I' wire brushing the old paint off the valve covers. I'm looking for ideas for protecting: paint ?

Powder coat it.

I'd use paint

some powder coat can be an insulator
plus it flakes sometimes when chipped.
the bale is going to rub tight and possible scratch/chip

I have pairs that are powder coated. Regular paint will get scrapped off the first time you slide the spring bales over the covers. I have also had them zinc plated.

The OEM method was electro coated paint.
It's the same stuff used on the OEM Tin.

For looks, paint will work.
For durability, powder coating makes more sense to me.

When I remove the valve covers in the car, I remove the bail from the rear end of the head and everything is much easier for me...

Rich

Where and how much ? Like the idea

We have a $$$ powder coater up here called MAAS Bros. They do good work though.

I plan to use them if I ever get Dad's car's original engine back together....

Powder coating works well with the proper pre treatment. The minimum charge is about 75-$100, so do son engine tin too.

I have a local guy. Really in expensive. Might cost $20 max. He will sand blast and powder coat them. I have some done already. I have had several pairs leak even though they look flat.
Bruce

gather up all your parts that you want done. My local guy seems to charge the same amount no matter how many pieces are in the pile.

Up here my guy is $50.min, he charged me $250 for almost two complete engines.

Send them to me, I'll blast them then powder coat them for ya. No charge just the shipping cost.