Polishing Valve Covers...

[Snow]

Anyone know what the RB20DET valve covers are made of? I want to assume steel but I am unsure...

Then I'm wondering if anyone has polished theirs before... or if it would be possible. I tried searching around and emailed some shops and am waiting on a response. I seen an RB25 or RB20 with a plazaman on it with polished covers and it looked great... don't have to worry about paint chips that way!

Any tips? Anyone have any experience or insight to this idea?

[Rapier46]

aluminum

if your unsure, try to stick a magnet to it. But i seem to remember mine being aluminum.

Edit- Im thinking about doing it to mine too. i think it looks pretty cool. but then again fresh paint also looks cool. the reason the oem ones chip is because theres no clear coat. i clear coated mine that i had painted the n1 colour and they were indestructable!

[mcfly]

polishing valve covers to a mirror finish is huge work and they get dirty so easily.

get them sand blasted or something then powder coated. might be a bit more cash but easily worth the work saved.
They should be aluminum, the front timing belt cover on a rb20 might be pressed steel though.

[Snow]

aluminum

if your unsure, try to stick a magnet to it. But i seem to remember mine being aluminum.

Edit- Im thinking about doing it to mine too. i think it looks pretty cool. but then again fresh paint also looks cool. the reason the oem ones chip is because theres no clear coat. i clear coated mine that i had painted the n1 colour and they were indestructable!

I work in a paint shop part time right now while finishing up school so it's easy for me to get the paint. There's even this stuff that gives it a reflective finish like that of road signs which could be pretty cool...

Just weighing my options and I am thinking I will be bringing the car back to life sooner than expected so I thought I'd explore this idea first. If it's going to be very expensive I won't necessarily do it, I could use the money elsewhere.

[mcfly]

painting would be ideal assuming you have paint that will take the heat of an engine bay for years to come. Usually costs more to paint though so i had suggested p/c because of that.

[Funnygas]

valve covers are aluminum. timing cover is steel. i tried to polish mine. too much work for me. so i painted them. if you polish them to a mirror finish you can spray clear over it to keep it from getting dirty easily.

[Snow]

What was your route for polishing?

And McFly would P/C be cheaper than painting...? Maybe in the long run I guess...

[DrMango]

grinder with a polishing wheel would be fast. I clear coated mine and they dont chip, ever

Kyle