More polished valve covers...

[ForcedFirebird]

Rear is semi-smooth. Still needs to be sanded with 220, then 500 at the least to look good. They are going in a RWD so both will be visable.

That last pic didn't do them justice. I cleaned all the compound off, and this is what was underneath...

Nerds, FTW





Still have some touching up to do, going to the shop and using the rag wheel to finalize this one, then a couple coats of clear laquer should make them stay like this for some time.

[19Cutlass94]

I was gonna ask what your gonan use to keep them like that!

Damn nice job!

[ForcedFirebird]

I can do more if anybody wants them. We're also looking into annodizing

[zofo61]

I would love a pair of RED annodized covers......I have three extra sets of stockers if anyone is interested

[ForcedFirebird]

I would love a pair of RED annodized covers......I have three extra sets of stockers if anyone is interested

Are they the smooth ones, or do they have the casting marks?

Red translucent would look killer on polished covers (and UIM to match even).

[ForcedFirebird]

Red annodization on my 800 hp fuel pump (going in with the new turbo )...\




No, I didn't put those scratches in it, bought it used/rebuilt.

[IsaacHayes]

Nice!!! Man now I wonder how it would look on my engine... If it would be too much with my plenum or not... argh.. I can't remember can you take the cover off without disconnecting the big coolant pipe that goes to the heater core or not?

EDIT: I'm on the laptop so I don't have Photoshop to save a JPG with good quality and small size. So I used MS paint to save this JPG so it's a bit blurry, but still shows how shiny the valve cover is with just some semi-gloss black on top of it.

[ForcedFirebird]

Nice!!! Man now I wonder how it would look on my engine... If it would be too much with my plenum or not... argh.. I can't remember can you take the cover off without disconnecting the big coolant pipe that goes to the heater core or not?

EDIT: I'm on the laptop so I don't have Photoshop to save a JPG with good quality and small size. So I used MS paint to save this JPG so it's a bit blurry, but still shows how shiny the valve cover is with just some semi-gloss black on top of it.

Heater hose has to come off. I remember when I pulled the covers to get the pushrod guides that never got used

I would definately trade you a set of cast finish for those. Even though the smooth one didn't polish as nice because of all the pits, it was faster. The rough finish leaves less air pockets for some reason, perhaps that's why GM used that technique.

Chrome with the black plenum might not go as well. I think it would be better the other way around.

[IsaacHayes]

I think it varies from cast to cast. My plenum was rough cast but full of tiny air bubbles. So you did have a set of smooth too?

Yeah I don't think the chrome would go well. If it was RWD and you could see both covers maybe. But as is it would just be a distraction and break up the whole them I have going there on the motor. If it was a gen2 cover with the flat area polished and everything else black that would be cool too. Then I could put beretta or some other label on the cover too.

BTW does that 3400 equinox plenum fit a RWD better? If you had a cowl I bet it would...

[El_Diablo]

might work with a cowl but its still atleast 3 inches higher than a 3500 manifold and they dont have much more clearance as it is from what i understand

[ForcedFirebird]

No, I looked at them, even though I have a 3rdgen fbody (lots more room then a 4thgen), it still wouldn't fit. In fact I'm having to use 3400 UIM's on the 4thgen I'm working on now (where these covers are going).

I've got a few more 3.4's interested in the top end, so I might be neeing to trade some 3500 plenums for 3400 UIM's and TB's

EDIT: the rear was smooth on the 3500 I got.

They're not perfect, but they'll look good from the fender got to finishe the corners or the rear, and clean the rest of the compund off...

[IsaacHayes]

Looks good enough! Looks better than that chrome powder coat, in that it's not all irregular!

Hmm that looks good I wonder what on my engine I could have done like that.. How about I send you my TB to polish up LMAO

[El_Diablo]

not bad.... you sure you wouldn't fit a nox UIM under a 5 or 6 inch cowl?

[IsaacHayes]

Turn the intake around.. TB facing rear of car. That's where the cowl gives you the most room. The TB will fit since it is in center not on the end. Use FWD linkage TB with a rear pull cable and the TB adapter. Then the front will give you lots of room for accessories and turbos!

[ForcedFirebird]

Got my work cut out for me...