Polishing valve covers

[ponie1992]

Not sure if anyone would have advice on this, but my valve covers are fabricated aluminum and used to have an awesome highly polished shine. They were not taken care of by previous owners, so now I want them to have that killer shine again. What would be the best products and method to achieve this?

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[wraithracing]

Pictures would be helpful first. This will allow us to see how bad they really are and give recommendations based upon that.

If the finish is really bad, then you may need to start with wet sanding and move from there to polishing.

If the finish is not too bad, then you may be able to start with some aggressive compounding agents and move on from there.

[ponie1992]

I tried just some Mother's Polish and then some fine steel wool and polish again, but that's not really cleaning them up well. You can see my poor attempt in the pics.


Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[erratic50]

Jeweler's rouge and polishing heads is how people used to bring the old 10 rims to a chrome-like shine. It should also work on any AL parts. I would start with 320 grit and a DA until you get the marks out then go to 500 wet on a DA then 1000 wet, 1500 wet, the jewelers's rouge on a polishing head and a Drexel.....etc.

Looks completely saveable. +$0.02 ymmv

good luck!

[ponie1992]

Ugh, I don't have a DA. I would be doing all this by hand. Are there any attachments for a Dremel or even a drill that would work?

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[dagenham]

I like the results from using Mothers metal polish and their foam polish balls that you chuck into a drill. Be careful though, they can make a little bit of a mess from flying polish.

[ponie1992]

I like the results from using Mothers metal polish and their foam polish balls that you chuck into a drill. Be careful though, they can make a little bit of a mess from flying polish.

I think I have one of those polishing balls and may give it a try. Mothers is my polish of choice as well.

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[fgross2006]

Two years ago I took mine off to change the gaskets and I polished them with steel wool and braso polish. They looked OK but lost their luster quick.

This past summer when I was in process of swapping my engine I took off the valve covers and intake manifold and took them to the local machine shop and had them blasted. they came out like new. Then I sprayed them with hi temp clear coat and oven baked to cure.

Seven months later they still look as they did when freshly cleaned.

I also hand polished the timing cover and water pump and hit them up with hi temp alum paint.

[ponie1992]

Two years ago I took mine off to change the gaskets and I polished them with steel wool and braso polish. They looked OK but lost their luster quick.

This past summer when I was in process of swapping my engine I took off the valve covers and intake manifold and took them to the local machine shop and had them blasted. they came out like new. Then I sprayed them with hi temp clear coat and oven baked to cure.

Seven months later they still look as they did when freshly cleaned.

I also hand polished the timing cover and water pump and hit them up with hi temp alum paint.

So, they just sand blasted them? You didn't polish them afterwards?

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[84StangSVT]

I have done this on a lot of aluminum things in the past. Clean it with Aluminox and then a light polish afterwards. The Aluminox will get it clean and bright but it will not bring a polish look to it. Once it is cleaned with the Aluminox, polishing is a quick breeze.

[ponie1992]

I have done this on a lot of aluminum things in the past. Clean it with Aluminox and then a light polish afterwards. The Aluminox will get it clean and bright but it will not bring a polish look to it. Once it is cleaned with the Aluminox, polishing is a quick breeze.

Where can I get Aluminox?


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[84StangSVT]

I got it at a truck stop but you can order it on Amazon or their site. A little goes a long way with this stuff, so a quart lasts a long time.

[ponie1992]

I got it at a truck stop but you can order it on Amazon or their site. A little goes a long way with this stuff, so a quart lasts a long time.

Ok, cool. Thanks!

[cb84capri]

I have had great results with some stuff called Autosol in the past. What you have there just looks lightly oxidized. You could probably polish that to a mirror finish if you wanted to with Autosol alone and some soft cloths.

Cale

[ponie1992]

I have had great results with some stuff called Autosol in the past. What you have there just looks lightly oxidized. You could probably polish that to a mirror finish if you wanted to with Autosol alone and some soft cloths.

Cale

Would that be available locally?

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[cb84capri]

I got mine at Home Hardware in Canada... You might find it at Ace or True Value stores, but you can get it for sure off of Amazon or ebay.

Cale

[ponie1992]

I got mine at Home Hardware in Canada... You might find it at Ace or True Value stores, but you can get it for sure off of Amazon or ebay.

Cale

Ok, thanks.

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[cb650]

I am a member of SOHC4 also. Its old honda bike site. Some of the guys there do some amazing polishing jobs.

[cb650]

Here is link from one of the sites.

http://www.hondacb650.com/viewtopic....=8247&start=15

[fgross2006]

So, they just sand blasted them? You didn't polish them afterwards?

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

the sheen they had after blasting was perfect. And since I intended to clear coat them I couldn't polish or the clear coat would not have adhered.

[ponie1992]

the sheen they had after blasting was perfect. And since I intended to clear coat them I couldn't polish or the clear coat would not have adhered.

I gotcha.

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[fgross2006]

This is what mine looked like right after clear coating them. That's as close to factory new as its gonna get

[ponie1992]

Looks good! I want mine to shine like when they were new. I'll get them there one way or another.

Jeremy
83 T-Top coupe
89 LX 5.0
16 PP GT

[pavil58fep]

That matte finish looks pretty darn good. My covers, original to the 83 Capri, are that style. I need to check out the local Mustang shop for blasting I guess.