cam cover paint

[TomMull]

I'm putting my old Plus 2 on a new chassis. Everything comes off the old one, gets cleaned, fixed or replaced. Engine wise, this includes a new head gasket so top end is all apart. While apart, I decided to freshen the cam cover.
At first I thought it had "crackle" paint originally but now that I've stripped it I'm inclined to believe that the "crackle" finish is from the casting.
I'm not really trying to keep everything original, much of the car is not, but I am curious.
Any thoughts?

Tom

[Gordon Sauer]

Later models with the big valve head had crackle red, if Stromberg’s, Gordon

[StressCraxx]

Earlier cars with "Lotus" on both sides of the cam cover were often painted with "Hammerite" textured paint. Krylon now makes and sells in several colors.

https://www.krylon.com/en/products/craf ... nish-paint

[Ray419G]

My understanding is that the factory finish should be a crackle (or crinkle) finish paint on cam covers that have the Lotus script at the front; these were introduced in 1968, around the time the Elan S4 production started. The colour should be black for a standard engine and red for Special Equipment engines.

Ray.

[Foxie]

The casting finish is smooth. The crackle texture comes from the special paint.

Here's what I used.

[TomMull]

Thanks all, That makes it easy. It would take a lot of work to get a shiny finish on the rough casting. Perhaps why the textured paint was used originally.
I'm thinking I'll do blue, Some rumors that blue cam covers were used on cars with Webers. My car has had a Weber head and carbs installed in the past and the body color is also blue.

Tom

[alan.barker]

The last time i did crinkle/wrinkle was black on a camcover for a bigvalve.
Came out tops spot on.
I used the Oven to wrinkle it was almost able to close the Oven Door. Was a bit smelly.
Alan

[pharriso]

The last time i did crinkle/wrinkle was black on a camcover for a bigvalve.
Came out tops spot on.
I used the Oven to wrinkle it was almost able to close the Oven Door. Was a bit smelly.
Alan

Yup, same here... make sure the wife is out!

[pharriso]

Later models with the big valve head had crackle red, if Stromberg’s, Gordon

Red for Federal BV Strombergs & Black for BV UK (Webers/Dellortos)

[stugilmour]

Also used the same stuff as the photo. Oven works great. Also having a heat gun handy is a good idea.

[MACCA.GLM]

Hi All

Do you have to sandblast the original paint off before painting again or can you just wire brush the loose stuff and clean it with thinners

Regards

G

[Gordon Sauer]

I used a chemical stripper and then used the VHT brand paint that’s shown above, Gordon

[RichardHawkins]

MACCA,

I used Redditch Shotblasting & Powder Coating. Didn’t fancy doing it myself, I don’t get on well with paint. Pleased with the result.

Hope this helps,

Richard Hawkins

[Quart Meg Miles]

I'm thinking I'll do blue, Some rumors that blue cam covers were used on cars with Webers. My car has had a Weber head and carbs installed in the past and the body color is also blue.

Tom

The blue was only correct for the early standard cars but never on those with 'Lotus' on the front of the cover.

[TomMull]

Mea Culpa.

I now have incorrect head, carburetors and cam cover.

Ita Sit

Tom