All I did was remove the horn, air cleaner and dipstick. Did it with the stock exhaust still in place. I sprayed everything down with brake cleaner, taped off all the chrome (the gasket lines make this part a lot easier, I rushed parts like the outer primary, and just went back around with a good razor to cut the tape.) and started spraying light coats. Maybe 60-90 minutes of prep and taping, and another 60-90 spraying and waiting between coats. The paint I used dried really quick, was very resistant to runs, and has proven to be very durable. No chips, runs, flakes, or bleed through at all.

 

This part almost kicked me in the *** when I changed my exhaust, but I just sprayed the new mounting bolts before I put them on, and you can't tell a difference. Paint held up even with a wrench on it.