need source to polish valve covers and cover seats

[firstgear]

Need a source for polishing my aluminum valve covers and another one to cover my seats. Anyone have some good sources around Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit or Toledo?

I live near Cedar Point so all of those are good locations if need be....let me know...thanks, Herb

 

[JohnZ]

Chances are that your local motorcycle shop/dealer can do a bang-up job polishing your valve covers - they polish EVERYTHING!

 

[BarryK]

I agree with John. The Harley riders want everything polished on their bikes so they do it constantly.
Also, Paul79 on here just had a set of valve covers polished that look great and I may be wrong but I think he mentioned they were done at a bike shop.

for your seats, you may want to contact Wally Knoch. He sells the Al Knoch interiors and you can get what you need for your seats and than you can get a good local custom auto upholster to do it for you or you can call Al Knoch and try to still get an appointment and they will do your seats for you at Carlisle if you are going. They would have them done in a few hours.

 

[paul67]

Yep. Local Harley shop did these. People may think they have money in Corvettes...You have to see some of these bikes. Where I stored my car last winter (commercial secure firm) there was a Harley parked and for sale. My 1967 was intimidated.

!!45,000!!

 

[BarryK]

Paul, that's it, I've had enough! would you PLEASE stop posting any pictures of your car from now on. I'm tired of drooling over the keyboard everytime I see pics of your car.

 

[paul67]

Barry,
If I understand matters correctly, I will be drooling over yours by the weekend! I look forward to that.

 

[firstgear]

Yep. Local Harley shop did these. People may think they have money in Corvettes...You have to see some of these bikes. Where I stored my car last winter (commercial secure firm) there was a Harley parked and for sale. My 1967 was intimidated.

!!45,000!!

That is exactly what I want to do....just like yours...I called a local MC dealer and they sent me to a local rechromer out of Grafton....he is known for EXCELLENT results, but also BIG price, when I talked to him it was $200 per cover!!! I was hoping people would have a source. I will try a couple of other MC shops.....but my first try was no good.

I was thinking about doing it myself.....how hard is that?

 

[firstgear]

for your seats, you may want to contact Wally Knoch. He sells the Al Knoch interiors and you can get what you need for your seats and than you can get a good local custom auto upholster to do it for you or you can call Al Knoch and try to still get an appointment and they will do your seats for you at Carlisle if you are going. They would have them done in a few hours.

I don't have standard seats, I bought Wise Guy seats and didn't have them cover them because the covering they have is plated (painted) on (the samples I was sent) were not dyed through and I have a source for good leather at wholesale pricing. So I thought I would get the leather and just need someone to stitch it up....will Knoch do that with someone else's coverings and non Corvette seats?

 

[BarryK]

will Knoch do that with someone else's coverings and non Corvette seats?

no, probably not.
your best bet than is get the materials yourself and find a good local auto upholster. For custom seats like that you may want to hit a few local cruise-in's and talk to the hot-rod guys and see who they recommend as high quality in your area

 

[BarryK]

Barry,
If I understand matters correctly, I will be drooling over yours by the weekend! I look forward to that.

he still says it's possible to maybe get her finished this week but from the work still needed that I saw this afternoon I have very serious doubts she is coming home by this weekend

 

[firstgear]

he still says it's possible to maybe get her finished this week but from the work still needed that I saw this afternoon I have very serious doubts she is coming home by this weekend

you must have no problem waiting for christmas either...wow....can you wait!!!!

 

[BarryK]

....can you wait!!!!

not much choice in the matter.....

 

[paul67]

Firstgear,
I did four C3 factory alloy wheels several years ago during the long Canadian winter. They came from a salvage yard in Arizona and were severely oxidized. It's not hard but tedious (~15 hours) and I was working with a relatively smooth surface unlike the ribs on the valve covers. My process was by hand with various grades of sandpaper and polishing compounds. I suspect the pros use power tools. I don't have the patience to try that job again. But in your case, that price is much too much.

 

[firstgear]

Firstgear,
I did four C3 factory alloy wheels several years ago during the long Canadian winter. They came from a salvage yard in Arizona and were severely oxidized. It's not hard but tedious (~15 hours) and I was working with a relatively smooth surface unlike the ribs on the valve covers. My process was by hand with various grades of sandpaper and polishing compounds. I suspect the pros use power tools. I don't have the patience to try that job again. But in your case, that price is much too much.

that is exactly what I thought....way too much....there is a local guy that I saw at the local Quaker State food place that was advertising to polish aluminum, but that was more than a year ago...and I wasn't interested in having it done at the time...live and learn....

 

[paul67]

Labour rates are running pretty high these days. Nothing comes cheap. Those covers are about $65.00 each bare naked from Paragon. I chose to fool about with them but have the "real" thing in the basement. Mods do cost money. But it is a price I was willing to pay to suit my tastes for the car.