Wrinkle Blue Engine Cover: A DIY Transformation
I’ve always wanted to paint my engine head cover, but since the car was never with me long enough, I never found it worthwhile. It seemed pointless to paint it if the engine wasn’t running, so I kept putting the idea off. However, with the engine now undergoing an overhaul and the cover already removed, I saw the perfect opportunity to give it a fresh look. This time, I was determined to get it right and create a stunning wrinkle blue engine cover.
Why Wrinkle Blue Engine Cover?
In the past, I quickly sprayed my engine head cover blue without removing it. Just because I didn’t want to disturb the gasket. The result wasn’t great. But this time, I decided to go all out with a wrinkle blue finish. Why blue? I wanted it to complement my Samco silicon hoses in the engine bay, which added a nice pop of color.
After deciding on the finish, I also had to choose the right paint. I ended up going with Gox7 Mugen Blue and their high-heat primer. The brand is well-known for quality, and I knew it would give the best results for my project.
Prepping the Engine Cover for the Wrinkle Blue Finish
First, I carefully cleaned the engine head cover with engine cleaner, ensuring there was no oil residue left on the surface. Since I planned to replace the rubber gasket around the cable plug hole, I didn’t mind removing it beforehand.
With everything prepped, I moved on to masking out the necessary areas to avoid overspray. Then I applied several layers of high-heat primer to ensure a smooth base for the paint.
Applying the Wrinkle Blue Paint
Once the primer was dry, I started applying the Mugen Blue paint. I did this in 4-5 layers, waiting around five minutes between each one to make sure the coverage was even and complete. At this stage, the paint looked glossy, but the magic happens when you add heat.
Creating the Wrinkle Effect
To achieve the wrinkle effect, heat is key. I used a heat gun to blow hot air over the paint and also took advantage of the sun to help the paint cure. Within minutes, the wrinkle effect began to form, giving the engine cover a unique, textured finish. The results were impressive, and I was excited to see the transformation.
Final Touches and Results
Once the paint had dried and the wrinkles had set, I carefully removed the masking tape and then sanded the “DOHC 16 Valve” lettering to make it stand out. After that the final result was clean, sharp, and exactly what I had envisioned.
The wrinkle blue engine cover not only gives the engine bay a fresh new look but also adds a personal touch. I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I may even do the same for my Kancil in the future.
