86 valve covers
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Re: 86 valve covers (86Pacecar)
i replaced mine with some edelbrock ones. ive heard of people sand/bead blasting them to get that old paint off of them and then repait it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 86 valve covers (86Pacecar)
I used a number of coats of MAD valve cover on my center bolt covers.
I first cleaned and hand sanded the covers and then lightly sanded between coats.
The paint has been on for a copla years and is holding up well.
I first cleaned and hand sanded the covers and then lightly sanded between coats.
The paint has been on for a copla years and is holding up well.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: 86 valve covers (Ramanstud)
that aircraft coating remover works pretty darn well. Nasty stuff, so use it outside... but they sell it at any automotive store.
:cheers:
:cheers:
The magnesium casting is crap. You can pretty much tell how bad your casting is by how many bubbles develop in the paint. Basically, its pointless to go down to bare metal. They do have a thick base coat on them. You could sand down to this, and then primer and repaint with high-temp paint, or maybe get them chromed. Polishing them is looking like a bad idea, I'm in the process.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 5
From: CASTLE ROCK CO
Re: 86 valve covers (CentralCoaster)
Polish them. There's plenty of posts on it. PS most people give up and paint or buy new.
CENTRAL don't give up yet, it'll be worth it. Getting ready to put mine on, came out great, painted the grooves because they were impossible to get polished. I'll see if I can take some pix.
CENTRAL don't give up yet, it'll be worth it. Getting ready to put mine on, came out great, painted the grooves because they were impossible to get polished. I'll see if I can take some pix.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Re: 86 valve covers (OleDog)
Polish them.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: 86 valve covers (hngacurv)
hngacurv, the MAD paint for our valve covers is sort of a silver color.
As Scorp mentioned, the covers are rather porus so I just sanded to a smooth finish as possible, wiped with laquer thinner and sprayed on many color coats, wet sanding between coats.
The result was a nearly stock finish which is what I was after.
As Scorp mentioned, the covers are rather porus so I just sanded to a smooth finish as possible, wiped with laquer thinner and sprayed on many color coats, wet sanding between coats.
The result was a nearly stock finish which is what I was after.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: 86 valve covers (86Pacecar)
BTW, I did have one all polished up and looking great. It sat in my room for only three days in a box. I took it out, and looked at it, and it was already oxidizing badly at every miniscule crevace and pit. I couldn't imagine what it would look like on my car, exposed to the elements. So much for the mirror shine. I had to hit it with sand paper again and start from scratch on it.
If I do manage to get them polished, I will paint the INSIDE (to prevent oil from seeping through the surface) and try and clear coat the outside.
If I do manage to get them polished, I will paint the INSIDE (to prevent oil from seeping through the surface) and try and clear coat the outside.