Aluminum Valve Covers

[Bruce D.]

I have a set of straight valve covers with no seam in them that I am trying to decide on the next step to correct an issue. The original valve covers were coated with a porcelain type of coatingand they have no seam on the casting.

1. I can try to have the coating taken off and see what the result is, OR

2. I have purchased a set of GM Performance Parts #3767493 valve covers new in the box that have the seam but also have very rough casting residue around the edges.

Do I file/grind the edges off the Performance Parts covers (why are they so rough?) and then try to clean the casting seam from them? Anyone have positive results with this seam removal?

Do I have the original ones blasted (sand, glass, other medium) and see how they turn out?

Other suggestions?

thanks

[Tom B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Covers

Could it be powder coating? They need to be stripped then I'd soda blast the originals. It should clean the aluminum without removing or altering the aluminum in any way. I have a few sets of originals and I'm comvinced that a cleaned up original is better than the ones currantly available from GM. Some suppliers offer new ones that have been worked over to remove the seam and other imperfections. You would have to compare the cost of tyhese to yur cleaned up original. Once they are soda blasted you may decide you don't need to go any further with them.

Tom

[Bruce D.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Covers

The ones I bought came from GM Performance Parts, not GM Reproduction. They seem like rough castings (with the seam) but with excess around the edges. I thought they would be more ready to install since they came out of the box. Do these usually require any clean up or grinding aounrd the edges when new before installation? I have never seem them like this on cars

[Bruce B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Covers

Bruce,
The currently available aluminum valve covers are all produced from the same tooling (Paragon owns it I believe) which is original GM and well worn. I bought a few sets from GM before they let the tooling go and they are of very poor quality.
Current "new" inventory will have the casting flaw and lots of flash if they have not been "massaged".
Paragon does sell cleaned up ones which have the casting flaw removed.
Personally I prefer a set of good clean used old valve covers.
Bruce B