Topic: Restoring Finned Rocker covers

[Kiwi428]

Hi Guys,I'm sure a read a thread a while ago on someone restoring a pair of 69 428 finned rocker covers but can't find anything in the search? Has anyone got any good methods for  bringing these back to life and looking like new? I'm at the rebuild stage of my engine restoration and want to get these back to "as good as" new?

Thanks John

[Bob Gaines]

Hi Guys,I'm sure a read a thread a while ago on someone restoring a pair of 69 428 finned rocker covers but can't find anything in the search? Has anyone got any good methods for  bringing these back to life and looking like new? I'm at the rebuild stage of my engine restoration and want to get these back to "as good as" new?

Thanks John

Short answer - make all repairs, blend repairs to surrounding metal , polish smooth to blend surrounding surface, tumble in aluminum friendly media for the "as new" metal texture, finally polish fins . Then they will look new in the box. if you don't tumble them you can get them to look good but not like there were new IMO.  That is how I do it. I saw a pair Jim C at Shelby Parts restored for a friend and they looked spot on.

[69GT350H]

Something like this?


Sorry, the flash is not doing the upper one much justice.

Media blasted, cleaned, VHT Ultra Wrinkle, fins scraped clean and then using 220 grit the fins and letters sanded smooth.

[Bob Gaines]

Something like this?


Sorry, the flash is not doing the upper one much justice.

Media blasted, cleaned, VHT Ultra Wrinkle, fins scraped clean and then using 220 grit the fins and letters sanded smooth.

You must have thought we were discussing the smallblock Cobra fined covers. The process is different then when restoring 69 Cobrajet valve covers which is the question the OP asked about.

[Bob Gaines]

Something like this?


Sorry, the flash is not doing the upper one much justice.

Media blasted, cleaned, VHT Ultra Wrinkle, fins scraped clean and then using 220 grit the fins and letters sanded smooth.

FYI to make the SB cobra valve cover look new besides the steps you mentioned , you have to also remove the rivets and sparkplug wire bracket ,replate bracket ,replace the rivets ,take out the oil fill tube ,re plate oil fill tube ,replace oil fill tube. Otherwise they do not look like when new. They look better but not like when new.

[69GT350H]

Mine are also dinged, nicked, would really need an aluminum welder to fix those to make them look new as well. But you are correct, I did not remove the rivets and filler tube. For my purpose, its going to look good, but not Concourse show quality.

[Brian Conway]

     The correct finned valve cover in 69 is the C9ZE-6583 C.  I ran those on my car for a number of years and found them to be impossible to keep clean.  Engine compartment and road dirt just went to those guys and they required constant attention.  I never could get them to look as new.  Got tired of the constant cleaning and the aggravation and had them polished - $100.   I was not real happy with that look either.  In the end I got a pair of the year correct blue C7 valve covers $40.  These had a fairly close stamped date on them that would be correct for my car.  I went that route and had them chromed $170.  The chrome upkeep is easier and I much prefer the look.  That being said;  I now regret that I did not try to restore them.  The method described and tumbling would be the way to go.  The C9's are a nice looking valve cover and a proper restoration might be worth the effort.    Brian

[Kiwi428]

Thanks for the responses, As you stated Brian, I have the original finned alloy ones in excellent condition, just need finishing. The polished set look great, but is that allowed for Driven concours judging? Did you get these polished at a professional chrome shop?

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks for the responses, As you stated Brian, I have the original finned alloy ones in excellent condition, just need finishing. The polished set look great, but is that allowed for Driven concours judging? Did you get these polished at a professional chrome shop?

A lot depends on the judging staff. Many are not familiar with how the valve covers in question are supposed to look when new . With that said and you are not prepare to do it the "as new" way I would polish the valve covers to a medium polished shine . A highly polish shine would have more of a chance to stand out as out of the ordinary even to less seasoned judging. A high polished shine is also very hard to maintained and has to be polished often.

[J_Speegle]

...........The polished set look great, but is that allowed for Driven concours judging?

No- just like in Trailered (no difference in the standard between the two classes) Have deducted for them in the past

[Kiwi428]

Thanks Guys, I will look for some here who can tumble them and then finish off polishing the fins.