Cam Box Cover Painting

[pmallinson]

Hi

Anyone out there know of a good supplier of suitable paint for the cam box cover ?? I fancy Red Crackle type finish unless someone can say otherwise ?

[marcfuller]

I would have it powder coated.

That's what I did to mine, clear over blue.

[ElliottN]

If you can find it then a good 'crackle' paint is VHT's "Wrinkle Plus" - comes in aerosol cans in black, red and grey and is good to 176 degrees C.

[M100]

Frosts do wrinkle paint (VHT branded) suitable for the cam covers. I'm sure their catalogue lists red as well as black but I can only find black on their website.

http://www.frost.co.uk

[pmallinson]

Thanks for all your replies and the mail from Frank in America as per below (he asked me to post as he is having computer difficulties)

"Peter,

I used VHT Wrinkle Plus coating. The color is SP-204 RED. I comes in
an 11
ounce can. The can says that VHT is manufactured for PJH Brands,
Scottsdale,
AZ 85258 U.S.A. Don't know if it's available on your side of the pond,
but I
was pleased with the results. Hope you can find it.

Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota"

I have now found the paint indeed as someone else suggested on Frosts web site and it is on order !!

Thanks again

[poiuyt]

I painted the cam covers on my S4 with engine paint, cured it in my kitchen oven per the instructions, and found it would chip easily.

It is now powder coated bright yellow to match the car and it looks great and is durable.

Steve B.

[seaandmoor]

Hi, just for future reference.
The two of you who got the cam cover powder coated.... where did you get it done please? A contact address with number would be useful.
Thank you.

[marcfuller]

This my cam cover-


They media blasted the surface to be powder coated for good adhesion. Coated it with blue hammerite powder and baked. Brushed/polished the LOTUS. Second coat of clear powder and baked. I like the finish and appearance, they did a good job.

FWIW I had it done at-
Taint Paint
3368 Adobe Ct
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907 USA
phone 719-447-9552 contact Rich

[Si_130/5]

Hi Peter,

Sorry I came across this thread a little late. My Esprit 912 cam covers were coated with the Frosts crackle finish black VHT a few years ago and now it's flaking off. Perhaps the current product has been improved.

I used a satin black brushing high temp exhaust paint on the yellow car's cam cover to touch in areas and when it cured the finish and shade were indistinguishable.

Best wishes,

Si

[pereirac]

It appears Lotus actually had a colour code for cam covers depending on the model and carburettor type (late Sprints were black with Webers and red with Dellortos) It's all listed in graham Arnolds little guide to buying an Elan. If you let me know what model you have I will see what the book says...
Carl

[stuartgb100]

Carl,

What is correct for a late '71 Sprint, please?

Regards and thanks,

Stuart.

[M100]

It appears Lotus actually had a colour code for cam covers depending on the model and carburettor type (late Sprints were black with Webers and red with Dellortos)

One exception to that rule for a start, my Sprint (Sept 72) has Dellortos with a BLACK cover!

The colour listing is also in Miles Wilkins book on the twincam

[marcfuller]

My Esprit 912 cam covers were coated with the Frosts crackle finish black VHT a few years ago and now it's flaking off.

It is difficult to keep a coating like paint on aluminium attached to an engine because of aluminum's wider range of expansion and contraction.

[pereirac]

Lotus - rules are always an exception. I think they just used whatever bits they had to hand...