Peeling Cam Covers

Doctor Houx

Member
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791
The red crackle finish is starting to peel in a few places on my 2010 GC. I think this is a common problem and have purchased a can of crackle finish paint as (hopefully) a cheap fix. Anyone have any experience of this and any application tips welcome. With a warm Easter due, I was thinking now was a good time as the can says don't apply if cold and/or damp weather, which seems to make sense to me.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,593
The issue is you have to remove your cam covers to do it properly. This then means you have to replace the gaskets and this is another pricey job.

By the time you have got to that point, you may as well spend £100 and have them done professionally.

What I did as a stop gap was to spray the crackle paint into the cap and use a brush and dab it on, coving the bad bits as a half way house.
 
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Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Thanks. In that case I think I'll just try to touch in the small peeled areas around the filler cap with a modellers paintbrush in situ. Even if the finish is not perfect, it will stand out less than shiny alloy as at present
 

conaero

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34,593
Agreed. I don't think I even used the crackle paint as its a different colour to the stuff on there. Just went to Halfords and bought something close and dabbed it on roughly to sort of match.
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Agreed. I don't think I even used the crackle paint as its a different colour to the stuff on there. Just went to Halfords and bought something close and dabbed it on roughly to sort of match.
Good news is that I applied the paint very carefully in situ using a fine paint brush. A good colour match and looks much better than the peeling bare alloy.

However, the crackle finish did not happen as I think this results from spraying it from the can as opposed to hand painting. Never mind, a quick, simple improvement. Touched in the trident on the plenum in silver and gave all the engine covers a clean and coat with Armourall so looks great now!
 

Mike X

Member
Messages
233
I did the same , I got a tin of red high temperature calliper paint from Halfords and dabbed it on with a small brush , good match too , much better .
 

pj_sibley

Member
Messages
136
I’m planning on doing the same for my 4200. I think the crackle paint needs a bit of heat after application to achieve the crackle effect?
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,539
Good news is that I applied the paint very carefully in situ using a fine paint brush. A good colour match and looks much better than the peeling bare alloy.

However, the crackle finish did not happen as I think this results from spraying it from the can as opposed to hand painting. Never mind, a quick, simple improvement. Touched in the trident on the plenum in silver and gave all the engine covers a clean and coat with Armourall so looks great now!

The crackle comes from the baking I think, but no real idea

C
 

Zep

Moderator
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9,110
I would say that the crackle comes from a lot more heat than the engine should muster.

I would try it with a hot air gun, although it’s probably too late.
 
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1,117
The ingredient that seems to be missing is VHT Paint and technique:
 

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,998
i used the one from frosts and tried with heat guns, got some wringle effect but i wanted it to look more OEM wringle, in the end i got them in a paint oven which worked well. the frost version is good but is more red (suspect closer to ferrari colour) than standard, the standard seems to be an orange/red.
you could try in your house oven but you'll have to remove them