Materials needed: (all of these can be found at most part stores. I prefer Advanced Auto as they are cheaper and friendly)
Stripper:


VHT paint for header:


Duplicolor Engine paint (don't have a pic of the clear)


Grey scuff pads:


Krylon wrinkle finish paint:


Duplicolor engine bay paint:


Duplicolor clearcoat for the engine bay:


Painters tape:


Sandpaper(400&600 grit)


You will also need a cheap baking pan,rubbing alcohol,dish soap and shop towels.

Engine bay:(Engine bay was last)
1)First I cleaned it with Simple Green and a good brush.
2)I sanded some areas the were not smooth with 600 grit.
3)I scuffed the hard to reach areas and rest of the bay with a grey scuff pad.
4)I then masked the bay with 3M painters tape and covered the engine with a few shop towels.
5)Painted the bay using the Duplicolor paint.
6)Once the paint dried I then shot a few coats of Duplicolor clear for extra protection.

Engine/Tranny: (I did this first)
1)Clean it very good making sure you get the oil/grease off of it. (Simple Green)
2)Once it was cleaned I then washed it with dish soap and a grey scuff pad.
3)I then masked off the mounts and diconected the hoses,wiresand intake box/hose..
4)After everthing is masked good, I used Duplicolor Engine paint (aluminum).
5)After a few coats and it dried, I then shot a few coats of the engine clearcoat on. (This is a must as any solvents or oil will stain if you don't put a clear coat on)

Valve cover:(Did this 2nd as you may have alittle overspray from painting the head)
1)Once the valve cover is off the car, take all of the gaskets/grommets off.
2)Strip the old paint off (I used Aircraft stripper) I also used a bondo spreader to remove the paint.
3)When all of the paint is off and the VC is dry, I sanded it down with 400 grit and then washed it with dish soap and a grey scuff pad.
4)Next step is making the sparkplug holes,bolt threads and Oil fill hole.
5)Now you are ready for paint. I use Krylon Wrinkle finish paint
6)I wanted a nice wrinkle finish so I sprayed 1 med. wet coat followed by a full wet coat after waiting 5 minutes between the first coat.
7)I then put the VC (on a cheap baking sheet) in a preheated oven set to 220 for 15 min. (this step is optional, it can airdry but the oven will give you the best finish)

Header:
1)Started with a DC Sport header with a good bit of surface rust.
2)I sandblasted all of the rust off using a glass media I got from Harbor Freight.
3)After all of the rust was gone, I then sanded it down with 400 grit (make sure you sand everyspot very well you are applying paint to as it will not stick if you don't).
4)I then cleaned it with alcohol to remove any traces of grease/oils from my hands.
5)I then painted the header using VHT Hi-Temp paint. (This is the best stuff out there, every other HI-Temp paint dosen't work as good as VHT)
6)After about 5-6 light coats, I let it dry installed it back on the car and followed the instructions for curing the paint on the can. You must follow these steps or it will not hold up.

Before I painted the bay. (everthing else was already painted prior to the photo)


Final product:

 

oh no shit... i didn't even know you did any painting, i just thought you cleaned the hell out of it. take that as a compliment though, it just looks like a super clean oem bay

 

Yeah, the before pic was already cleaned. That was the best she was gonna look so I decided to just paint it. It was really bad before any cleaning though.

 

Damn, didnt know you used a spray can to paint the bay! looks good!

 

I didnt see if you mentioned this, but did you pull the motor to paint everything???

 

No, I just covered the moter good with shop towels.

 

Brave and patient!

 

wow i give you alot of props mang. love it. im thinking of doing this for my coupe but the coupe is black

 

i might do the same thing