'66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

[Steve Z.]

I just finished glass beading my aluminum valve covers. They now look much better but now have a flat gray color is there any way I can get them back to the same type of finish they were originally ?
Thanks,
Steve

[Gene M.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Steve,
Glass beading if done with anything more than dust and at more than 40 lbs will destroy the the die cast surface skin. Sure they look nice but not correct. I suggest you let them sit in the acid rain to tone back the appearance you are left with. The flat gray you speak of sounds like it was too aggressive on these parts.

[Gary B.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Steve,

If Gene's idea doesn't produce the look you're after, you could talk to John DeGregory who has restored hundreds of AL valve covers. John posts on the Discussion Board (DB) and you could contact him via his DB profile.

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Steve,

If Gene's idea doesn't produce the look you're after, you could talk to John DeGregory who has restored hundreds of AL valve covers. John posts on the Discussion Board (DB) and you could contact him via his DB profile.

Gary

Gary------


I think John's method is that he soaks the valve covers overnight in Sicilian-style marinara sauce. Then, he sautes them in imported olive oil. There; I've said it----his secret is out.

[Gary B.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Gary------


I think John's method is that he soaks the valve covers overnight in Sicilian-style marinara sauce. Then, he sautes them in imported olive oil. There; I've said it----his secret is out.

Joe,

I bet John's secret ingredient is the non-olive oil additive that the Italians love to use to extend their pure, extra-virgin olive oil.

Gary

[Robert R.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Canola oil with a touch of cloriform ?

[Bill W.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Steve,
There was an article in the RESTORER years ago that dealt with restoring aluminum valve covers, unfortunately I can't find it. I seem to remember scrubbing them with an SOS pad (lightly) then spraying dull aluminum paint on the valve cover and finishing the process with a paint brush dipped in lacquer thinner that has dull aluminum paint in it. Wish I could find the article but it's past my bed time. If the above does not work contact Joe Lucia, he will sell you an NOS set of valve covers. Joe sells stuff ALL the time! Bill

[Steve Z.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Thanks everyone,
Steve

[Bill M.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

anyone know how much it costs to restore?

[Steve Z.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

anyone know how much it costs to restore?

I just got a reply from John DeGregory he gets $150.00.....
Steve

[Domenic T.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

I used a mild Stainless brush after glass bead and it brought back the sheen.

Dom

[John D.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Gary------


I think John's method is that he soaks the valve covers overnight in Sicilian-style marinara sauce. Then, he sautes them in imported olive oil. There; I've said it----his secret is out.

Joe, I only use EVOO. No cheap olive oil.
Italian story. Growing up my family never use EVOO. I don't even know if it was available.
Thanks for the plug guys but at the moment my pal JD is absolutely buried in work. Getting read for Corvette Carlisle now. Oops. Getting ready for customers jobs at BG first.

[Brian K.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

I've had good luck with a product called "Nice and Easy Aluminum cleaner" found at True-Value hardware, gives that nice washed look.

[Donald H.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

If you decide to have them reworked by a restorer and JD is to backloged, call Fred Hudson 405-620-2748. Both do very nice work. JD did my valve covers and they look great. Fred did my aluminum intake and it also looks great. Fred's Driveline ad is in the Services & Miscellaneous section.

[Steve Z.]

Re: '66 327 / 350 HP Valve covers

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.....
Steve