Aluminum valve cover restoration

[John B.]

Hi everyone. I searched "valve cover restoration" and the most recent thread I found was almost ten years old. I wondered who is doing an NCRS-quality restoration these days. Thanks in advance.

[Joe R.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Give John DeGregory a call. His aluminum finish is art!

JR

[Michael M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

I would try vapor blasting the aluminum first to see the result. Vapor blasting is usually all is needed to restore aluminum.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

I would try vapor blasting the aluminum first to see the result. Vapor blasting is usually all is needed to restore aluminum.

I agree. less is better.

[Gary B.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Give John DeGregory a call. His aluminum finish is art!

JR

[Bill M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Mike

is vapor blasting the the same as dry ice cleaning?

[Joe L.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Bill------


They are not the same. As far as which one is "gentler", that I do not know.

[Bill M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Joe

thanks i wanted to get my 67 intake done but i am concerned with the length of time for the process. i drive the car until just about the first snow. i dont want to leave the motor open all winter. There is some one on LI whe does dri ice cleaning. Ill have to speak to them to see how it works.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

I had a 1963 B-W transmission case done by vapor blasting. There is a guy somewhat near who has been doing it for many years, and his work is exceptional.

Turnaround was a couple of days. He know what he's doing, and usually does motorcycle engines and similar, though he has done some Corvette parts prior to mine.

Here is a photo of the transmission after I assembled it.

I had him do a couple of midyear valve covers too, but no picture here. I can post one later if you wish.
They look great.

[Bob I.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Mike

is vapor blasting the the same as dry ice cleaning?

Vapor blasting is a surface refinishing process used to clean and restore surfaces. Instead of dry abrasive media (used in sandblasting), it uses a combination of water, compressed air, detergents with finer and gentler media to remove oxidized metal and corrosion.

[Bill M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Bob and pat

thanks i will give it a shot

[Michael M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Bill, as Joe stated not the same. I feel that vapor blasting is the best procedure to restore aluminum back to its original appearance.

[John B.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

I had a 1963 B-W transmission case done by vapor blasting. There is a guy somewhat near who has been doing it for many years, and his work is exceptional.

Turnaround was a couple of days. He know what he's doing, and usually does motorcycle engines and similar, though he has done some Corvette parts prior to mine.

Here is a photo of the transmission after I assembled it.

I had him do a couple of midyear valve covers too, but no picture here. I can post one later if you wish.
They look great.

Hi Patrick--if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see a photo of the valve covers. Not just for me but for the record...Thanks.

[Terry M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

John DeGregory did mine...they turned out perfect!!!

Terry

[Bill M.]

Re: Aluminum valve cover restoration

Terry is that the process that john uses?