'81 Valve Covers
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
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'81 Valve Covers
Am I correct that the valve covers on my '81 are painted magnesium? Mine are in need of care. Has anyone stripped the paint? Aircraft paint stripper??? I'd like to strip them without damaging them, and then repaint them and sand the top of the fins. Any advice?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Yes, 81 and 82 valve covers were magnesium, while earlier covers were aluminum.
I would think that any paint stripper safe to use on fiberglass, would be okay to use on magnesium, but you don't want to strip the paint off of the fins after painting them. Leaving bare magnesium exposed will cause them to corrode. When new, the magnesium covers used on 81 and 82 Corvettes were painted black, and the fins were painted light gray. The painted aluminum covers on L-82's, did have the paint removed from the fins, but not the later magnesium covers.
I would think that any paint stripper safe to use on fiberglass, would be okay to use on magnesium, but you don't want to strip the paint off of the fins after painting them. Leaving bare magnesium exposed will cause them to corrode. When new, the magnesium covers used on 81 and 82 Corvettes were painted black, and the fins were painted light gray. The painted aluminum covers on L-82's, did have the paint removed from the fins, but not the later magnesium covers.
