Hello all, I have a set of used Poston valve covers. The black ones. I like the smoothed aluminum look too though. Can I toss these babies up in the bridgeport fly-cut the ribs off them, leaving the "buick", blast the black coating off, and polish them ? I have no doubt one of yall out there has already done/tried this. You have any pix of the finished product ? I would really like to do them this way if it will work. OR.......do I just scuff them up and paint the black back on them ? or maybe Buick red. The I would have to paint the intake red I think to "look" right. What do yall think ?? Pix would help a bunch of course if possible. And thanks in advance. later.........................
I did that to a set of T/A valve covers about 10 years ago and they came out nice. I milled the tops flat, going around "Buick". Then I ball milled slots down the length of them. I bead blasted them, which took a long time to get the powder coat off. And finally sanded and polished them and detailed the recessed areas with engine paint. Milling them does make the tops very thin though so, be careful. I don't have any pictures right now but I'll try to get some later. Ken
I also have a set of TA valve covers that I used a grinder, then worked my way to an orbital sander (da). I finished by block sanding with 1000 grit sand paper. Unforchanatly (sp) i have a few low grooves that I will have to work out at a later time. Last year at the Norwalk meet Mike from TA saw the engine and looked at the covers for a few minutes. Sorry no pictures of them. Mike
Thanks Gary Kubisch! I bought some Valve Covers from Gary Kubish and they are one of a kind. They are Kenne Bell valvecovers and he milled the ribs off of them. I always get compliments on them...everyone wants to know where I got them. Here's a picture. I had them beadblasted and shot them with Eastwood's diamond clear.
Very nice pix and that is the idea I had. Were they black to begin with or the aluminum ? Or do you know ? What kinda blast time am I looking at on this deal anyone ? Also it has been mentioned that milling the ribs off thins up the tops. How much ? Is it enough to worry about ? If it is I may just paint them over again. Although I really like the looks of them like you pictured.:TU: Thanks !!! later......................
All good questions... Dave, I will try and direct Gary Kubisch to this thread so that he may be able to answer your questions better. I believe the valvecovers were originally raw aluminum. Milling off the ribs does not seem to have affected the thickness of these covers, they are plenty thick.:TU: Another board member, Dave Steele was gracious enough to bead blast them for me, so I could not even tell you how much work was entailed in this. Sorry not much help, but at least I did have a picture to post!:laugh:
just out of curiosity, have you thought of just painting them aluminum [fake chrome]? that would give you some idea of the appearance of the finished piece. i have been considering doing a reverse of the standard with the fins and buick as black.:TU:
Dave I wouldn't worry about it too much,There is no real "load" of any sort on the tops. I would say the KB's I sold to Paul were still over an 1/8'' thick w/o the grooves. You got the right idea with the Bridgeport. Anyone with a decent bead blast cab. should not have a problem stripping them for you.
Thanks Thanks for chiming in Gary. I get so many compliments on the valvecovers... Now, when you want to sell your new valvecovers...keep me in mind!:laugh:
