GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Thank's to PBFlash for the inspiration and the link. This is just what my engine needed. But I did have to paint it twice. The first time the color didn't turn out close enough to even try to match the Injen CAI and FD tower bar. And I tried the idea that was mentioned on the link to use vaseline to the letters and the theory was that the paint would not stick to that area and you could just wash off the paint were the vaseline was. WRONG! The paint just started to peel off from the whole area. I ended up using high temp engine paint (Ford Red) cause that was the closest shade I could find and I have to say it's really close! The color in the pictures are a little 'blueish', I took them late in the afternoon with snow everywhere. I'll try to fix them up. I can't wait for my next oil change to see the look on my mechanics face again. His eye's bugged out when he saw the CAI in there. And I've added the FD tower bar and now painted the plastic. Hehe

Nice job. I figure out doing the same this summer. I think also painting the letters in silver.

The vaseline works well. I did mine, you just have to be careful when peeling it off. It looks like it came that way. It looks better when the letters stand out. When the letters are painted it looks just like any other spray paint job. Paint the letters a different color, it makes a huge difference.

I was wondering is it is possible to paint this part as well.

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I don't see why you can't paint the intake manifold. I wouldn't mind if it looked more like the 2zz engine. But I'm happy with the 1zz look when it's nice and clean and shiny. I'll just wait for the supercharger.-I put on an extra 2 coats to make it smoother and shiny. Maybe it was too many coats for the vaseline to work. Or maby i should have used an exacto knife to cut the letters out before wiping. I thought about masking the letters with tape, but the spaces in the letter's A and E are very small for that. I do plan on painting the letter's silver, eventually. I'm gonna try to vaseline the area that I don't want painted and use on of those paint pens. Or maybe using a large stamp would work better?I'd still like to know how this guy got his letters to turn out so perfect?

quote:I was wondering is it is possible to paint this part as well.That is your EXHAUST manifold, not the intake manifold. The exhaust manifold gets very hot when the engine warms up. High performance ones are often ceramic coated to keep heat down in the engine compartment. You might be able to paint it if you can find a paint that is meant for very high temperature applications.

quote:That is your EXHAUST manifold, not the intake manifold.Incorrect. That is the intake manifold. Look how the CAI is attached to it. The exhaust manifold is at the back of the engine between the engine and the firewall.

quote:DUH!!!!!! My god, where do you put your oil my friend????Here, he puts Ingen oil cap

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Salsa!, you'll need a little course. Yellow: brake fluidBlue: oilRed: engine coolantPurple: power steering fluidLight blue: windshield washer fluid

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LoL! You guys are killing me. Intake manifold. Brake fluid in the washer fluid res. You know, I should move this thread to the Engine thread, since it had nothing to do with exterior features....

Why does the oil cap have the number '710' on it?

If ya could move it to the engine forum, please do. I noticed the mistake I made AFTER I posted it in here and I'm not authorized to move it. SORRY, my bad!

The Admins must have. LoL I didnt get the chance. Thanks to whoever did.

That looks really good Lancer. That is something I might have to do this summer when it warms up. Thanks for the great pictures.

wheres my darn blinker fluid go?

quote:I was wondering is it is possible to paint this part as well.That is your EXHAUST manifold, not the intake manifold. The exhaust manifold gets very hot when the engine warms up. High performance ones are often ceramic coated to keep heat down in the engine compartment. You might be able to paint it if you can find a paint that is meant for very high temperature applications.I hope it's not the exhaust mainfold because the throttle body opens into them. Plus if you look at the SC, it completely replaces the intakes on the front with an all in one unit.

You are joking, right? It's hard to tell when some guys are. LoL

The blue cover was done with vaseline before the entire cover was painted. He took his time and did it properly.

One note. Try and make sure you reply to the right person. By the looks of it and my SN in the "Title", you are talking to me. If you arent replying to any one person, have no screen name in the title. Thanks. Just keeps from people getting confused.

I finally painted mine. I tried the vaseline trick but the result was not very good.So I did it by hand, with paint and brush. BWT, anyone know how to get the platic pin who hold the engine cover.I broke both while trying to pull them out and I lost one of them?

By hand?! It turned out really good. I would like to see a pic of that when you get it installed.

quote:By hand?! It turned out really good. I would like to see a pic of that when you get it installed.Yep, by hand. I use to paint scale car, so it was not a big deal for me.I'll take pics some pics over the week-end and I'll post them on monday

quote:BWT, anyone know how to get the platic pin who hold the engine cover.I broke both while trying to pull them out and I lost one of them? I did the same (broke one though), and I even was careful and followed the directions on a service bulletin I had on the procedures. I would assume the parts dept. could order them for you.. You aren't the first, and I would assume the service guys have done it themselves.

quote:wheres my darn blinker fluid go?I'm sorry....umm.....blinker fluid???

You know me. Always a day late and several dollars short.

thats my blue valve cover i used vasoline works perfect.you only put the vasaline on the letters not any where else, if you do the paint won't stick if you miss wipe it down with thinners. spray a few coats of paint and wipe the letters off after the paint dries.real easy but you need to take your time with the vasaline

What type of paint is recommended for this? This looks like a really easy modification that makes a big difference. Can you use regular spray paint, or something rated for a little higher temperature threshhold?

I would use hi-temp paint. Will help prevent cracking the paint and discoloration due to heat in the engine compartment.

As promised, this is my engine cover once installed. I used regular spray paint.For the vasoline trick, it didn't work for me cause I think the paint was not dry enough.

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If you take off that cover to paint it, does it expose any crucial engine components?

quote:If you take off that cover to paint it, does it expose any crucial engine components?Yep, I took it off. Be very carefull with the plastic bracket. I broke both while trying to pull them out.When the cover is remobed you'll see some electronic part for the spark plugs. If I were you, I won't drive the car without it.May be I'm wrong, but there's no change to take

quote:If you take off that cover to paint it, does it expose any crucial engine components?Just the sparkplugs, fuel injectors and some wiring. Driving without the cover won't hurt anything. The plastic cover is just to make it look nicer.

quote: The plastic cover is just to make it look nicer.And it's much nicer with then without!!!!

Those little plastic pieces of crap are only $0.80 for the 2. I was thinking of taking the broken caps and just glueing them onto the cover since the bolts hold the cover on just fine.And I've noticed some spots on my cover now from the winter. I can't seem to get off.

quote:Those little plastic pieces of crap are only $0.80 for the 2. I was thinking of taking the broken caps and just glueing them onto the cover since the bolts hold the cover on just fine.When I remove the cover, I broke both pins. I just glued them for apparence purposes. But Looks like the glue didn't hold properly one of them.Anyway, I'll go to the toyota dealer to buy them.

Well, since everybody else did it, here's my version.Off the car:

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Very nice!

On the car:

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Nice job nova! Looks sharp!

Close-up on the car:

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Niiiiiiice!What kind of paint did you use? How'd you get the letters to look so...well...perfect? LOL!

quote:What kind of paint did you use? How'd you get the letters to look so...well...perfect? LOL!The paint is Plasti-kote Ultra Enamel, Bright Red (#1120).The "VVT-i 16 VALVE" letters are decals:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... als.htmThe "PONTIAC" letters and arrowhead are from Grafxwerks:http://www.grafxwerks.comThe SLP decal and "Ram Air" decal are from SLP:http://www.slponline.comBTW, I was able to remove the cover (for the 4th time) without breaking the 2 plastic tabs that hold the back down.

quote:The paint is Plasti-kote Ultra Enamel, Bright Red (#1120).Think that paint will stand up under the heat of the engine?quote:The "VVT-i 16 VALVE" letters are decals:Do they stick well? Do you think they'll peel off after a while from the engine heat? What are your thoughts about using a sealant, or clear laquer, maybe, over them to hold them in place?quote:The "PONTIAC" letters and arrowhead are from Grafxwerks:Where would we be without them!

I'd like to think they include one pre-cut to fit around it with the kit...or at least I'd think it could be ordered...

quote:Nova, do you plan on getting a SuperCharger or no? If you do, you will have you cut the engine cover for it to fitWhat!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My world will come to an end!!!!!!!!!!Ok, end the sarcasm. Yes, I know that. It's not a big deal. If/when I get the S/C I will just cut the cover and repaint.

Moving back to the original topic at hand : quote:The paint is Plasti-kote Ultra Enamel, Bright Red (#1120).Think that paint will stand up under the heat of the engine?quote:The "VVT-i 16 VALVE" letters are decals:Do they stick well? Do you think they'll peel off after a while from the engine heat? What are your thoughts about using a sealant, or clear laquer, maybe, over them to hold them in place?

My only concern is the heat under the engine, especially in summer, will weaken the adhesive at some point and they'll come off...Hence the reason I was considering using a sealer...but I don't know if that's a good idea or not...

quote:Think that paint will stand up under the heat of the engine?Do you think all the factory paint under the hood will stand up under the heat of the engine?quote:Do they stick well? Do you think they'll peel off after a while from the engine heat? What are your thoughts about using a sealant, or clear laquer, maybe, over them to hold them in place?Do you think the factory decals under the hood will peel off after a while from the engine heat?

What, you mean like the warnings and stuff? God no, they're on there for eternity...Are these made similarly?

Sure. It's the same stuff. Ryan from Grafxwerks could answer better than me. Also remember, the engine cover doesn't get very hot. If it did, they wouldn't make it out of plastic.