Polished or Chromed cam / valve covers

[DEFYANT]

:help:

I have seen some pics where the cam/valve were either polished of chromed. I think they were polished but I'm not sure.

Either way, I want to clean mine up. As you know, Ford saved a nickle :mad: by not painting my cam/valve covers. I am leaning towards polishing them. How difficult is this? Iread somewhere here that removal of the covers is a real MOFO! Since I plan to remove the exaust system upon arrival of the Kooks, that would be a good time to send the covers out for work if necessary.

:thanks:

[huot5]

No doubt polished would look sweet...but from the powder coated valve covers I've seen here I may go with a black or a dark grey powder coat.

my 2

[MENINBLK]

:help:

I have seen some pics where the cam/valve were either polished of chromed. I think they were polished but I'm not sure.

Either way, I want to clean mine up. As you know, Ford saved a nickle :mad: by not painting my cam/valve covers. I am leaning towards polishing them. How difficult is this? Iread somewhere here that removal of the covers is a real MOFO! Since I plan to remove the exaust system upon arrival of the Kooks, that would be a good time to send the covers out for work if necessary.

:thanks:

I've got the same ones you have.
I replaced the Coil Covers with the FORD GT 'Powered by FORD' covers.
I painted the letters Blue and Red.

I'd like to pick up a set of valve covers and have them powdercoated
to match the color of the GT Coil covers, and then have the clearcoated,
so they have the same shine as the GT Coil covers.

Then I'd have them swapped when I bring the Marauder in to have the heads and cams retorqued at 50,000 miles....

[Donny Carlson]

:help:

I have seen some pics where the cam/valve were either polished of chromed. I think they were polished but I'm not sure.

Either way, I want to clean mine up. As you know, Ford saved a nickle :mad: by not painting my cam/valve covers. I am leaning towards polishing them. How difficult is this? Iread somewhere here that removal of the covers is a real MOFO! Since I plan to remove the exaust system upon arrival of the Kooks, that would be a good time to send the covers out for work if necessary.

:thanks:

Sean Hyland sells polished valve covers for the Marauder, but they are pricey (like $500) and you have to send them the covers or there's a $500 core charge. Rumble on here had his polished and chromed, which look extremely good. I had a quote from an outfit that did this for $325, you hand them the valve covers.

Powder coating works well, as dones ceramic metallic coating. Marauderchick went with the CMC and it looked great.

[Donny Carlson]

I'd like to pick up a set of valve covers and have them powdercoated
to match the color of the GT Coil covers, and then have the clearcoated,
so they have the same shine as the GT Coil covers.
You can order the valve covers from Ray, they're not particulary expensive. Powdercoating will work well, but I wouldn't have them clear coated. Clear coat paint does not play well with heat, and valve covers do get toasty.

[Petrograde]

My valve covers were powder coated and installed (not by me!! it's a PITA!) over a year ago, the still look great.

Polished would look great, but there is a certain amount of regular maintenance involved with that. Uncoated, polished aluminum will corrode after a little while. So, you have to keep it clean. Donny has a good point about the clear coat, it won't hold up very long under those temps.

maybe THIS? (http://www.performancecoatings.com/enginecoatings.html)

[MENINBLK]

You can order the valve covers from Ray, they're not particulary expensive.
Powdercoating will work well, but I wouldn't have them clear coated.
Clear coat paint does not play well with heat, and valve covers do get toasty.

The GT coil covers are clear coated.
They will get almost as warm as the valve covers do.
There has to be a paint that can be used as CLEAR that is the same
as engine paint, just minus the pigment...

[Petrograde]

...
There has to be a paint that can be used as CLEAR that is the same
as engine paint, just minus the pigment...

yup,.. there is

Now available... a 1000 degree clear overcoat for satin finishes to give you a glossy look!

[DEFYANT]

Thanks guys, some great options here. What about a set of 03/04 Cobra cam / valve covers? Will they bolt on?

[FordNut]

Thanks guys, some great options here. What about a set of 03/04 Cobra cam / valve covers? Will they bolt on?
Sort of. The PCV fittings are different, but they should work with different grommets.

[rumble]

:help:

I have seen some pics where the cam/valve were either polished of chromed. I think they were polished but I'm not sure.

Either way, I want to clean mine up. As you know, Ford saved a nickle :mad: by not painting my cam/valve covers. I am leaning towards polishing them. How difficult is this? Iread somewhere here that removal of the covers is a real MOFO! Since I plan to remove the exaust system upon arrival of the Kooks, that would be a good time to send the covers out for work if necessary.

:thanks:

For your perusal;

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7121
and
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6656

[MarauderMark]

I saw the chrome ones i must say that they look great as well as doing the intake too when i saw this i thought this is what i wanted absolutly:up:
But maraudernkc has the polished look and i just had mine powder coated black and grey..But i really liked the chrome..

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/pcmm_ls_engine.jpg

http://web.iwebcenters.com/reinhartautomotive/images/session/00-00-1119104118-coveron.jpg

Can't show you the chrome as it no longer exisits.. :(

[cyclone03]

And this brings us back to......

What ever happened to the "Swap For $50" and pass on to the next guy cam covers we had last year? :)

[Breadfan]

You can order the valve covers from Ray, they're not particulary expensive. Powdercoating will work well, but I wouldn't have them clear coated. Clear coat paint does not play well with heat, and valve covers do get toasty.
There is clear powder coating. I had it done on my Spitfire's frame and suspension parts. It's as durable as std. powder coating.

If anyone in VA is looking to have some coated I know a great coater and media blaster in Fredericksburg VA.

I'd be interested in doing mine but that wouuld invovle leaving the covers off for a week or so while they're being done.

And someone hinted these are a pain to get on and off...this true?

[rumble]

And this brings us back to......

What ever happened to the "Swap For $50" and pass on to the next guy cam covers we had last year? :)

I sent them to jspradii in Louisanna, you might PM him to see if he
still has them.

[Mach1Marauder]

Some examples of my work:


OK........Here are the BEFORE.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/DETAILED%20CARS/DSC00717.jpg

Here is the AFTER.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/DETAILED%20CARS/DSC00716.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/DETAILED%20CARS/DSC00714.jpg



Here is a shot showing the nasty casting crap that has to be taken off.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/DETAILED%20CARS/DSC00718.jpg

And here is what it looks like now.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/DETAILED%20CARS/DSC00719.jpg

http://www.mach1registry.org/photopost/data/9060/114dsc00318.jpg
http://www.mach1registry.org/photopost/data/9060/114coilcovers.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/04camcovers.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/STREET/DSC00459.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/DSC00478.jpg
Tank isn't finished
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/DSC00480.jpg

[Mach1Marauder]

A few more:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/4f39aabf.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/860b03dc.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/79573daf.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/7472027f.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/7e1f7ef1.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h303/Mach1Marauder/PSR%20stuff/80c3dda8.jpg

[fastblackmerc]

My setup.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Valve%20Covers/Rightside.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Valve%20Covers/Leftside.jpg