Rocker/Valve cover finish closest to factory new

[ceylove]

I'm looking to finish my silver rocker cover to look as close to factory new as possible. I was thinking cad plating, or silver paint? Polishing would not be right, too shiny. Anyone have experience they'd like to share on this one?

[finkbuilt]

I think that they were just clean, raw aluminum castings.

Gently bead blast or chemical clean?

Wire brush with mineral spirits?

[john1180]

I've had the best luck with a light coat of Krylon dull aluminum spray paint after a good cleaning. It evens out the oxidation and other stuff that happens to old aluminum and makes it a lot easier to keep clean later.

[02Nut]

Valve Covers are cast aluminum and should NOT be cadmium plated.

Personally, I'd lightly plastic or glass bead blast the cover and then thoroughly clean it with solvent to remove as much oil residue as possible. Then I would paint it with a good quality "aluminum"-appearance paint.

Seymour makes a spray paint called "Alumi-Blast" that does a good job of simulating an cast aluminum appearance. I've bought Seymour paints at my local Paint Store and auto parts store.

http://www.seymourpaint.com/alumi_blast.html

Eastwood also makes an "aluminum"-appearance paint - check their website.

I've also heard of clear coat painting the cover instead of aluminum painting but I don't have any recommendations on what type of paint to use.

HTH

[esty]

i just had this one sand blasted...then painted it with a spray bomb of rust-o-leum

[c.d.iesel]

...." as close to factory new as possible ? " = naked - nothing on the aluminum

[jgerock]

Eastwood's Aluma-blast spray paint works well (make sure to use clear coat afterwards - unlike I did). I also used it on the tii intake runners, plenum and upper timing cover.

[ArdenK]

WOW Jim, That's pretty!

I like the new fuel lines too.

They look A LOT better than my old yellow ones!

[rover1]

bead blast and powder coat your favorite colour.

[john1180]

I've had the best luck with a light coat of Krylon dull aluminum spray paint after a good cleaning. It evens out the oxidation and other stuff that happens to old aluminum and makes it a lot easier to keep clean later.

All these other "special" aluminum paints all give the same look as good old krylon at many times the price!

[esty]

All these other "special" aluminum paints all give the same look as good old krylon at many times the price!

x2

[andyleonard]

The BMW bike guys clean the castings, spray lightly with aluminum paint and then rub with steel or bronze wool and remove most of the paint. May not be as pretty as fresh paint with clearcoat, but it looks original.

[c.d.iesel]

naked - best with no make-up

[nbcbird]

Like c.d. says the original finish had no coatings. Use a solvent to remove as much grease/ dirt as possible, and then blast with glass beads. Other sand blasting media (like aluminum oxide) will give you a different and usually darker patina.

[Guest Anonymous]

Hey Esty,

Is that the cover I sold you??? If so looks good.