Adding to RollingBones's topic: Once again great tutorial RB. I took some pictures to explain the does and don't of this little project.

Here's some tips:
RB was right when he said be patient
-When you cut the tape, take your time to save yourself some steps
-Primer everything or else the painting will peel right off
-Do this in your garage b/c dust can seriously mess it up


First step is to obviously remove the cover (very simple)
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4697/engwocover6sw.jpg

Thouroughly cleaned (except for that grease spot)
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2746/cleaned5xp.jpg

This is the primer I used, I couldn't find a Dupli-color primerhttp://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9673/primercan0ki.jpg

I put a little piece of cardboard so the screw wouldn't get primered
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/5357/readyforprimer9nl.jpg

This is after everything is primered, and the stripes and "Vortec" was taped off. I found that taping of the vortec and swirls was useless here
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/9149/firsttaping4dj.jpg

Then I peeled all the cut taped off, and some primer came off
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/5466/primeraftertaperemoval2bo.jpg

Primer again
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/2773/reprimeraftertaping2dr.jpg

Now I put strips of tape in between the stripes. I wish I would have taken a little more time when cutting the strips b/c it would have saved me a lot of time.
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/6664/astartforprep8pa.jpg

Wrapping paper works great for a cover
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/8633/stripesprep5zu.jpg

Painting the stripes
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/7639/paintingstrips1jd.jpg

I pulled all the tape off and stuff and realized they looked like ass
http://img448.imageshack.us/img448/9043/stripesarecrap0wz.jpg

Now I taped off the swirls to paint, this turned out like crap
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1210/tapedswirlsnogood1ba.jpg

Then after those were painted I taped around the "vortec" logo, and that turned out like crap
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/4485/resprayedvortecnogood3dg.jpg

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/4020/tapedvortecmistake9kh.jpg

Ok, so basically, by now it looked like a big mistake. So here's what I did: I sanded the vortec logo, the swirls and the area around them. I taped off the area around the swirls and cut very carefully, then sprayed them. They looked great. Then I decided there was no easy way to spray the vortec logo, so I just hand painted it. I'm sure if I would have taken the time to tape that off good I could have sprayed iit and it would have looked a lot better.

Then I cut 3/4 centimeter strips of tape and put that on the red stripes, then coated it again with silver. And that really looked awesome. A word to the wise, don't try and hand paint the red overspray on the lines b/c you'll never be able to get a color match IMO, trust me, I tried.

Here's the lines after I carefully taped and painted them.

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/4958/retapedpainted4cx.jpg

And here's the final pics.

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/9743/final16us.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/2870/final26su.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4053/final39ts.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4687/final49aq.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8186/final55ic.jpg

Oh yeah, and here's my tickets for the OU/Baylor game saturday
http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/4471/picture1085rf.jpg

http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/4436/picture1103xl.jpg

Go Oklahoma!!!

Oh, nice cover too. Looks sharp, like the K&N also.

Nice color choice...I like it!!!

:icon16: :evillol: :smokin: :lol: :sunglasse :evillol: :screwy: :naughty:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2091000-2091999/2091584_14_full.jpg

:evillol: :naughty: :smokin: :iceslolan :) :lol2: :sunglasse :p :iceslolan :smokin: :lol2: :biggrin: :icon16: :naughty:

alright, but have you tried to scratch the paint with your fingernails?

At times like this, I'm glad I have the square cover! All it has on it is the word VORTEC on each side....that should make it much easier to paint.

I took mine off and washed it yesterday really good. It's in the shop drying and staying out of the peanut dust until I buy my paint.

alright, but have you tried to scratch the paint with your fingernails?

Yeah, in all there's:
3 coats of primer
4 coats of silver
3 coats of red
4 clear coats

Looks sharp!

Yup....I think it looks darn good. Thanks a ton for the pics and the walkthrough.....(you too for yours Rollingbones)