Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Corvette95 · 04-12-2020

After I get my top end powder coated, how do most people paint the lettering in the plenum and cam covers. I know I can't do it with a brush myself, nerve damage doesn't allow me steady hands. Is there a stencil, do most free hand it? I see there was a cut out for this at Stillwater where they spray painted the lettering. Also want advice to clean the alternator and compressor's rough aluminum. I want to bring it to original condition, not above. Also I see a bunch of great looking a/c lines/coolant lines, and air lines and brackets on the Registry. I would like my 90 to look better. I DON'T want full polish or chrome look, but I would like it more "shiney" . I can do a lot with still wool, and have already begun, but there are a bunch of crevasses and non accessible places I can't get to . My a/c lines are still attached. I know this knowledge is here, I can see it in your signatures!!! BTW I have some never dull wadding that just came in I was going to try tomorrow.
Thanks!

LGAFF · 04-12-2020

I used a micro screwdriver and would just drip some in and let it fill... the blade to guide the paint...

32valvesftw · 04-12-2020

What type of paint did you use?

Z51JEFF · 04-12-2020

I’m surprised nobody has made a stencil for this yet,if I ever do repaint the plenum on mine I will have a adhesive stencil made for this. As far as briny a I the finish on the ALT and compressor take the ALT apart and have the cases blasted with walnut shells and scrub the compress with a soft bristle BRASS brush,nothing more harsher than brass and Simple Green. You can also try WHITE SCUFF PAD on the tubing to get the surface back to an OEM finish.

Paul Workman · 04-13-2020

EASY!

Of course the letter wells have to be clean, oil free, etc.., etc.

I found using a camel hair artists brush, and by hand was able to paint the bottom as well as the sided of the letter wells.

OF COURSE there was a little paint that got up over the edge of the letters, BUT! Before it dries, a little dampening of acetone (aka fingernail polish remover) on a rag stretched over the tip of my finger...worked perfectly! I was able to cut the edges to perfection - quick n easy.

Good luck!

Paul.

Corvette95 · 04-13-2020

Thanks Paul, I am having the top end powder coated, I don't know if acetone of thinner would hurt the finish. I can't free hand (would not even think of trying) but maybe my wife can or I could find someone for that. I figured free hand would be the case, I just don't have a steady enough hand for it .Wish I had that Stillwater mold.

32valvZ · 04-13-2020

I simply use Hi Temp Engine paint. Spray a little in the cap of the can, grab a small brush and paint the letters/numbers. I find it helps to actually get a good amount on the brush and kind of pool the paint up a little in the recesses. Whatever paint happens to go "outside the lines", just lightly wet a rag with mineral spirits and wrap the rag tightly around your finger. Just wipe right over each letter/number and it comes out perfect. The whole operation takes maybe 15 minutes...

Mystic ZR-1 · 04-13-2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by 32valvZ

I simply use Hi Temp Engine paint. Spray a little in the cap of the can, grab a small brush and paint the letters/numbers. I find it helps to actually get a good amount on the brush and kind of pool the paint up a little in the recesses. Whatever paint happens to go "outside the lines", just lightly wet a rag with mineral spirits and wrap the rag tightly around your finger. Just wipe right over each letter/number and it comes out perfect. The whole operation takes maybe 15 minutes...

I sprayed mine. Came out great! Just mask all around the lettering to avoid how much overspray you have to wipe off. Didn’t go crazy trying to mask each letter. I used a paper towel dampened in mineral spirits while the paint was still tacky, not wet. Anything stronger might not be good... check it on an unseen spot 1st.
Much easier than trying to freehand with a brush etc.

mpiecyk · 04-13-2020

Paasche Airbrush Co. makes the Flow Pencil that will work very well for your request its model # FP-1/32.
I have used this flow pencil on many auto emblems back in the 80s, the most intricate emblem was the cross flags on the C-2 & C-3 corvettes and they passed the Bloominton Gold & NCRS judging.
And for the paint I found the Sign Painter's 1-Shot works the best.

Corvette95 · 04-13-2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpiecyk

Paasche Airbrush Co. makes the Flow Pencil that will work very well for your request its model # FP-1/32.
I have used this flow pencil on many auto emblems back in the 80s, the most intricate emblem was the cross flags on the C-2 & C-3 corvettes and they passed the Bloominton Gold & NCRS judging.
And for the paint I found the Sign Painter's 1-Shot works the best.

Thanks!

04-12-2020	#1
Corvette95 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 1,119	Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted After I get my top end powder coated, how do most people paint the lettering in the plenum and cam covers. I know I can't do it with a brush myself, nerve damage doesn't allow me steady hands. Is there a stencil, do most free hand it? I see there was a cut out for this at Stillwater where they spray painted the lettering. Also want advice to clean the alternator and compressor's rough aluminum. I want to bring it to original condition, not above. Also I see a bunch of great looking a/c lines/coolant lines, and air lines and brackets on the Registry. I would like my 90 to look better. I DON'T want full polish or chrome look, but I would like it more "shiney" . I can do a lot with still wool, and have already begun, but there are a bunch of crevasses and non accessible places I can't get to . My a/c lines are still attached. I know this knowledge is here, I can see it in your signatures!!! BTW I have some never dull wadding that just came in I was going to try tomorrow. Thanks! __________________ Corvette95 Registry and Forum (*************) 1989 C4 Conv Wht/Gry Auto Hardtop Top Flight SOLD 1995 C4 Coupe Purple/Blk 6 Speed 1989 C4 Conv Wht/Red Auto SOLD 1996 C4 Conv Black/Tan Auto SOLD 1994 C4 Coupe Wht/Blk SOLD 1995 C4 ZR-1 White/Gry #278 Dual Dunn Head SOLD 1986 C4 Coupe Black/Red 4+3 SOLD 1990 C4 ZR-1 Red/Red #0454

04-12-2020	#2
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted I used a micro screwdriver and would just drip some in and let it fill... the blade to guide the paint... __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

04-12-2020	#3
32valvesftw Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 530	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted What type of paint did you use?

04-12-2020	#4
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont,Ca Posts: 3,078	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted I’m surprised nobody has made a stencil for this yet,if I ever do repaint the plenum on mine I will have a adhesive stencil made for this. As far as briny a I the finish on the ALT and compressor take the ALT apart and have the cases blasted with walnut shells and scrub the compress with a soft bristle BRASS brush,nothing more harsher than brass and Simple Green. You can also try WHITE SCUFF PAD on the tubing to get the surface back to an OEM finish.

04-13-2020	#5
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,493	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted EASY! Of course the letter wells have to be clean, oil free, etc.., etc. I found using a camel hair artists brush, and by hand was able to paint the bottom as well as the sided of the letter wells. OF COURSE there was a little paint that got up over the edge of the letters, BUT! Before it dries, a little dampening of acetone (aka fingernail polish remover) on a rag stretched over the tip of my finger...worked perfectly! I was able to cut the edges to perfection - quick n easy. Good luck! Paul. __________________ Good carz, good food, good friendz = the best of timez! 90 #1202 "FBI" top end ported & relieved Cam timing by "Pete the Greek" Sans secondaries Chip & dyno tuning by Haibeck Automotive SW headers, X-pipe, MF muffs Former Secretary, ZR-1 Net Registry

04-13-2020	#7
32valvZ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 1,071	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted I simply use Hi Temp Engine paint. Spray a little in the cap of the can, grab a small brush and paint the letters/numbers. I find it helps to actually get a good amount on the brush and kind of pool the paint up a little in the recesses. Whatever paint happens to go "outside the lines", just lightly wet a rag with mineral spirits and wrap the rag tightly around your finger. Just wipe right over each letter/number and it comes out perfect. The whole operation takes maybe 15 minutes... __________________ [B]1990 #2815[/B] [COLOR="Red"][B]Red/Red[/B][/COLOR] Ported Plenum & IH (by Pete) Haibeck Chip Rebuilt FPR (by Phil) FIC Injectors Watson LT Headers 3" Stainless Works exhaust Lingenfelter Open Air Lid Bill B Built Transmission Shifter & C Beam Plates [FONT=Impact][COLOR=red]1992 [COLOR=black]#[/COLOR] 091[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Impact][COLOR=#ff0000]Red/[COLOR=silver]Gray[/COLOR][/COLOR][/FONT] [B]SOLD[/B]

04-13-2020	#9
mpiecyk Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Bartlett Illinois Posts: 187	Re: Painting letters on plenum and cam covers and cleaning metal lines advice wanted Paasche Airbrush Co. makes the Flow Pencil that will work very well for your request its model # FP-1/32. I have used this flow pencil on many auto emblems back in the 80s, the most intricate emblem was the cross flags on the C-2 & C-3 corvettes and they passed the Bloominton Gold & NCRS judging. And for the paint I found the Sign Painter's 1-Shot works the best.