How to clean aluminum Intake and valve covers?
#1
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: West by God Virginia
Posts: 158
How to clean aluminum Intake and valve covers?
I just got a car that has set for some time and the Intake and valve covers look bad. What product or products will make them look good?
#3
Senior Member
SENIOR BUILDER
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 116
I never had any luck with any type of cleaner, I just pull them and have them sandblasted with coarse sand.
Glassbeading always seem to leave a dull shine where coarse sand would bring it back to the out of the box appearance.
Of course I just got my valve covers back from the blaster and the first person to come over had to say "those look nice and" put his hands on a cover, leaving a nice shadow that even carb spray can't remove.
Glassbeading always seem to leave a dull shine where coarse sand would bring it back to the out of the box appearance.
Of course I just got my valve covers back from the blaster and the first person to come over had to say "those look nice and" put his hands on a cover, leaving a nice shadow that even carb spray can't remove.
#6
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Standing right behind you
Posts: 1,151
Depends on the finish you want. If its a vintage patina'd look, or traditional factory look, then I would agree with sandblasting; however I wouldnt suggest coarse sand or glass beads. They will clean the aluminum and also "de-skin" it, giving a rough finish. Most valvecovers and intakes retain a smooth light gloss finish. Use walnut shells, TIP aka Truman's sells them.
I have my cabinet set up with walnut shells as I do a lot of Muncie 4-speeds and they are really dirty. The walnut shells remove all the crud and lets them look exactly as new.
If you use glass beads or sand, you might want to at least give it an oil rub or a light steel wool run to get some of the natural look back if you are doing a period look.
However, if you like the rougher look then glass beads work well.
I have my cabinet set up with walnut shells as I do a lot of Muncie 4-speeds and they are really dirty. The walnut shells remove all the crud and lets them look exactly as new.
If you use glass beads or sand, you might want to at least give it an oil rub or a light steel wool run to get some of the natural look back if you are doing a period look.
However, if you like the rougher look then glass beads work well.
#7
Senior Member
DYNO OPERATOR
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chelsea Oklahoma
Posts: 556
at wal-mart they had some stuff called FOAMING engine brite, and man did it work { WOW } but now all i can find is the straight engine brite, and it does not work neer as well. so if you can find the FOAMY kind it works great,,