Poilshed Valve Cover Question

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I am in the process os polishing my ka24e valve cover. So far I got all the black stipped off, and it is starting to polish real well on the top side of the cover. I havent used any sand paper yet, will sand paper further deepen the shine or will it scratch up the surface. I know you are supposed to start with rougher stuff than gradually use finer sandpaper. Can anyone that has sucessfully polished their valve cover give me some help. Attached is a pic of what the valve cover looks like so far. It is starting to get that chrome appearance but it is still not good enough for me.

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

looks good so far, im not sure about the sand paper thing, it shouldnt hurt it if ur gonna finish with finer, but done trust me, i dont

Post by **Demonic240** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I am pretty sure you have to use Polishing Compounds (different grits) ... Sand paper is to course, At least my method in the past was to use Polishing Compounds. Lets here some other comments on this, I am more used to working with chrome.

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

That is what I have been working with is all kinds of metal polishing compounds. It works pretty well I just need something to really bring the shine out.

Post by **AZhitman** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

You'll need a high speed wheel and some red (or is it the black?) polishing compound.

Compound can be bought at Home Depot - Use a cloth wheel on an angle grinder or a high speed drill.... Make sure VC is secured to something (fasten it to a board or a table).

NO sandpaper! You're past that point anyway.... Be careful and have fun!

Post by **Radian** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

If you've already started polishing going to sand paper will only ruin what you have already done. Order should be:Course grit paper to remove scratchesFine grit paper for swirls (2000 grit wet/dry)Course rubbing compoundFine " "Polishing compound.

There really should be a protective clear coat or something put over the cover then. At high temps I don't know what you would use. Some people use carnuba wax on their polished aluminum bits and that works ok.

Post by **AZhitman** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Spray with a high-quality clear enamel for metal (or just re-polish with some Mother's Aluminum Polish when it gets dull.)

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I bought some expensive metal wax that keeps its shine in any condition for a very long time. It is the best stuff out there, keeping it clean is not a problem for me. I detail cars on my spare time, my cars get waxed, detailed 1-2 times a week. I detail almost every inch of my cars. My boyfriend gets mad because I spend all my time detailing my cars, than I do with him. Does anyone else have some advice for me on finishing my valve cover?

Post by **96_S14_SE** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

SHE may not be past that point yet as we cant see if he just shined the imperfections in the metal from that pic...

Depending on the metal finish is what determines what grit I start with. In a minute Ill post a once black, crinkle finish, mtx thunder 4300x. It had literally about 1/16" of coating on it, that after spraying down with aircraft coating remover, left a raw extruded aluminum finish. I started with I think it was 200 grit, then 400, 600, 800, 1000, 2000, then took it to the 6' bench grinder with buffing wheel equiped and used various compounds including a platnum / gold Rogue (green color) on it

It scratches now with normal towels when rubbed to hard....

I prefer using air tools and various sanding wheels now but they tend to leave dips here and there when not carefull... By hand is one of the only methods I have to get a nearly pefect flat finish prior to buffing.

Also various metal pollishes for aluminum will contain various things to help to prolong the finish before oxidation sets in to aluminum, which sometimes is unavoidable.

Ill up the image in a few.

edit: yes she is a girl hehe sorry

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

The shine on the top is just about perfect, I did it all by hand. It took me many hours but it looks great. I just cant get the sides, it is more dull and it wont take that well to polish

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

It is more like a cast aluminum, all the matters mostly is the top. I dont think I will sand on the top as I dont wont take off all the finish I have been working so hard on. The sides are still very dull so what grit should I use?

Post by **96_S14_SE** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

**** sorry didnt look at the thread starter, I know you are a girl

editing now, and upping the images still

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Cool thanks for you help 96_s14_se

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I am definitely not anywhere near half way done with the valve cover. Good thing this one is a spare othewise my 240 would have been without a cover for a good few weeks now. Also has anyone polished the eccs unit on the ka24e? It is the long silver box on the other side of the valve cover if you dont know what I am talking about. It doesnt look like it can be polished I tried it is like cast steel I might paint it if I cant polish that. I definitely recommend to anyone that wants a polished valve cover to just go out and spend the 50-100 bucks for the finished cover. It is way too much work, but it will look great in the engine bay.

Post by **96_S14_SE** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

For the sides go for like a 200 grit.. Possibly something lower if you see that the casting finish isnt comming off easily. You want the paper to do the work even if you have to go another step to remove the papers abrasive marks, it will save you time...

I would do the back side first so if anything goes wrong, like you gouge the hell out of it, it wont be noticeable

If you pollish alot I would invest in a bench grinder (6" dual ones are cheap at HD lowes) with a buffing wheel and a wire on the other side. One thing I dont have is a angle grinder with a buffing wheel on it. Its what I need to remove all the minor discoloration from going one way on the bench....

Heres my overly done amp... Which I blew being a tool putting it all back together. Dont mind the little ding (from previous owner who left gashes all over it) nor the verticle edge as you wouldnt have seen it in my application.... I may fix it for 85$ as the whole board needs repairing and not some caps / vr's I tried replacing already..... It sure looks nice

Btw thats its baby blanket buffing cloth cover hehe.

It used to look like THIS ... Sorry the image is so small, but you get the idea... It had 1/16" of coating that 80 grit couldnt remove, as the reason for the AC coating remover. And a raw extruded finish under that.... Im happy with it.

Edit: Just be glad you dont have a Z plenum to polish..... Heres my friends hand and 90° air angle grinder pollished plenum. Dereks Z

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Wow that looks great especially compared on what the amp use to look like. I wish I had the bench grinder it would go alot faster. How much did you pick up your grinder for? Your friend z engine bay looks nice, that is how mine is going to be mostly chrome, silver, and hints of blue, I dont want to over do the blue though so it dont look tacky. My next step for the top of my valve cover will be some Rogue for the sides I will have to keep sanding on them to get them shiney. I give you major credit for polishing that amp it looks perfect. Thanks for your help.

Post by **96_S14_SE** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Thank you, too bad I never got to install it though hehe

As for the grinder we just picked up a 6" bech from homedepot. I went to their sight but didnt see the exact model on there. If you goto http://www.homedepot.com and punch in SKU: #625555 in the search and select sku, they show one almost like it, but instead of one lamp it has two small ones over each wheel.

The buffing wheel is like 6 bucks, likewise with the wire wheel. I would get both as you can quickly remove alot of junk with the wire wheel. Youll also need 2 sets of spacers though, or we did. I use the wire / buffing when I start to polish and the wire / med grinder for welding

works good.

Oh yeah and dont forget the Rogue.... My jewler friend was going to let me use his 100% synthetic fiber buffing wheel but my arbor was to big and I didnt have the attachment he had. But he gave me a chunk of the light green Rogue for gold plat and it was nice. I bet with with synth wheel and that Rogue it could be nearly flawlass. The wheels cost like 30-40 alone though IIRC

That reminds me I have a s13 dohc cover I started for a day then quit on..... My gf has it now mabey Ill finish it up one day

I will say while my amp looks nice, valve covers are alot more work to look near chromed, fully, as with all the various edges and angles it takes some time.

Just keep with it and itll come out good, im sure of it.

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

That is my problem there are too many small crevices and it is hard to polish all that. My dremel would be perfect but it keeps losing charge. So far now I am jsut hand polishing, good thing I have small hands otherwise I would never get it all polished. My alty has the same ka24de valve cover as your s14 but it is the rough metal and I dont want to take it off the car as it is my daily driver till I finish my 240. My 240 is in need of alot of work, I bought it with front end damage, after 1 grand the frame and front end is finally straight but I have alot of body work to do. The car has tiny dents all over, oh well I am custom molding my body kit so it will look good when done. This car is costing me alot so I am trying to do most of the custom work on my own (example: valve cover) Anyways thanks for your help and have a nice day.

Amanda

Post by **Radian** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Damn dude that amp looks soooo good!Props for that.Bench grinders can be had for around $50 I think, they really aren't that expensive.240sxgirl: Where in 'scony are you located? I went to UW Eau Claire for a few years. Can you send me some Leinenkugels? I cant get it out here in Cali-Damn! Now Leinies Red?

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I am located near Wausau, Wisconsin maybe 1 hour from eau claire. I will send you some leines in trade of 240 parts. j/kIt is surprising to see anyone on here that has been in Wisconsin. I would rather live in Cali than in wisconsin at least you can drive your 240 year round.

Post by **Radian** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Hell Yeah!I've been to wausau a few times. Ahh leinies. I knew a guy that worked at the brewery, we'd go to his farm and shoot old kegs with a 12gaudge while sipping a brew or two. That is the fun in centeral wisconsin. A major reason to move to San Fran.The weather and job markets were my driving force. I ride a motorcycle, so year round bike is a HhhhUUUGGEEE ++++. That and the fact that it is 65-70 every day of the year.:rockon I love that head banger.

Shiezat I gotta go to the dentist and get a crown put on....is this gonna hurt?

Post by **96_S14_SE** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

Naw crowns arent that bad man.... In fact the root canal was a cake walk as well after they gave me 10+ cain shots, iirc. Having your crown fall out kinda sucks but theyll just glue it back on

I only have one crown but thats my experience... The days between post and crown kinda suck as you dont have anything but a post and its weird.

Oh and thanks about the amp...

Yeah the dohc one is pretty roughed up, but not too bad. It also has a tough paint on it as well. The aircraft coating remover just desolves most anything Ive tossed at it though... Even skin if your not carefull

And I dont even want to think about pollishing a sohc cover

One thing I always do though, is make odd tools, mostly out of wood scrap, and wrap paper around them for specific parts, when I pollish. Some times I cant get in a certain area, and this sometimes helps....

Good luck on your project s13, seems like you know what you want out of it....

Post by **ricebike** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

what will you be doing w/ your spare vc? I'll take it off your hands so I can do the same w/out having "down time" on my daily driver. Or any south jersey people have connections to one, holla back. thanx

Post by **240sxgirl** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:05 am

I am going to polish up my other valve cover as a spare.

Poilshed Valve Cover Question

Poilshed Valve Cover Question

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