So for those of us who want to paint the valve cover but want the indented or raised lettering a different color, I just figured out an easy solution. Most solutions are, once it's done just grind the lettering a little to get paint off. Well then u only got the aluminum color. I figured out today how to do it easily with a little elbow grease. I'll use the lnf cover for example. Since I want the raised part for the ecotec lettering different color from the lettering and the valve cover it goes like this...


ok red area is what I called raised ecotec area. black turbo lettering, gray for ecotec was just what I used cause that's all the colors I had.

1 - ok first. mask off area surrounding ecotec lettering. then paint ecotec lettering whatever u like and let dry.
2 - mask off ecotec area and raised area around it and paint valve cover including turbo lettering what u wish and let dry.
3 - remove masking on ecotec lettering and raised area. mask off valve cover as much as u can around the whole ecotec turbo area so u don't get paint on ur newly painted cover.
4 - get urself a sponge sanding block 60-80 grit. they don't come in very low grit so it wont be to rough.
5 - mask off ecotec letting , raised area around it and turbo lettering with the 3 little lines on either side. doesn't have to be perfect, in fact go past these areas like 3-4 inch.
6 - start sanding the area with sponge block, press down hard...this will push the masking tape down into the groves of the ecotec letting and around the turbo letting and lines without damaging the tape.
7 - sand until the rasied area around ecotec lettering and the turbo lettering and lines are bare aluminum. once ur satisfied, remove tape. ull notice the tape remains in the ecotec lettering and around the turbo lettering. perfect.
8 - cover turbo lettering with tape.
9 - paint raised area around ecotec lettering what u wish and let dry.
10 - mask off raised area around ecotec lettering and remove tape on turbo lettering. then paint turbo lettering and let dry.
11- remove all tape. carful removing the tape in the ecotec lettering, use a pin, gently so u don't scratch the paint.

once removed u get this

 

This is not that easy to follow

Shouldve taken pics

 

lol ill re write it, I was using my phone.

 

the ecotec lettering is painted gray in case u don't notice, so there u have it, easy way to paint 2 different colors on the lettering. and this was a super quick job to see if it worked, did not take my time at all. took about 15 minutes.

 

That does look good

 

Too many steps...

I've done them similar, with painted letters or brushed or whatever. The easiest way to fill the "ecotec" letters is after you're all done with a model car paint brush. Same with the turbo letters. That's if you want a 3rd/4th color.

The best looking LE5 cover I did was black with red lettering and the raised square brushed aluminum.

 

It seems like to many steps but it's not. Only thing that takes a while is paint drying. And remember I did that in 15 minutes. So that's pretty quick if u ask me. Mind u I didn't paint the valve cover.

I also tried this on my powder coated cover. Doesn't work as well since they grind the risen parts down to much.

 

Well I'm painting an old vc I have here, this is step one.

 

I may or may not end up selling this if I get interest . Maybe even do some for people if it turns out good

 

I find the best method for scuffing up the manifold for prep is scotch bright pad. It not only cleans very well with degreaser or wd40. But also scuffs up nicly but not to much. Also can poke it into tight spaces nice