308 QV Plenum Paint (US Spec)

powder coat!!

 

Yeah, I was looking at mine the other day and trying to figure out if I want to tackle that right now just as a purely cosmetic issue. You could probably put plastic over the whole engine and tape things carefully and paint it in place reasonably well. Key to getting a good finish with paint is having that sucker be CLEAN so the paint sticks.

The difference is that if you remove it and powder coat it, that is the last time you will ever deal with it as long as you live. Paint has a life of a few years.

Birdman

P.S. I have an excuse....my kids get me up at 6:30 no matter what!!

 

without doing a search, Are these a pain to remove, glimpsing at it I presume its removal of the inlet manifolds first?

 

Nope-manifolds stay in place. The plenum isn't too tough to remove, just get the correct gearwrenches and fingers the daimeter of a pencil.

It really needs to be removed to paint or powdercoat. I can't see how you could get paint on the entire thing with it still in the car. As Birdman said- powdercoat would last forever- so that's my vote. Here is mine stripped and just about ready for the powder:
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Hey guys, when you say powdercoat is that like white powder in color? Can it be done in any color?





Cause i will have to remove mine to get to that water hose that's ready to pop. I think i have been delaying it to long.
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powder coat is available in any colour, its basically a coating thats in powder form, then its applied electrostatically and cured in an oven afterwards

 

Just finished removal and repaint using VHT red - It is a bit lighter than the original color but looks better than the peeling OEM paint. Getting it out was a bit of a chore. the back nuts ((towards the front of the car) are the toughest. I used a crow foot, with a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter, with a 4 inch long 1/4 inch extension bar, back to a 3/8 and then the ratchet. Remember that everything is backwards as you are working from the top. No issues with little washers falling into the manifold as long as you are careful.
Getting the back nuts back on was difficult as well. You balance them on your finger and work with a mirror and feel to get them started. When you drop them (and you will) they fall into the center of the intake manifold and you will need a telescoping magnet to fish them out by feel.

After all the work, I think powder coat would be a good idea, but it didn’t occur to me at the time.

 

I,also, need to do mine. But all what you went through sounds like a PITA.

 

+1 Branko. I was going to paint mine until I installed the Motovanti and got to liking the silver look and then started removing the plenum paint (it was flaking off and looked terrible) and buffing it out. Still have some to do and I know its not original, but I like the different look. Haven't decided to paint the top ridges in red or leave alone.
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You could remove all the paint and then polish and buff it up, then paint the Ferrari logo red!

Birdman

 

I've seen that done several times, but I always think it looks better when you open the engine lid and see all that red

 

Painting the ridges red sounds like the way to go and a heck of a lot easier.

 

painted mine in place with .99 cent red spray. used 1000 grit sandpaper on a block to brighten the fins and letters. looks just fine. took about 20 minutes.

 

pics?

 

I'm considering re-spraying mine as well. Are there gaskets under the plenum and if so , are they re-usable or do I order new ones ?

 

i happened to have the paint in my hand and just taped the plenum off and bingo. doesn't look bad. i wouldn't take it to pebble beach but it's ok for panama city beach. i suppose if you took your time and cleaned up the plenum first it may look a little better. it been on for like 6 months and doesn't seem to be peeling.
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(thread hijack on) HA! I used to live in Callaway when i was at Tyndall, many years ago.(thread hijack off)

 

what bad thing did you do to get exiled to tejas? i'm located next to the navy and coastie base.

 

transferred while in the military. Most of my family is here.

 

Didn't Rob do a step by step how to do this on the previous site?...I remember seeing him do something like this on his 328? and I believe it was all done in situ..