h: Lesson learned: leave teh goddamn thing alone. :chuckles:

Seriously, though... if your paint coat isn't laying flat, then strip it off and make sure all the solvents are washed out. Then lay down a few light coats of hi-temp primer and a half-dozen light coats of high temp engine enamel.

I'd try to salvage the stock part before dropping $100 on a cast aluminium plate. h: