Well this Winter I want to refinish my valve covers and the top of my intake by my self. Possibly polish my alternator. I don't wanna take them somewhere and pay so much.
They look dull and have water spots, ect. Polish does nothing. I think they need a full wet sand. I don't want them to be a mirror if possible. You can see what they looked like new in this picture kinda.
Can someone post / make a tutorial on how to do this with pictures and everything?
Get a product called Aluma Bright. Cleans alum really well!!! Keep off paint, use in ventalated areas. It's no longer avail in Canada tho, as it's too powerful I guess
I would just have them aluma coated with powder coat. Otherwise polished aluminum is a PITA to keep up with, and 1 drop of degreaser hits it, it will be game over.
Somewhere I have a guideline I wrote on polishing a set of Baer aluminum brake rotors to a mirror finish. I've done my fuel rails and Holley throttle body as well. They stay bright, with periodic application of Mothers billet metal polish. Never had a problem with them discoloring or corroding. A buddy of mine with a 93 LT1 had the ridges machine off the intake manifold, and polished the smooth top (93 does not have the slot for the diagonal fuel rail front crossover pipe.)
And here's some links to guides to polishing wheels:
Somewhere I have a guideline I wrote on polishing a set of Baer aluminum brake rotors to a mirror finish. I've done my fuel rails and Holley throttle body as well. They stay bright, with periodic application of Mothers billet metal polish. Never had a problem with them discoloring or corroding. A buddy of mine with a 93 LT1 had the ridges machine off the intake manifold, and polished the smooth top (93 does not have the slot for the diagonal fuel rail front crossover pipe.)
And here's some links to guides to polishing wheels:
Hey I just practiced polishing my old exhaust tips off my v6. I started with 80 and went all the way up to 2000. I didn't have anything between 600 and 1000 so I think it could of turned out a lot better.
What grit do you think I should start on for my valve covers? I was thinking 600-1000?? then work my way up to 2000?
Are they scratched or pock-marked? I'd start with a buffing bob and compound and see if it responds. All my rail and throttle body work in the photo above was done with nothing more than Mother's Billet polish on a rag. But they were smooth to begin with. If you have to sand it, I'd see how it responds to the finest grit you have (2000?)
You didn't use sand paper to polish your throttle body? Just Mothers Polish???
And they are not scratched. They just have water spots and look dull. Nothing you can feel with your finger or nail. When I pop them off soon I will use my drill buffer with some Mothers Polish and see what happens. And good call on starting with 2000. Thanks!
You can also use 000 steel wool for the final polishing. You can buy it at Lowes or Home Depot. It's about as fine as you can get. Just as a suggestion.
Finished them! Looks pretty good for my first time polishing. They look better in person then in the pictures. Gotta pick up some gaskets and install them now.
You can see some sanding marks up close but I'm happy with it. Here's some better pictures! They won't be on the car for a while. I'm doing plugs and wires before they go on. Thanks guys ^
At lease you did them I hate messing wit chrome and my new fuel lines are chrome
You did a good gob and that's one thing I don't like to mess whit is aluminum and chrome. The new fuel lines I have for my 79z28 are chrome and I don't know if I will put them on.
The side with the alternator is notched out. I don't know what they are honestly, they were on the car when I bought them but the ad says " Ball Milled Valve Covers". I'll check for a part number on the bottom and let you know.
For the driver side, I wet sanded 180, 320, 400, 1000, 1500, 2000 then buffed it. (Didn't have nothing between 400 and 1000 so I hit it really good with 1000)
For the passenger side I used Scotch Bright then 1000, 1500, 2000 then buffed it.
There's several companies making high temp spray paint nowadays. Go to amazon.com and search for engine paint. There will be a billion come up all different colors. Just get the high temp stuff. Some will specifically say it won't withstand temp from the heads or exhaust but there are plenty that will. Looks real nice Brandon.
That's what I used and haven't had a problem with it. Mind you I have only had it on there a couple weeks. I think it should hold up fine. I've shot my block with a thermal gun before after 30 mins of interstate driving and it's only in the Mid 200's. As long as you aren't painting the headers you should be good.
VHT also sells some that supposed to withstand up to 550 degrees intermittenly.
But I just went out and hit the alternator bracket with Mothers Billet Polish and it's bringing out a mirror shine! I didn't think it would work like Fred said but it does. I'm gonna polish so much stuff now lol
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