Thread: Chrome Valve covers

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Originally Posted by MelloYello

you've put a couple of questions in my mind, Pepi
?? I wonder what the first American automobile to come from the factory painted Red was??
?? Have chrome valve covers "always" been an after market item??

Don't know the first, but Ford had a 1909 Model T that was offered in Red.

Red T.gif

And Chevy had chrome valve covers on several engines from the factory back in the muscle car era. The factory 396/427/454 being one for sure - lots of them offered on evilBay.

Chrome rusts quickly under the hood if not cared for.

I've been told that it makes under hood temps higher because it reflects heat. The EPA has crippled chrome production in the US. Our isn't much better than the Chinese crap.

Would not reflecting heat be a good thing, they may actually hold heat a bit longer. But I am sure that is not a huge problem. As I said before never had rusty chrome, but I also clean an engine bay on all my cars when I change the oil. Rusty chrome is from a lack of care, guns rust if not cared for.

EPA sure has made it harder for a shop to plate and make money, but the process is basically the same and still looks good. I think people shy away from chrome because they do not know how to care for it. What I mean there is they scratch it cleaning it, wash it like you do with the body. Under the hood clean chrome with WD 40 and polish all chrome with Turtle wax chrome polish. That's the way I have had years of success with chrome parts.

Stop laughing at the Turtle wax, I would not give a penny for their other waxes but the chrome polish is the cats meow. Aluminum has the advantage of being able to sand and polish a light scratch, unlike chrome.

Just to add I have been experimenting with the Turtle Chrome wax on the coated headers, the side shot above shows the results. I have read horror stories of some using some really abrasive stuff, including Scotch Brit pads. Coated headers are one step above powder coating and will be damage if not careful.

I learned this on my own with a pair. I was able to bring back the shine used metal polish or liquid jewelers rouge. The pipes right out of the heads dulled the most noticeable had that gray/white look. Over the long haul the coating was rubbed thin to a point that the steel, meaning black started to show through. Had the headers and pipes recoated and will see how this new trick works out.

dang that reminds me - - - I need to polish my vc, carb pots and side cover - - - especially now that the weather has cooled a tad - - - but only to keep them from rusting, right??? LOL

I like the powder coating, maybe I'm just too dang old for all that polishing!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful ride Pepi,,,,,

Originally Posted by MelloYello

dang that reminds me - - - I need to polish my vc, carb pots and side cover - - - especially now that the weather has cooled a tad - - - but only to keep them from rusting, right??? LOL

DONE ! thanks for the memory jog, Pepi.