im going to paint my valve cover since i cant find one for a sohc. im using hi temp paint up to 500degrees, please tell me it doesnt get that hot under a hood.

just use the 1500 to be safe man

It's all in the prep. Make sure to de-grease the valve cover until redundancy is reached. Sand the hell out of the surface (big grit down to small). Spray onto the surface quickly (multiple thin coats v. one thick), on the first pass, the paint should be barely visible. Good luck, and post pics.

The 500 degree stuff should be fine. DupliColor ceramic based. Good stuff.
Like nutshot said, its all in the prep. Take your time & do it right. Wet sanding is the best way.