Well like Sea Dawg said unsername: Painter has done some posts on how to paint some stuff, don't think I seen a post on painting side covers though. I think what you are going to want to do is rough up the side covers with a scotchbright pad, primer, lightly sand, primer, spray paint <whatever color your painting them> lightly sand, and keep sanding and painting until you are satisfied with how they turn out. I don't know if I am going to do this or not, I'm debating it myself, but those are the steps I'm going to use.