twisted minis
+1y
Valve cover doesnt get that hot. I'd chrome it, or polish it (less money, more time). There arent really that many things you can do to dress up your motor. I'm getting just about everything that comes off of mine powedercoated. The intake, thermostat housing, and all the emission tubes. All my pulleys and brackets are getting black chromed as we speak.
As for spraying the block, get a high temp primer that is the same brand as the paint. Both DuPont and PPG make one. Get a pint, or smaller amount if you can. Then spray your base and clear over that. The block doesnt get hot enough to bake the paint off. The head might, around the exhaust ports, but I'd just clean the aluminum on that.
You can get the steel braided radiator hoses. They might be chrome flex tube though. Not that expensive reallly. You can get a chrome alternator and that water pump pulley LC has. Get the wire loom thing. If yours is carbureted (I think it is?) I might start making some cool intakes that take a cone filter, and still take on the emission fittings. However the stock one would have to be placed on during smog time.