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Finally worked my way from rebuilding the differential, the muncie and got to the engine. I disassembled and off it went to the machine shop. Picked up the block Friday and mounted it on the stand today. Waiting on internals to be balanced, so needing to keep going I decided to attempt to refurbish the original valve covers. I need to recondition all I can due to funds. Here are some pictures. I am satisfied with the results. Repo's were $200 and finding and buy original L79 valve covers stamped with the "O" are $500 - $700. I spent $2.00 on coke a cola, a 2' piece of aluminium foil and a throw away aluminium pan.
Congrats on the covers- look really good. I'm the same way. I can't stand spending my hard earned cash on stuff I can do myself. Might take a couple of attempts, but I get there.
Dandy job!! I suggest that you use some chrome polish on those (stuff used on Harley exhaust pipes will last and tolerate the engine compartment heat) so that they will stay looking nice. You can clearcoat them, but that might turn yellow with heat and time.
BTW, I bought a set of L79 327 repo's a couple of years ago for $149 w/free ship as a splurge for a 68 base 327 dress up. I thought it was a good deal, & GM restoration part, but can not find it again anywhere. Got another 68 with original L79 covers that look worse than yours that I will try your method on. Much Thanks!!!
Question: And this would likely work on chrome bumpers too to get them looking good for a time too?
Also, I am going to give rebuilding a 68 Muncie a shot, got the book by Paul Cangialosi, what could go wrong?? and what is the worst thing that can happen??, LOL's! So how did the Muncie rebuild go? and any advice?
Wife says coke a cola is good to clean toilets too, maybe I need to rethink drinking it??
Coca-cola has long been held in the shadetree world as a great way to remove rust and pitting. We used to use it to free up frozen outboard engines.
OP: very nice work! I am a huge fan of DIY and applaud your efforts. I agree with the others though that you need to put something on there to seal them or the pitting will happen again, and very quickly now that it has been stripped.
I personally use a metal polish and protectant from BriteMax but there are lots of options available at your local auto parts store.
BTW, I bought a set of L79 327 repo's a couple of years ago for $149 w/free ship as a splurge for a 68 base 327 dress up. I thought it was a good deal, & GM restoration part, but can not find it again anywhere. Got another 68 with original L79 covers that look worse than yours that I will try your method on. Much Thanks!!!
Question: And this would likely work on chrome bumpers too to get them looking good for a time too?
Also, I am going to give rebuilding a 68 Muncie a shot, got the book by Paul Cangialosi, what could go wrong?? and what is the worst thing that can happen??, LOL's! So how did the Muncie rebuild go? and any advice?
Wife says coke a cola is good to clean toilets too, maybe I need to rethink drinking it??
Yes, it works the same for the bumpers. For me, I like most would love everything new but not realistic so methods like this that work lets me continue. Maybe someday I will re-chrome but not now.
On the Muncie, I too used the same book. Excellent reference. I ended up replacing 2nd and 3rd gears. I talked with Paul and he had me inspect the syncro mesh cogs on these gears because they are the most abused. Not really sure if they were abused enough to replace but for $120.00 I did with the good Italian made gears. BTW if they are worn the transmission would pop out of gear. I didn't want to go through all this and have to redo things. I used Paul's rebuild kit. It's a little bit more than what you see on ebay and at some corvette vendors sites but he picks and chooses the parts and I was convinced it to be a better way to go. I did a full rebuild, meaning I totally disassembled the unit. I had to press the main shaft and gears. I did buy a snap ring pliers that work on the bearing snap rings. This mad life a lot easier. If you are going to do this, you are welcome to borrow them. I just your address in a PM. You also need assembly Goo, it's $10.00. You can email Paul, he got back to me with in a hour or so. Very helpful.
Yes sir. I balled up a 6" x 6' square piece of foil, poured coca cola in a basin and kept dipping the foil as I worked at rubbing the rust away. It took me about 45 mins. per cover. Imagine what Coke does to our insides. They aren't perfect but they will work for me and they are original to boot.
Yes, it works the same for the bumpers. For me, I like most would love everything new but not realistic so methods like this that work lets me continue. Maybe someday I will re-chrome but not now.
On the Muncie, I too used the same book. Excellent reference. I ended up replacing 2nd and 3rd gears. I talked with Paul and he had me inspect the syncro mesh cogs on these gears because they are the most abused. Not really sure if they were abused enough to replace but for $120.00 I did with the good Italian made gears. BTW if they are worn the transmission would pop out of gear. I didn't want to go through all this and have to redo things. I used Paul's rebuild kit. It's a little bit more than what you see on ebay and at some corvette vendors sites but he picks and chooses the parts and I was convinced it to be a better way to go. I did a full rebuild, meaning I totally disassembled the unit. I had to press the main shaft and gears. I did buy a snap ring pliers that work on the bearing snap rings. This mad life a lot easier. If you are going to do this, you are welcome to borrow them. I just your address in a PM. You also need assembly Goo, it's $10.00. You can email Paul, he got back to me with in a hour or so. Very helpful.
Much Thanks for the feedback and your offer to loan me tools!
Agree, there is another factor besides availability of money, (I have that too ha!). I would rather say that I did it myself with a lot of help from this forum and other resources, even if it did not turn out perfect, but still turned out to be acceptable. I think there is a lot of satisfaction from DIY.
we used to use coke on battery terminals, to clean them. That work reminds me when I had chrome wheels on my 62 impala SS(wish I had that convertible back!!!!!) GOOD JOB!! What a difference on that transmission!!!!
01-20-2018, 06:17 PM
A Little DIY Goes A Long Way
So how did the Muncie rebuild go? and any advice?
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