cleaning aluminum intake and valve covers

[BarryK]

hi all

my '65 L76 motor of course has the aluminum intake. What is the best way to clean up the intake and the valve covers. They both have a "tarnished" look to them. Over the winter I hope to send the intake and covers out to Jerry Macneish for reskinning but in the meantime and especially for Carlisle coming up I'd like to make them look as good as i can.
I've tried simple Green but that took took off sone surface oil and dirt but the tarnished look is still there especially on the valve covers.

would trying to scrub them with a "scrubby sponge" work? i'm sure SOS pads would be way too abrasive and just scratch them.
I tried some chrome and metal polish last year without any luck and will never use that stuff again anyway after it scratched my chrome bumper.

any suggestions will be greatly appreciated Thanks!

 

[Subfixer]

Barry, If you are real careful, you may want to try some aluminum wheel cleaner on the manifold. It may take off the 365 decal, so I wouldn't suggest it for the valve covers. Just be sure to cover your new paint job before you start spraying or rinsing the stuff off. An old toothbrush helps in the tight areas.

 

[BarryK]

i'll give it a shot, thanks Paul

instead of spraying it direct, maybe I'll try spraying the stuff into a cup and than using the toothbrush to apply it directly to save it accidently getting on the new paint.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I've been using Mother's Aluminum Cleaner or Polish on my valve covers with good luck.

 

[I'mAVettehead]

Just clean the dirt off it and leave it alone. What's left is the patina of a drivin car.

 

[BarryK]

Bob
after metal cleaner (Chrome and metal polish) scratched my chrome bumper I refuse to use it again

I'maVettehead
yes, it's a driver, but I'd still like it to look as good as possible

 

[Andy]

Hey Bud..I use Mothers aluminum wheel polish. Works on that air cleaner i have which is not chrome, but some type of alloy. Comes in a small round container about 2inches high..Worked wonders for me!!

Andy

hi all

my '65 L76 motor of course has the aluminum intake. What is the best way to clean up the intake and the valve covers. They both have a "tarnished" look to them. Over the winter I hope to send the intake and covers out to Jerry Macneish for reskinning but in the meantime and especially for Carlisle coming up I'd like to make them look as good as i can.
I've tried simple Green but that took took off sone surface oil and dirt but the tarnished look is still there especially on the valve covers.

would trying to scrub them with a "scrubby sponge" work? i'm sure SOS pads would be way too abrasive and just scratch them.
I tried some chrome and metal polish last year without any luck and will never use that stuff again anyway after it scratched my chrome bumper.

any suggestions will be greatly appreciated Thanks!

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Bob
after metal cleaner (Chrome and metal polish) scratched my chrome bumper I refuse to use it again

I can certainly understand that. My covers have a brushed look to them so the scratches wouldn't matter.

 

[BarryK]

Andy

I think that stuff is pretty much just a mild version of basic Chrome and metal cleaner. I don't know what metal that air cleaner of yours is but that is a wild looking unit!

well, i just tried a bunch of different types of cleaners I have on the covers and nothing is making a difference. guess I'll guess have to live with them as is until I get them reskinned. They are "clean", but just tarnished.
Oh well........

 

[75 flame orange]

I've been using Mother's Aluminum Cleaner or Polish on my valve covers with good luck.[/QUOTE

bob i have seen your valve covers on another post,THEY LOOK GREAT.
i have the same problem as barryk.i tried Mothers Aluminum Polish,but there not much better. what's your secret.
carmen

 

[c5vetter]

Barry,

leave everything alone - they look just fine to mine, and as stated by others, the patina is what you want anyhow, and that is what you have!

 

[Tom Bryant]

I agree. They look great. I'd leave them alone. I know everyone goes ga ga over the reskinned ones but to me they look too perfect. If yours were really nasty then the reskinning would be worth it. I have a couple pairs of new original valve covers and they don't look like the reskinned ones at all. Looking at yours you can see what almost looks like a grain to the aluminum like you can see how it flowed into the mold. You don't see that on reskins. They have a near perfect and even surface finish that, to me, looks like a middle aged lady that has had just a tad too much face lift.

Just my opinion but I love old cars with the proper patina.

Tom

 

[Bob Chadwick]

bob i have seen your valve covers on another post,THEY LOOK GREAT. i have the same problem as barryk.i tried Mothers Aluminum Polish,but there not much better. what's your secret.
carmen

I just keep at them. A lot of crud comes off when I polish them.

 

[BarryK]

ok guys, you all know better than me so I'll leave them alone for now but I really do want them to look better. The pictures actually make them look about 20% better than they really do and I'd like my engine compartment to look as nice as possible.

I look at other peoples engine compartment like Paul67's, Collin's brand new restored '63, JohnZ's, etc and would like to have mine look nice like theirs.


BTW, i'm curious...... why do you all say that having that "patina" is preferred rather than nice and new looking?

 

[ctjackster]

Paul67's has been p-coated (I recall) JohnZ's was reskinned by Jerry, and Colin's was freshly restored (not sure what was done to it) - yours will only look like theirs (and mine ) once you sent them to Jerry too . . . .

 

[c5vetter]

Barry,

you have decide what you want - get them reskinned and you lose ALL the patina that Tom and others mention.

BTW - Jerry Bramlett restored my F/I unit on my 1963 Z06 and he did "some cleanup" on the valve covers, etc. - but we didn't lose any of the patina - will show you what I mean when we are at Carlisle

 

[BarryK]

Jack
yep, that's what i figure, just trying to make them look a little more presentable for Carlisle before the winter when I can get them sent out to Jerry though

 

[BarryK]

cool Rick
looking forward to seeing you and LADY again at Carlisle

 

[ctjackster]

ok guys, you all know better than me so I'll leave them alone for now but I really do want them to look better. The pictures actually make them look about 20% better than they really do and I'd like my engine compartment to look as nice as possible.

I look at other peoples engine compartment like Paul67's, Collin's brand new restored '63, JohnZ's, etc and would like to have mine look nice like theirs.


BTW, i'm curious...... why do you all say that having that "patina" is preferred rather than nice and new looking?

and, ahhh, as for the "Patina" on my aluminum intake - if you actually have an aluminum intake you would know that ain't just a patina, it is also a combination fuel stains (from a leaky Holley or simply setting the floats) and oil smudges, which do not easily come off bare aluminum. To each their own, of course . . .

 

[Mike McKown]

Just clean the dirt off it and leave it alone. What's left is the patina of a drivin car.

I agree. Besides, if you try cleaning your parts on the car you probably will not be able to do a uniform job and they'll look worse than if you left them alone.

PS. I'm a Vettehead, too!