Valve cover cleaning question

Power washed the valve covers and what I’ve got left still doesn’t look all that good. Any suggestions other than buying new ones? Thought about cleaning them with dotco and scotchbrite pad. Maybe buying buffing pad and some metal polish. Anyway I’m sure someone has the best way to make valve covers look good again!!! What are your suggestions?

 

post up in the Detailing section, they may have a few tricks to get them back in order

 

Ok, will do... thanks!

 

Bead blast if that is an option

 

Soda blasting worked wonders on my vintage bike carburetors

 

High temp ceramic paint?

 

Paint them

 

They’re made from aluminum so you need to get that corrosion off either using a wire wheel or steel wool. Then paint. Chrisfix has a YouTube video on painting his valve covers you should watch it

 

Yup I’m good with anything that’ll make it look better! Just want to improve it while I’m there! Currently it’s got a rough leaves a mark with you finger nail if you scratch it finish. Not sure currently if paint would even stick to it. I’m sure it’s some form of corrosion. I’m leaning towards dotco and buffing pad and aluminum polish. Media blasting would be good too. Whatever I can get done fast. Trucks been down tooooooooo long!

 

We had a powdercoater in town but it shut down....

 

i have extra soda media and blast gun, where are you located?

 

We’re in the Middle!!! Ahhhhh Kansas... Awesome Rock Band and a generally nice place to live if you don’t mind peace and quiet. I appreciate your offer but unless you live locally I’ll just find a place that’ll do it. There is a place just outside of town that does bigger stuff maybe they can do little stuff as well.
Appreciate you guys, wish we were neighbors!

 

Quest Speciality makes a product called "Trailerbrite". I bought my one gallon jug at a good janitor supply store in town. Toxic stuff. Do not use it on aluminum rims. It is a form of acid. You have the cover off. Brush some on. Let it sit. Fine steel wool it, rinse and that cover will look factory fresh buddy. Don't do it in the bright sunshine. Mix with water to thin and start slow.

 

Well between this and other ongoing issues at the house this is what I got done on the passenger side valve cover. Thank you for your replies but I ended up doing what was most convenient and least expensive. Went to Napa to see what they had... nothing, Ace Hardware... big fat nothing and finally Walmart and they had something that worked well but not brand spanking new looking. Kind of a Rat Rod patina post apocalyptic look. Anyway out came the the Dotco and roloc scotchbrite pads! Oh and my friend at work said don’t you think you overdoing it.... he was right and suggested painting it as babybluetaco suggested. So I painted it.
High Heat paint was also an issue as some needed special prep for aluminum and some had to be cured in an impractical way. So I went with the 1200 degree, no curing instructions gloss black. Corrosion is removed and valve cover is protected and looks much better.

 

Oh and this after using Rustoleum rust remover.

 

Sandblasting is always the best option

Here are 2JZ valve covers I just did:

 

That’s pretty cool looking!