Cleaning Aluminium Valve Covers

Wayne Maybury · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2002, 06:19 AM

My finned aluminium valve covers require a cleaning since the dull area has gotten quite dirty in a few places. Has anyone developed a method of cleaning the aluminium without hurting the high gloss ribs? I thought about blasting them with glass beads but I don't feel like having to re-polish all of the ribs afterwards.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Wayne

Steve Kratz · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2002, 08:06 AM

I would mask off the ribs with a heavy tape. I have used a foil tape made by 3M, which can be trimmed very accurately with a razor knife. Then bead blast the valve covers.

Steve

Zderf · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2002, 08:13 AM

I've done mine with plastic media... no masking required. Works great on the intake and any other cast surfaces as well.

Zderf...

Wayne Maybury · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2002, 06:26 AM

Thanks guys, I think I will give it a try. I did my intake 2 weeks ago with glass beads and it looks better than new.

I guess the hardest part will be to properly tape the ribs.

Wayne