Thread: Is 'as cast' supposed to be beat up like this??? {pic's enclosed}

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Hello Everyone, I just got these valve covers in the mail today. Isn't an 'as cast' finish supposed to be in better shape than these? One looks good but this one has several 'skuff' markes on. Is this right? Thanks! Bill

yep thats what it looks like you can sand them out and reblast them . sand cast it can be so so looking

I guess it would depend on who cast them. If it was a reputable source, then i would assume they would be better castings, but if it was a knockoff casting, then it could be pretty bad.

But as cast could also mean just that "as cast" meaning no extra cleanup or smoothing out.

Thanks Pat & Hotroddaddy, I guess it 'is what it is', huh? I just expected more for $600 Donovan Valve Covers! It's not the machine marks that bother me, I expected that, but the 'scratch marks'. Looks like someone threw them around or something & in several different spots..... Thanks again, Bill

well you can file smooth out the bad spots then DA then hit with a blaster using black beauty i use to tune up the intakes and timing covers for the aston martins i tune up some cast stuff i have a set of big chief covers i had powder coated they were as cast now i still not happy with them now going to sand them and buff them

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well you can file smooth out the bad spots then ****DA**** then hit with a blaster using black beauty i use to tune up the intakes and timing covers for the aston martins i tune up some cast stuff i have a set of big chief covers i had powder coated they were as cast now i still not happy with them now going to sand them and buff them

Thanks Pat, What's DA stand for? I think I just might bite the bullet & return them & pay the 15% restocking fee..... ~~Bill~~

600 dollar valve covers , I would send them back too. Id expect more than that for 600 dollars.

For that money, they should have cleaned them up better!

da is a dual action sander used in auto body work

Who did you get them from????

If it was directly from Donovan--call them up and ask Kathy if you can exchange one---if you got them from someone else-----

Most of those covers over the years were polished and that removes all those marks---

And $600 isn't bad for those covers----they are my favorite of all time

Those "scuff" marks are from the machining of the hole...the chip didnt break off and it was rotating with the cutter... and made the marks. I think Eastwood sells paint to match cast aluminum.

mike in tucson

Sell 'em on the HAMB! They love that patina!

Thanks Big Truck Driver & Hot Rod Daddy, yep I send them back today. Of course there's a re-stocking fee but at this point I don't care . Although just from me handleing them it seems to have left 'smuges' on them. Do they get dirty THAT easily? I hope the guy takes them back!

Thanks Pat, so I guess I don't need to say that I know nothing about body work? Dual Action Sander. Ah, but NOW I know

Thanks Jerry, gosh I hate to admit this, you'd of think I'd of learned my lession by now but I got them on Ebay . I should have known better .... Yeah a late night decission. But thanks for the tip on Kathy Yeah when I called the guy to complain about all the marks he tried to up-sell me to a $350 polish job. Maybe this was a good deal, I guess I just wasn't prepared for a 'as cast finish'? So $600 isn't bad? hummm, so if it's a problem w/ returning them I guess I'll just have to pay to have them polished. But like I said above, it seems as if just holding them a couple of times stained them!

Thanks Mike, ah ha, that makes sense! The chips as the bit was turning. Eastwood makes paint? I'll check on that if he re-re-sends them back to me!

Thanks Hot Rod Paint, LOL, why didn't I think of that! In fact, that's what the guy told me; "most of his customers like the 'cast rat rod' look! I'll beat 'em up soon enought, I don't want them to start out that way!!!

Thanks again for all the responses! What would I do w/o you guys! Bill

WATCH OUT for another ebayer selling cast valve covers for hemis for $199, yes he puts in there that they may need some final work. Why yes they do, they wouldn't fit over the sides of the valve train, and I never got around to see if the spark plug holes would line. I was quoted $100. to machine the inside of the valve covers, and another 100 to do the polish work So it looks like I have another wall ornament It looks like I'll be biting the bullet and getting my new covers from either the Walkers, or O'brien.

Mike

Thanks for the heads up Mike, I think I saw those, if so, he says that they need to be machined for the plug holes? Oh you got your '33 from Wayne at Redneck. That's where I got my '32 from. How's your's comming along? Bill