alright, so i want to completely remove the finish on my valve cover, i like the way the valve cover looks raw, thats the way the CBRD evo is (i think maybe im just retarded) i think i might do the gold foil thing as well, ive already ordered about $300 worth of that foil from enjuku, i might even do the entire firewall as well.

ive been using various honda forums to get an idea of what is involved in this process. i am a firm believer that we should all do our part in improving these forums. for example i did a search on google for remove valve cover and BAM! there is was, like 3 different how-to's for hondas.

question 1,2,3:

i always see people sanding down valve covers, i would like to avoid doing this because it causes pits in the metal. the honda guys say to just use typical paint thinner, but i know that some chemicals can be corrossive to metals (btw, army guys, dont use choke cleaner on your weapons to remove carbon... we had a guy do that... bad). So what chemicals are safe when removing the stock red finish? is it then safe to put the bare metal in the dish washer to remove chemicals? would i benefit from a high temp clear coat?

question 4:

the other threads on this subject are from like 2004, and the links to the tutorial for removing the cover are dead. can someone point me in the direction of a current tutorial for removing the valve cover?

 

i believe cbrd is painted a silver-ish color. they did there fire wall in the gold heat wrap as well. i cant imagine a single benefit to this other than bling factor. (refering to firewall aplication of gold heat wrap and valve cover as well)

i did my valve cover in the gold for looks, as well as my entire shortblock (huge PITA) and the entire oil pan.

now for using a chemical ( industrial aircraft paint stripper) works well but i would recomend sanding it. i got really agressive with the sand paper and removed the mg symbol and the lines that go across the top with a powered sande and a low grit paper working my way back up to 1000 grit.

another idea would be to have it polished if you like the way aluminum looks. however this is very labor intensive and requires more than just stripping it.


dish washer? never heard that one before..... but you could pretty much guarantee yourself cancer if you wash your kitchenware/ dishes with the same dish washer....

run it through a clean parts washer with a aluminum safe cleaner.

 

+1 on the parts cleaner...

 

Sorry to be an *** but why is this in the Show and Shine? This should be in General since you arent showing anything. Why do so many threads end up in here when people are asking a question on where to get this or how to do that?

 

yea, this mod is going to be purely for looks, probably should have specified from the get go.

i was thinking about going with like an olive drab color for the valve cover, and my ARC Box. and then i would gold foil the valve cover, and powder coat my AMS spark plug cover black.

something like this:


but then it hit me that it would be so much cheaper and imho cooler to do a raw metal with clear coat.

i want to avoid sanding at al costs, seriously. thanks for the heads up about the aircraft grade thinner, might have to check that out.

my main concern is that since magnesium (the valve cover material) is such a soft metal that the thinner might be harmful.

 

im sorry for posting this in here. i figured since this is going to be purely cosmetic, this would be the appropriate place for such a thread.

i have to say though, it never fails to amaze me how people can waste their time, and go out of their way to make a comment like that. I apologized for posting here, i guess since your an evolve member that means these forums are like your living room, and i guess asking a question in here is comparable to misplacing the television remote control in your house, its just a minor annoyance for you, but yet you went out of your way to tell me i was wrong. congradulations, you have met your quota for today.

 

Lol

 

But to be on on topic, i think what you have in mind would look good.

 

ok,

here is the dealio...

we originally stripped and painted our manifold... now its completely bare.... the covers are magnesium..... im not sure about the long term corrosion resistance, but so far so good.

as for our gold.... we wanted to prevent as much heat transfer into the cockpit of the car as possible, remember, our car is for the track. It will make more sense when you see underneath the car

cb

 

you sneaky b@stards, i knew it was bare

i guess, im just going to strip the cover bare and wash it in the dish washer so it will be clean, but still have that unfinished look, and then i'll spray it with a clear coat, and finally put the gold on it (the way you have it in that D-sport magazine. that **** was "Ballin"

 

2 things;

1. i gotta reiterate what another member said about putting the valve cover in a dishwasher... probly a bad idea if you value your health ...if your gunna take the time to do this you should probly wash it by hand

2. since you seem to love the way CBRD did thiers why dont you ask them what the process they used was...since we have a finished product to base that process on.....just seems like the logical thing to do...


one other thing i hope you get a very good clear coat to hold up to that heat, IMO id see if theres a clear powdercoat availible only because it offers twice the protection and due to its use on brake componants we know it can handle heat very well....

otherwise good luck i think it will look nice if you take your time with it...dont put it in the dishwasher and we may be able to see pictures of it

 

well said sir!