Remove the throttle body as a whole. You will need to use new gaskets for both the throttle body and intake manifold (paper gasket)
You can use just about any paint you like.
I used some interior satin gloss and test painted an inlet manifold, rocker cover and even dabbed some on the radiator and exhaust manifold.
The stuff on the exhaust manifold lasted quite well, even if it did get a bit powdery after five years. I put this down to lack of surface preparation on the cast iron more than anything else.
I used some interior satin gloss and test painted an inlet manifold, rocker cover and even dabbed some on the radiator and exhaust manifold.
The stuff on the exhaust manifold lasted quite well, even if it did get a bit powdery after five years. I put this down to lack of surface preparation on the cast iron more than anything else.
What colour do you want to paint it, as I have 2 for sale already done - a Lagoon green and black one
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
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Rtaylor2208
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 3004
- Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:00 pm
- Location: Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
I did both of mine using standard spray paint and they came up well, if you have a search in the picture gallery forum for my Profile my cab thread should be listed on there with pictures of them painted up.
Get some VHT Wrinkle paint and do it with that, I would if I had a m20 anyway, and sand back the raised area's

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