DaveT91

Hi Folks, ive been cleaning the Engine bay on the 91 converible, its coming along nicely. However...id like the Plenum, Tubes, Distrib Cover, and Valve Covers to be cleaner and brighter....like new. There's a bit of oxidization onthe Distrib cover and a bit or Graying onthe valve covers.

what products do you use that wont leave an oxidization white powder residue?

Id plan to re-clear-coat them all after theyre clean...ie with a clear engine fishish product.

thanks for any tips

Strick

If your valve covers are the oem ones, they are magnesium. The factory paint doesn't last too long and re painting is required to bring them back to new. I powder coated mine and that makes it easier to keep clean.

DaveT91

yep, original Factory ones....thanks for the Tip.

what about the ThrottleBody/ plenum etc....that Aluminum or Mag as well ?

Master__Shake_

Not sure about the TB, but the plenum is aluminum. I think the distributor cover is as well, but not 100%.

pmihaltian

The runners, plenum and distributor cover are aluminum. Many guys have had very good success painting these items. Dupli-color makes an engine aluminum spray paint that looks good and seems to hold up well.

Good luck

Joe C

for a natural, maintenance free, factory finish on the aluminum components, glass bead blast and chem film (PPG's DX533 cleaner, and DX501 clear conditioner).

http://www.ppg.com/refinishftpsite/d..._Treatment.pdf



i did my DD 85 almost 12 years ago, and the aluminum components are showing "ZERO" signs of corrosion.

i have my valve covers off now - i've bead blasted them, and i plan to primer with an metal etching primer, apply a coat of a sandy texture base, and topcoat with the standard magnesium valve cover paint for the correct color. not sure how this will work out, but i'll post pics in a day or so...

bd2626

Sam Lam did a nice write up on what to use.....here is my results so far!

P.S. here is the before shot of the vc's

DaveT91

Thanks Guys

Biker

Is there anything one can do to clean parts that are still on the motor? I've tried using Gunk, SOS pads and a pressure washer and they still look dirty. I used to use muratic acid to clean the motor on an old BMW motorcycle I rode; however, I don't think this is a good idea for car engine with electrical parts exposed. Any thoughts?

bd2626

I found two things that do a pretty good job, one I found at Home Depot, it is made by Zep, it is a orange degreaser, found in the cleaning supplies area and Simple Green. I wouldn't use muratic acid if it was mine....

P.S. it sounds stupid but I bought a "sonic scrubber" as advertised on TV and it was very useful getting into some small tight spaces to clean.

Biker

Thanks for the feedback.

Joe C

well i finished my 85's valve covers. they were not in too bad of shape, but the finish was starting to peel off. i dicided to strip them down to the bare magnesium castings and try and duplicate the sandy textured finish. i think i came pretty close to the factory finish. i glass bead blasted both covers, primered with an etching primer, a couple coats of a texture spray, and topped it off with valve cover paint (just to get the right color). here's a couple shots...

RED UFO

Joe,

Was the primer and texture paint a heat resistant type? What brands did you use and where did you by them.

I ordered the final coat paint from Mid America.

Thanks,

Al

vetteblack

I dont like to re do someones post, but these covers are so sweet, they are worth another look! They look great!

trulytex

I used a heat resistant paint from the local Ace Hardware:

Here's a Before & After:

Paul Workman

Oooo! They turned out very nice!

P.

bd2626

Nice job all, the link below is to Sam Lam's list of products, look at his engine to see the results! See #12 and #15

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=sam+lam

pmihaltian

Joe:

These look great !

Can you give us a complete parts listing of exactly the prodicts that you ised to generate these results?

Thanks

Joe C

i have a small blasting cabinet w/ glass blasting material. one cover i blasted straight up, and the other i hit it with paint stripper first. the one that i used the stripper on took it down to a dark gray primer, and no further. i proceded to blast the second cover. both covers took about the same amount of time to get down to the bare castings. after a hot soapy-water wash and rinse, compressed air dry, final wipe with lacquer thinner, i sprayed a couple coats of -

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=PRODUCT

i followed the primer with a couple coats of -

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=PRODUCT

my castings, and i guessing most all magnesium castings have a lot of cosmetic imperfections in them - this product seemed to hide most of them.

and finally, a couple coats of standard c4 (magnesium) valve cover paint. can't remember where i bought that stuff - mid-america, corvette america, zip, corvette central, ???. the first two products, directly from eastwood.

anyway, i pretty much followed the instructions on all the cans...

hope this helps...

Strick

Thanks for the kind words. But I have to give the credit to: Mike@thepowdercoater.com