Help Polishing our crappy valve covers

[Airborne2000]

Can someone give me some direction on polishing the valve covers? Im about to do my came swap and I really want to polish the covers to match the blower while they are off.

I prefer doing it with polishing compounds vs. the wet/dry sand paper method.

Im also planning on buying all the compounds locally so if you know of good stuff to use from home depot it would help.

 

[Kevinmach1]

I thought about doing the same thing, then I started looking at all the little areas not easy to get to, and I painted them instead...LOL They look fantastic and it was ALOT less work.

Sorry, I know that doesn't answer your question, just thought I would throw this out there as an option for you...

 

[Airborne2000]

thanks, i dont mine working a bit to get them polished up, im trying to get them to match the blower.

 

[GrabberblueS197]

Theres a write up here on the sanding method. It actualy worked pretty well. I tried it myself on some wheels of mine. just make sure u do have all the sanding paper it asks for the higher grits are necessary it makes the looke alot smoother and miirror like. http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39406

 

[Airborne2000]

yeah i have seen that write up, i may try that. thanks

 

[GrnBullitt08]

yeah i have seen that write up, i may try that. thanks

If it doesnt work, send them too me while you have the covers off. I'll polish them for ya.

 

[Airborne2000]

If it doesnt work, send them too me while you have the covers off. I'll polish them for ya.

Cool, thanks for the offer, i will let you know if i have troubles.

 

[GrnBullitt08]

Cool, thanks for the offer, i will let you know if i have troubles.

Sounds good. Just get a series on sandpaper starting with a rougher grit and working your way to a finer grit and you should be ok.

 

[cobra mike]

i did mine with just polishing compounds and die grinder

 

[GrnBullitt08]

i did mine with just polishing compounds and die grinder

That works too

 

[cobra mike]

That works too

it takes a while to do so dont think in a hour or two youll be done...lol..
a polishing kit with the right attachment wheels is a must to get in all the curves

 

[GrnBullitt08]

it takes a while to do so dont think in a hour or two youll be done...lol..
a polishing kit with the right attachment wheels is a must to get in all the curves

Oh I know....I've prepped and paint about 10 set of them, they are no fun to prep with all the small pits and ridges.

 

[cobra mike]

Oh I know....I've prepped and paint about 10 set of them, they are no fun to prep with all the small pits and ridges.

yeah, basically thats what needs to be done, then 5 or 6 hours of polishing to perfection, your done, if you dont take any breaks...lol..
i had the top done in like 20 min, it was all the other stuff that took a while

 

[GrnBullitt08]

yeah, basically thats what needs to be done, then 5 or 6 hours of polishing to perfection, your done, if you dont take any breaks...lol..
i had the top done in like 20 min, it was all the other stuff that took a while

yup and people wonder why they cost so much painted lol

 

[cobra mike]

yup and people wonder why they cost so much painted lol

i was going to start selling polished ones, like people would send me a set and i would do them, start out with a extra set so i could have good turn around time, just send them a set that was already done, then do another set and wait till somone wanted them, but it just takes too long to do you cant make any money off doing it i was going to charge like 50 bucks, but when i did the first set for mine, i was like, no way...lol..thats like 5 or 6 bucks an hour...lol..not even minimum wage..of course i would probly have gotten faster as i did more of them, but i just wouldent have had that much extra time

 

[GrnBullitt08]

i was going to start selling polished ones, like people would send me a set and i would do them, start out with a extra set so i could have good turn around time, just send them a set that was already done, then do another set and wait till somone wanted them, but it just takes too long to do you cant make any money off doing it i was going to charge like 50 bucks, but when i did the first set for mine, i was like, no way...lol..thats like 5 or 6 bucks an hour...lol..not even minimum wage..of course i would probly have gotten faster as i did more of them, but i just wouldent have had that much extra time

haha yeah. I prep and paint them for $100 plus the ride back so $115-$120

 

[cobra mike]

haha yeah. I prep and paint them for $100 plus the ride back so $115-$120

yeah i would have to do it for at least 200 a set, if i had the time, it takes forever to get them right

 

[Torched06GT]

I took mine to a local powder coater and he just charges $50.00 a set, airbrushing was extra from another friend of mine

 

[cobra mike]

I took mine to a local powder coater and he just charges $50.00 a set, airbrushing was extra from another friend of mine

looks good, and you cant beet the price, powder coating it the way to go,

 

[LAStang1234]

I took mine to a local powder coater and he just charges $50.00 a set, airbrushing was extra from another friend of mine

Damn, that was a good price. I've been meaning to do mine, but I keep putting it off....hmmmm powder coat....lol