I got the valve covers and tried them on the car,they look good on the car.Paul had the right idea about using studs.They are painted black but need to be redone.I am going to take them to work and glass bead them,what I am looking for is advice on painting them.How can I get that look black cover with the ribs not painted.Also do I have to do anything to them after I clean the paint to preserve them till I paint them. tinbender2011-04-17 17:02:12

Paint them, then sand the paint off the fins...that's how they're done to begin with.....unless you wanna spend all day taping the fins off before painting.
Are these aluminuminum, or the Magnesium ones?

The guy said they were aluminum.How do you tell the magnesium ones.

Rick use a sanding block to sand off the fins before you paint them..then they will be uniform before you paint them..then use the same setup to sand them off after you paint them..use some sort of clear coat when your done..they make an epoxy paint that is shiny I think they make in clear..Rodney used it on his 74 motor and looks new..not sure how to tell on aluminum or magnesium ..don't think either one is magnetic..

Rich

The magnesium ones are much lighter in weight than alum, but a bit darker in color of the raw material. Magnesium will also tarnish relatively quick when unprotected. If you've ever seen the valve covers of an early C4, and noticed they were turning brown....that's mag. Even when painted, they can turn colors. Of course, if you paint then black, it helps, which is one of the reasons the OE C3 mag covers were black epoxy painted....and that stuff is HARD to get off without blasting them with something.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say, that if these vcs are black, and the paint on them now appears to be an epoxy type paint, they are most likely gonna be mag. If ya wanna be sure tho, just set them on fire...if they sparkle like fireworks, they're magnesium...if they just melt, they're aluminuminum...

Sanding the tops of the fins first is a good idea.  Before painting you can also cover the tops of the fins with petroleum jelly.  After the paint dries you can simply wipe off the fins and expose the bare metal.  After that, use an alcohol and water solution to remove any leftover jelly, then spray the entire covers with clear coat.

 Wait till 4th of July to do the FIREWORKS, it will fit the occasion better. Go to SPRING CARLISLE and get some re-placements.

 I'll hold off on the fireworks knowing my luck I would not only burn up the covers ,but the house too..

Hope it turns out, Rick!

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