71406

I ordered some GM aluminum valve cover to replace my cheapo chrome aftermaket ones. I know they are GM because they came in a GM box from a reputable Corvette vendor on this site. While I like the look of these covers, there is discoloration and many casting imperfections between the fins. Are they all this way or did I just get some bad ones? If this is the way there are has anyone cleaned them up? There are also some what appears to be drippers cast into the inside cover. I wasn't sure if they would clear my roller rockers but they do clear.

LeMans Pete

No, that discoloration should not be there. Its hard to tell what it is, it looks like dirt, but obviously its not. My originals look better than that. Have you called their customer service line?

blitz10

I bought a set awhile back and had them powder coated clear to keep them polished looking. The guy doing the coating had to clean them up between the fins. He said it was polishing compound.

yellow 72

Looks like casting flash, not all aluminum is finished equally

It tough to polish between those fins and not all manufactures make the same effort....

682XLR8

Most of that will sand/polish out if you want to take the time to get between all those fins

Busrydr

I recently purchased a set of those same covers. I was also a little surprised at a GM labeled product not really being up to par. But these are mass produced and the polishing process is not likely to produce show quality results.

Mine look about like yours did. I took a cloth and just did some minor clean up and they began to look better. I'll give it a ood cleaning before the install and just plan to spend some weekend bonding with the valve covers from time to time.

croaker

Mine look just like that

Glassbowtie77

Mine too. They are a bit of a pain in the neck to keep clean and very time consuming to polish, especially between the fins. They look awesome when they are polished up, unfortunately it doesn't last as long as I would like. I use Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish on them. It usually becomes an all day affair going from the valve covers to the breather, the air cleaner, the alternator, the thermostat housing, the dipsticks and tubes, the headers, etc. Oh my God, I'm exhausted just from thinking about it.

xCCTer

They look just like mine, but you must have gotten a bad batch.

First shift Monday morning (hangover) or Friday afternoon (can't wait to go home).

SEVNT6

I got sick of trying to keep mine clean so I took em' to the chrome shop........

71406

Based on your suggestion I called a powder coating shop and decided to send them to him. And after seeing the covers SEVENT6 has, I'm convinced. I love these covers but hate the maintenance.

THANKS for everyones help and suggestions. I'll post the before and after when I get them back.