has anyone removed the finish off a valve cover without using a sandblaster? if anyone did how hard was it? tks

You could always try aircraft remover

When i stripped mine down i used aircraft remover, but then i hit it with a sandblaster. My sandblaster was like 18 bucks at harbor freight, and my "booth" was a big plastic bin with a towel thrown over the top. I used it on a bunch of parts so its been worth the investment

When i stripped mine down i used aircraft remover, but then i hit it with a sandblaster. My sandblaster was like 18 bucks at harbor freight, and my "booth" was a big plastic bin with a towel thrown over the top. I used it on a bunch of parts so its been worth the investment

tks for reply

If you blast the valve cover, you should bead blast.....not sand blast. Also, if you bead blast the cover, make sure it is tightly sealed so no contaminant can enter the cover. I screw mine down with the gasket installed to a piece of plywood using power driven wood screws......tape off the vent tube. The last thing an engine needs is grit!

In your case, I would use the aircraft stripper and then wet-sand out with 2000, 3000, 4000 grit sandpaper. Finally buff with some Mothers Aluminum Polish. Years ago when I first got my Z, I kept the valve cover pretty and polished, then over time I let it slide. Now it is powder-coated Silver - which I prefer much more. Not as pretty as polished aluminum, but I am older and need less to polish.

Edited April 17, 201212 yr by ZCurves