Powder Coat for Style
Lots of different colors available!
Powder coated valve cover with matching Sebring crossover tube in Ken Tanaka's Miata |
Sunburst Yellow with the Sebring SC
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WOW!!- Want to REALLY dress up the look of your engine. How about a valve cover to match you car's color. Or how about one that contrasts you car's color. Whatever you want - we can do. Lots of colors available. Most Miata car colors available including Mariner Blue, Classic Red, Silver, Black, White and even Sunburst Yellow.
Why powder coat. Why not?? First off the powder coating is baked on making it much harder than paint. Secondly - it is impervious to chemicals like gasoline, oil and solvents. Plus - it is smooth as glass which makes cleaning a breeze. Just take a rag and easily wipe off dirt and grease.
While you are at it why don't you consider having these other parts done: Door
Handles, Sebring Crossover Tube, Hard Top Bolt/Plate, Brake Pad Holders, Roll Bar, Hood
Rod.
If it is metal and you can take it off your Miata - we can powder coat it.
What is Powder Coating Material and How is it Done?
Imagine a large vat with 5,000 pds of plastic being melted and color blended at a very high temperature. Then that plastic is squeezed out like spaghetti and cooled. This is chopped up and then ground up into a fine powder. That substance becomes the powder coating material.
The item you wish to have powder coated must first be baked (to remove any oils or paint) then sand blasted. Finally the item is spray coated with the powder coating. At this point is is really just a powder coating the surface. It isn't sticky and can be wiped right back off.
The next step is for the item to be baked at 450 degrees. (This is why you can't have plastic or even some soft metals powder coated.)
During the baking process, only certain colors can be backed together. For instance, you can't bake a red item with a white one - unless you want the white item to be pink. Our powder coater has a three day cycle (light colors, mid tones, dark colors - so even once your item is really to be baked, it may be three working days before it is placed in the oven. Plus - is takes the better part of a day for the oven to cool down)
Once in the over, the material melts and flows on the surface to create a hard durable surface.
Quirks of Powder Coating
First off there is no metal flake powder coating - sorry. Secondly - because the powder coating process and materials used are different than paint - it reacts differently to light and heat. For instance my yellow powder coated valve cover is a dead on match for the yellow on my Miata when the engine in cool and in daylight. However - in different light and/or when the engine is warm the color shifts a bit so it is no longer an exact match. The shift is so slight most people don't notice - but I notice so I thought I'd mention it. If a color is not a standard color we can match just about any color with those limitation but the color would be a special order and run an extra $100.
Other Types Of Powder Coating
Did you know that there is a clear powder coating. How about ones that looks like pounded metal? Or, what about a copper or pewter valve cover? Glossy, semi-gloss, matte or even crinkle surfaces. If you can image it, chances are there is a powder coating material that can give you that look and feel.
Why Not Just Paint It?
This is why. To the right is what it will probably look like a couple of months after you paint your valve cover. It isn't that the paint isn't any good, it is just that because of the oil that has worked it's way into the valve cover, the paint doesn't stick very well. Usually within a few months the paint starts to come up in spots like this. Not very pretty.With a lot of work and proper preparation you can get the paint to adhere over the long haul - but it still will not be as resistant to chipping and chemicals, like oil and gasoline, as powder coating is. |
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Key Benefits
 | Looks Great! |
| Impervious to gasoline, oils and solvents |
| Cleans up the appearance of the engine compartment |
| Easy to clean up and keep clean. |
| Easy to install in less than 30 minutes. |
Valve Cover Installation Information
| Tools needed - Ratchet with 10 mm socket. |
| Remove spark plug cables and two vent hoses from cover. |
| Remove the bolts from your valve cover. (On the 1.8 there are two additional bolts on the back of the cover that makes this operation a little more difficult.) |
| Remove cover from engine. |
| Remove gasket. (A very old gasket, +50K miles, may need to be replaced). |
| Place gasket into new valve cover. |
| Place valve cover in place (careful not to pinch gasket). |
| Replace bolts, vent hoses and spark plug cables. |
| For cars built after 2000 you will need to supply the valve cover |
Pricing
| Description | Stock # |
Price |
Core Charge |
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Powder Coated Valve Cover 1.6 '90-'93 |
TM-106 |
$175 |
$300* |
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Powder Coated Valve Cover 1.8 '94-'97 |
TM-107 |
$175 |
$300* |
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Powder Coated Valve Cover 1.8 '99-'00 |
TM-108 |
$175 |
$300* |
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Powder Coated Sebring Crossover
Tube |
CALL or E-Mail |
$80 |
$100 |
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Exact match to just about any color or surface - extra charge. Gives you 5 pds of powder coating material. A valve cover takes about 1 1/2 pounds. |
CALL or E-Mail |
$100 |
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Other Accessories - E-mail for prices |
CALL or E-Mail |
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* You pay $475 up front plus $20 S&H. When you replace your old reusable valve cover with the new powder coated one, send your old one back (in good shape - no cracks, chips or defects) to Team Miata for a $300 refund of the core charge. Your total cost is $175 plus shipping. All cores must be returned within 30 days for a full refund. For more info, check out What's a Core Charge.
Special Ordering Information
| Because of the nature of this product - each one is created to meet your special request. Thus - this is NOT a stocked item. Allow at least 4 weeks for delivery from time of order. Save time and money by sending your own valve cover to be powder coated (a good Winter project). |