We’ve been working on releasing a powdercoated valve cover for the 08+ Dodge Caliber SRT-4 for a little while now.
For those of you not familiar with Powdercoating, its a special process thats like using paint, however theres one major difference. Powdercoating uses a powdered paint material, thats spayed onto an object and then baked at 300-400 degrees. The baking process seals the paint to the object your powdercoating and ensures you have a durable, hard finish that can withstand high temperatures, oils, grease, cleaners, etc. This is the best process to use when your working with an piece that will be used in the engine bay, and subjected to temperatures of up to 250 degrees or more. If you tried spraypainting your valve cover, it will peel off, or could even catch fire when its subjected to the extreme heat coming off the turbo on your 03-05 Neon SRT-4, 08+ Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbo, or 08+ Dodge Caliber SRT-4.
Now, unlike the older generation Neon SRT-4 which used a aluminum valve cover, the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 uses a injection molded plastic valve cover. The aluminum valve covers from the Neon SRT-4, could be baked with a high temperature powdercoating material, thats easily sourced. The plastic valve cover on the other hand from the Caliber SRT-4 cannot be subjected to 400-500 degrees in the powdercoat baking ovens, as it might warp, or possibly even melt. So, a special lower temperature powdercoat has to be used.
We’ve now tested a few Caliber SRT-4 valve covers with the lower temperature powdercoat and have worked out most of the bugs so far. This last revision gave us a really nice glossy finish, and a very durable finish. We’ll be making another revision to make the powdercoat finish absolutely perfect and at that point begin to offer brand new, Mopar valve covers powdercoated in different colors for sale.
Just for your information, heres details on the revisions we have done.
1) First test on powdercoat, tested valve cover in baking oven
2) Powdercoat finish was a success, in addition to taping off and sealing all of the threaded screw holes, and pcv holes, we are now sanding down all of the casting marks that come on a factory valve cover to make sure the finished valve cover has a smooth, unblemished finish.
Anyways, enough of the typing, onto the photos!
Ill post more details and photos as we progress with these valve covers.
