Clean, acid etch old aluminum valve covers?

[frank_a]

I have some old ribbed aluminum valve covers off an '80 vette sbc. I guess the best way to clean them is with Scotch Brite pads and sandpaper, but then what? (I don't have access to a sandblaster and can't afford to hire this out.) After they're good & clean use a self etching primer before final paint?

I've read about conversion coatings like alodine, prep stuff like Poly fiber's E-2310, and their E-2300 Conversion coating. This stuff all seems very expensive. I would like these to come out as good as possible for as little $ as possible. I ordered some filler for the badly corroded surface this morning (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J9 ... UTF8&psc=1) that I should have Tuesday. It dries to a paintable grey, so that should work fine.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Frank

[Bill Cleveland]

I guess what you're talking about is how to deal with the formerly polished part of the valve covers, and unfortunately it boils down to a lot of work and elbow grease to bring them back to a shiny appearance. Between the ribs, painting is OK, and maybe preferred. But to make aluminum shine, you need to polish, polish, polish! With successively finer grades of polishing medium. That's why chrome plating is so expensive, because the part has to be polished to a mirror like shine before plating. But . . . in my opinion once you get there you've really got something cool, and it won't be hard to maintain once you achieve a level of shine that is acceptable. Good luck!

[frank_a]

I guess what you're talking about is how to deal with the formerly polished part of the valve covers, and unfortunately it boils down to a lot of work and elbow grease to bring them back to a shiny appearance. Between the ribs, painting is OK, and maybe preferred. But to make aluminum shine, you need to polish, polish, polish! With successively finer grades of polishing medium. That's why chrome plating is so expensive, because the part has to be polished to a mirror like shine before plating. But . . . in my opinion once you get there you've really got something cool, and it won't be hard to maintain once you achieve a level of shine that is acceptable. Good luck!

These valve covers would look worse polished Bill. You'd see all the pits and corrosion. I think I have this figured out, and will post some pics as I go.

Thanks!

Frank

[Bill Cleveland]

That's a different story. Hope you can get them to look good with some paint. They have good products on the market now that simulate metal, some from Eastwood. Keep us posted on how it goes!

[Big Bill]

Has anyone tried using Dupli-color's alum wheel paint on aluminum valve covers? It does a terrific job of restoring wheels and stands up to road chemicals and car washes. It is a base coat clear coat system. I wonder if it will handle under hood temperatures on a valve cover.

[Dewey Burton]

Frank...I did this with a pair of M/T s that I had ....I didn't want to polish them all the time...I cleaned them up , lightly sanded them , coated with a eurathane primer then shot them with Eurathane color ... They have been on the car for about 8 years ... I just wipe them off once in a while.....

[frank_a]

Here's why I'm filling and painting these valve covers. They are badly pitted all over like this one corner I wheel brushed with a dremel tool.