Valve covers??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 4
From: Delray Beach Florida
Valve covers??
This next week i want to pull my valve covers and repaint them b/c they are discolored and the paint is pealing off.
I've never pulled vavle covers off, how do i do it and what can i exspect to happen when i pull it?
Should i get new vavle cover gaskets?
This is on an 87 L98 with 99k miles.
thanx
I've never pulled vavle covers off, how do i do it and what can i exspect to happen when i pull it?
Should i get new vavle cover gaskets?
This is on an 87 L98 with 99k miles.
thanx
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 702
Likes: 6
From: North Vancouver BC
This next week i want to pull my valve covers and repaint them b/c they are discolored and the paint is pealing off.
I've never pulled vavle covers off, how do i do it and what can i exspect to happen when i pull it?
Should i get new vavle cover gaskets?
This is on an 87 L98 with 99k miles.
thanx
I've never pulled vavle covers off, how do i do it and what can i exspect to happen when i pull it?
Should i get new vavle cover gaskets?
This is on an 87 L98 with 99k miles.
thanx
Love to hear from people who've done it, but in the meantime read this:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...vr/valvep1.asp
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 4
From: Delray Beach Florida
I'm going to do this in the next few months as well.
Love to hear from people who've done it, but in the meantime read this:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...vr/valvep1.asp
Love to hear from people who've done it, but in the meantime read this:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...vr/valvep1.asp
o awesome read, thanx
has anyone done theirs in a color other then the steel look? any pictures of these?
i'm planning on useing a white
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I used the VC paint from MAM to paint mine; I used nearly two cans.
I first degreased them and then wet sanded off most of the old paint. After each coat I wet sanded with 220grit, no sanding of the final coat.
Our VCs are Mg and rather pitted so I used several coats to fill in the pits rather than trying to sand them out.
I bought two new groumets, one for each VC as the OEMs were hard as rocks.
Use only FelPro VC gaskets, available at AutoZone.
When you install the VCs do not over thighten the bolts.
I first degreased them and then wet sanded off most of the old paint. After each coat I wet sanded with 220grit, no sanding of the final coat.
Our VCs are Mg and rather pitted so I used several coats to fill in the pits rather than trying to sand them out.
I bought two new groumets, one for each VC as the OEMs were hard as rocks.
Use only FelPro VC gaskets, available at AutoZone.
When you install the VCs do not over thighten the bolts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 110
From: Brandon Fl
I've removed my valve covers a number of times. Other than wiggiling them out of their hole it's a pretty straight forward deal. You have to remove the EGR tube that runs across the pass. side one and I have to back out the lower bolt that holds my smog pump just untill it goes into the bracket. It's a hassle but stick to it you'll get it.
One more thing the stock covers alot of times have bad casting flaws so be prepared to do some work on them to make them look good or just put another style on there.
I got these from a member here years ago, they came on a crate motor he bought for his car. You can get these in chrome for about $100.
One more thing the stock covers alot of times have bad casting flaws so be prepared to do some work on them to make them look good or just put another style on there.
I got these from a member here years ago, they came on a crate motor he bought for his car. You can get these in chrome for about $100.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville Louisiana
I was going to do mine on my late '86, but after I got them removed and stripped, the castings were so poor, that I decided to get some aftermarket ones. Just bought a set of these from Jeg's for 129.99. They are also available from Summit for the same price.They are polished cast aluminum and look great!!! They also come with new stainless hardware. Quality is good and they are manufactured for GM by Proform (i.e., you can get them at a dealer, but will probably pay more). 
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
I recently took my VC's off of my '86 to be powder coated. The left side required backing out the bottom bolt on the air pump. The right side required unbolting the EGR tube from the manifold and pulling out of the way. Once these two items were done the covers came off with little trouble.
Here are my covers.
Here are my covers.
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I went to Advance auto parts and bought chrome eddlebrock valve covers for 39.99. Fit/look pretty good. Yes get a new gasket. Cheap and easy way for me instead of repainting.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 2
From: Houston TX
I blasted mine and painted with zinc chromate primer that seems to etch into the magnesium. I sanded between coats of primer, then painted with single stage automotive paint. It has held up well.
Aaron
Aaron
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
You can try the original valve cover paint. Try Eckelrs or an Anodized paint of your choice. There are some great looking powder coated L98 engines in this tread. You can buy a powder coat system from Eastwood.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
I turned on the bbq and let them sit in there on low heat for about 30 mins to cure the paint. then let them cool on there for another 30 mins.
if you dont cure the paint it will rub off leaving silver on whatever they touch using that high temp paint.
Later I stipped them to the metal and polished them to death. I found after running the car for a week they faded. I was going to try some clear coat to stop it, but I ditched the idea and went aftermarket so it matched my polished super ram and engine brackets.
here is a pic I took right before I tore the engine apart.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 554
Likes: 1
From: U. S.A
i had the same problem on my 84 covers, the paint that they used was cracking, peeling, and fading... so i threw some cheap chromies on there, and put my stock ones in the garage, and finally got around to having them powdercoated silver, and just had the aircleaner done... i'm just waiting to put them back on the engine, but that probally will be about another 3 months before its warm enough to tackle the job
heres the pic of my powdercoated job
heres the pic of my powdercoated job
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
valve covers 1991
My covers were stained bad so I started looking for NOS valve covers. The problem is that no one has the drivers side valve cover. Only the passenger side exists. I ordered two passenger side and they appear that they could be used interchangably Can they be switched? The other question I have is how is the corvette emblem on the drivers side attached? I thought it had threads and was screwed into the threaded hole on the cover but when I ordered a replacement from corvette central it had self stick adhesive on the back side? What gives??
Last edited by rich0239; Dec 19, 2006 at 09:58 AM.