I had a little extra free time this week, and the beauty of working from home is that I don't really drive much, so I decided to rip the car up.

I installed new brake pads, hardware and lines. Also decided to paint the calipers, because the previous owner had painted them silver (which I hated) and they are starting to look really, bad:

http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/silver_pf_caliper.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/silver_dr_caliper.jpg

While I was at it I decided to paint my valve cover (not spark plug cover), intake mainfold, radiator supports, FSTB brackets, and a few other things.

Naked engine:
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim3.jpg

Finished calipers:
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_df_caliper.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_pf_cailper.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_dr_caliper.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/pain...iper_wheel.jpg

Engine bay before: (FSTB is already off)
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/engine_before.jpg

Engine bay after:
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_engine3.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_engine.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/painted_engine2.jpg

Yes, the worlds most exciting color! BLACK!

 

Very nice. I think it looks good black. I'm commited to blue so when I get my VI I think I'm gonna paint it blue and maybe leave the cover silver I'll have to see. SO, when you removed the valve cover I assumed you replaced the gasket - is it expensive and is that a hard task?

 

Nice job, I like it!

 

i am sure you used high temp paint and clear coat

 

Nah. The gasket was fine. Cleaned it with carb cleaner and used some Grey RTV sealent on the corners. All good, no leaks. Removing the valve cover is countless times easier than the intake manifold, so if you're going to tackle that, don't worry about the VC. Take off the coils, there are ten bolts (have to be loosened and tightened in sequence...its in the FSM and Haynes manual) and that's it. The wiring harness doesn't make lifting if off the easiest thing in the world, so I pulled it back to the side.

 

Of course, and high temp grey primer as well.


The paint was actcually flat black, but the clear coat make it shine slightly. I'm happy with the finished color/look.

 

What a difference! looks good

 

I've never seen engine parts painted black before, it looks cool. Should have thrown a VI on there while you had the IM off

 

Yeah, I ran to the local autozone and they where all out of the VI's, and I didn't think I could live without my car (or drive a car without an intake mainfiold) for 6 weeks.

Other than that, I was all over that idea!

 

Haha, yeah my track auto doesn't carry them either. Maybe walmart though cause they have everything.

 

The one near me has too many that they are making it an overstock sale item.

SuDZ

 

looks clean~~ i like it

 

look good so how long did it take to do everything...

 

A long time, but by choice.

I put the car up on stands Monday morning and took off calipers, brackets, pads, etc. Then I changed the brake lines.

A few hours later I took of the valve cover, and then put it back on. I realized that I didn't want it off when I was working on the intake manifold. Got the IM and VC off in about an hour and a half.

Then for the rest of the evening I painted. Because it was cold it took a while. From 4pm until 10pm to do 2 coats of primer, 3 color coats, 1 wet color coat and 2 clear coats.

Tuesday I put everything back on.

Today I bled the brakes, put the wheels back on, put the car back down then hunted down a vaccume leak. I didn't get a hose clamp back on right.

For sure doing all this is a two day job, just to let the paint properly dry. I just took my time because I had to get some real work done.

 

http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim3.jpg

that's the first time i ever saw the engine naked like that...looks real ugly but wow u did a great job

 

http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim1.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim2.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim3.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim4.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/novcim5.jpg
http://www.ericj.org/maxima/img/left_valves.jpg

 

Paint your caps and add a VI and you'll be set.
-hype

 

Your sig.... Are you running Z rims on front?

 

Yeah. That picture was at my local track, and I have drag radials mounted on Z rims. They are for sale.

 

Yeah, next I have to do something about the spark plug cover. I'm thinking a gunmetal/black combo. When I do I'll paint the caps as well.

VI is down the road, but coming for sure!

 

Need to clean the rest of the hoses and pipes now to match.

 

To much work for a car that's going to be driven every day in the winter.