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For Christmas, I have my fingers crossed that I will be getting an airbrush. I want to do some fine detailing to my bike and cars.
The clips that hold the heater "box" together are currently painted black. I want to strip and clear coat them. My radiator got recored a couple years ago and they painted it. I had them leave the brass top unpainted and I polished it and clear coated it. By clear coat, I mean that I am spraying it with clear enamel that is heat resistant. I also stripped and clear coated the water inlet elbow and the carb heat shield. What finish will I find if I strip the valve cover? It is currently black but I thought that a matte brass color would look great considering the radiator top.
Yes, I realize that I keep jumping from "original to custom". As a midlife crisis car, it is keeping me busy.

My bare metal valve cover is battle ship grey. Its tin.

The valve cover is probably plain old pressed steel, easy to paint any way you want it.