clearcoating polished aluminum

[miketyler]

I need to get one of my custom cut billet pulley clearcoated so it matches my other March Performance pulleys. Also provides some additional wear surface. The coating shop gets a $75 minimum. I was considering letting them coat my polished Mopar performance valve covers.

Has anyone done this before? I dont want to lose any of the finish I have now and I am wondering if my paint will hold up thru the cooking process. If all was acceptable, I was thinking this would be a great way to preserve and seal the polished aluminum finish. Rev & Redline - how are your polished valve covers holding up?       

[ShelbyDogg]

I have a friend that always gold and chrome plated everything for the World of Wheels car shows.  He says anything polished would take forever to get ready including the polished valve covers and intake manifold.   He then had them chromed and since just uses windex to quickly wipe them down.  Some cleared engine parts would turn yellow or dull.

Polished wheels are a real pain too, If you don't clear them they'll quickly pit and dull.

[miketyler]

yes, I know what you mean. I think heat cycling also contributes to the oxidation and dulling process. My valve covers look to good as-is to chrome plate and it would change the look that I'm after. I am thinking better to do it now than later. My only fear is that the clear powdercoat will take away from the really nice finish I have now.       

[ShelbyDogg]

I had some Cragar SSTs on an old 72 Chally. They are chrome plated steel wheels that always rusted through the chrome chip marks.  The only way I could get them to look good for any length of time, was to clean them up with steel wool, then WAX them.   It kept the water away and sealed the wheel.

Have you tried Turtle Wax yet?

[Rev-It-Up]

Our covers are looking a bit cloudy after a year.  Nothing I have found really brings them back.  The paint seems to be doing fine...it's the body of the valve covers I'm not happy with.  Let me know what you end up doing.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Our covers are looking a bit cloudy after a year.  Nothing I have found really brings them back.  The paint seems to be doing fine...it's the body of the valve covers I'm not happy with.  Let me know what you end up doing.

Rev,
  I had the same problem with those valve covers. My solution was to buy new chrome ones.  Who knew chrome would be lower maintenance than polished aluminum? 

  Mike

[Chryco Psycho]

you could always powder coat them clear

[HemiDog]

I have heard good things about using Zoop seal on polished items.  Supposed to hold the luster for years but the stuff isn't cheap.

[miketyler]

you could always powder coat them clear

....which brings us back full circle to my original question which asked what the finished clear powder coated product looks like. Has anyone tried this that can speak to what finish is lost to polished aluminum after clear powder coating?

I have heard good things about using Zoop seal on polished items.  Supposed to hold the luster for years but the stuff isn't cheap.

I will have to ck into that if I dont powder coat

[67Vette427]

I would think also that if you clear them they would yellow. I have aluminum all over the Vette, the valve covers,intake,heads and radiator so I use a lot of Mother's or Wenol. It keeps them looking good.

[wssnkc]

Our covers are looking a bit cloudy after a year.  Nothing I have found really brings them back.  The paint seems to be doing fine...it's the body of the valve covers I'm not happy with.  Let me know what you end up doing.

The Original NEVR-DULL magic Wadding Polish is pretty good stuff and much less expensive then buying new parts.

[miketyler]

Our covers are looking a bit cloudy after a year.  Nothing I have found really brings them back.

I assume the air cleaner is still looking good or the same as when you finished it? Could it be the clouding you are seeing is actually coming from the inside and affecting the outer surfaces? Maybe sealing the inside and outside is the key?

I appreciate the responses - I am serious about long term appearance preservation of these. It will probably cost me as much as a new set of valve covers though.   

[Bullitt-]

http://www.caswellplating.com/vht/vhtclear.htm 

[miketyler]

well screw it, I had them clear powder coated. I would say as much as 30% or maybe more of the sheen is gone. But this is all about the long term and if they still look like this in a year or two I guess its all good.

After powder coating the pulley doesn't seem to have lost as much finish but it wasn't near the microfinish as the valve covers

MRT