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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 02:18 PM
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Default Why?

Tell me why you guys paint the aluminum covers with silver paint.....

I'm sorry, but nothing looks like aluminum but bare aluminum.

Is it to avoid cleaning them every once in a while, or?

I have had them on a '60, a '63, and a '69. And I have purchased new over the parts counter for other Chevys. None of them had previous paint on them.

Or am I wrong, did the factory ever paint them????

Does painted covers reduce points in judgeing?

I just use bare metal mag wheel cleaner to clean them up once a year.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 02:20 PM
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What covers are you talking about?
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 02:32 PM
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valve covers
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 02:42 PM
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I do not paint Valve Covers but some people paint them Black or another color. I can not say that I have ever seen anyone ever paint Aluminum Valve Covers with Aluminum paint. If nothing else have them buffed or just polished. Nothing looks better then polished Aluminum Valve Covers.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 03:04 PM
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I don't know anyone that paints their aluminum valve covers.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 03:06 PM
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Uh! You do actually if you count forum acquaintances...

I would rather make slightly beat up originals look a bit better with Alumi-Blast than have them reskinned which is OK but still doesn't look exactly original...

And i certainly am not buying repros...

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Feb 28, 2017 at 03:07 PM.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink

I would rather make slightly beat up originals look a bit better with Alumi-Blast than have them reskinned which is OK but still doesn't look exactly original...

And i certainly am not buying repros...
And the reskinned covers that I have seen look like they were sprayed with a slight texture aluminum paint.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 03:51 PM
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Default Don't wish to be contrary, but

What does it matter what someone does to theirs? Or more to the point - why would it bother you ( unless they did it to yours?)

i might just just say it differently - like "I don't really care for . . .

YMMV
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 05:25 PM
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I think if you have an older set that are stained or otherwise won't clean up, from what I've seen, the silver paint looks far more original than the re-skinned covers.

I like natural myself, even if they are a little stained.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 06:19 PM
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On the reskinned valve covers does the new skin ever start peeling off???
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 06:24 PM
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Reskinned is a misnomer....although the pros won't tell you how they do it, its some kind of process (shot peening or something) that tries to replicate the original raw aluminum look, having said that there is no real 'skin' added. Jerry MacNeish and others are the best at this job...

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Feb 28, 2017 at 06:25 PM.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 06:26 PM
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Yep, I put paint on my valve covers and proud of it. Take that NCRS
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by stratplus
Yep, I put paint on my valve covers and proud of it. Take that NCRS
That's not my thing, but whoever did that did a good job, and they look good.

It almost replicates the neon-lighted stainless steel diner look of a bygone era. It works.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 07:00 PM
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I had Jerry MacNeish refinish this manifold and thought it looked excellent. Not exactly sure of his process either but I would not expect it to peel or flake - seems quite natural although certainly new in appearance and not vintage.


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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 09:08 PM
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Back in the day, I painted mine with black wrinkle paint and cleaned and polished the ribs and lettering. Looked cool at the time.
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 09:27 PM
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like *****..what difference does it make
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted by DansYellow66
I had Jerry MacNeish refinish this manifold and thought it looked excellent. Not exactly sure of his process either but I would not expect it to peel or flake - seems quite natural although certainly new in appearance and not vintage.

Very nice looking "big block" manifold!!!

GUSTO
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 09:48 PM
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How about this?
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Old Feb 28, 2017 | 10:06 PM
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With the variety of finish clear coats (flat, Matt, semi gloss, gloss) I would blast them or use your preferred method and to keep them from staining, shoot a protective coating!

Last edited by TCracingCA; Feb 28, 2017 at 10:06 PM.
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Old Mar 1, 2017 | 12:31 AM
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My '66's 350hp aluminum valve covers have been polished, which is incorrect, which also looks fantastic.

Ray
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