Valve Covers

[rotorhead22]

Has anyone sanded down their valve covers? Mine is really pitted from factory casting marks. I have a friend who has a dip/paint tank however these covers are still rough after several sandings.

 

[rotorhead22]

Forgot pix

 

[Steel1]

I would clean them up really good with Dawn dish soap and water , then some prep cleaner and try a few coats
of high build primer , see what they look like after that.

 

[Rdub6]

I used the exact process that @Steel1 suggests. I wasn’t too concerned with the minor pitting, but getting them clean can’t be understated....... edit: ehhhh I mean overstated!

 

[96pushrod]

I would clean them up really good with Dawn dish soap and water , then some prep cleaner and try a few coats
of high build primer , see what they look like after that.

This.

I did a set in black a year or so ago and this was all I did. High build and some sanding blocks work great.

 

[mostsmooth]

i tried this not too long ago and they look like crap right now and i am fairly certain it is because what i thought was clean wasnt actually clean. if i were to do it again (which i want to do) i would spend much more time making sure they were super clean. i mean, they looked clean, its not like i left globs of oil on them or anything, but i didnt go to the next level i dont think.

 

[rotorhead22]

I definitely degreased the brighter one with Dawn then Simple Green. I’ve smoothed out the rough areas and found some two part epoxy in my paint cabinet. That might be overkill I’ve been watching too many car shows

 

[Rdub6]

If I remember, once I did the Dawn treatment, I used Acetone on a paper towel until it came back clean.
Keep cleaning until you think it’s good, and then do a little more.

 

[Wayne Waldrep]

I put a set in a parts tumbler once. They came out really smooth. I still have them packed away. All they needed after that was paint.

 

[Exrace89GT]

When your wife is not looking, put them in the dish washer.

 

[KRUISR]

I painted a my originals...



Original condition, then after sanding (and using as overspray protector), then after multiple coats of engine paint.




Then picked up a set with less corrosion and polished them.



Hand sanded to 800 or 1000 grit, further sanded to 2000 grit and one polished and finally both polished

 

[rotorhead22]

I painted a my originals...



Original condition, then after sanding (and using as overspray protector), then after multiple coats of engine paint.




Then picked up a set with less corrosion and polished them.



Hand sanded to 800 or 1000 grit, further sanded to 2000 grit and one polished and finally both polished

Nice