valve cover polish

[1NonlyAccord]

ok so iv been trying to polish my valve cover for the past hour..i sanded it, iv SOS it...and rubbed it with Mothers mag and aluminum polish.but the "black residue" dosnt appear.so its not doing anything.
any sugestions?

[The BUCKY]

it takes longer than an hr

[JessAlba452]

^

Yes more like 4 hours lolz. Either that or I'm really slow about polishing. :D

[1NonlyAccord]

idc how long it takes..i have all 2weeks to get it done..but am i in the right direction? i read online just sand 150,then keep going up till bout 1000.? then i read sumwhere else just use SOS pad to get a lil shine outta it.

[The BUCKY]

start at 150 and go up to like 2000

make sure to get the scratches out from the sand paper before or they will show in the finished product


then use a polish with a buffing wheel to make it easy or alot of energy

[JessAlba452]

idc how long it takes..i have all 2weeks to get it done..but am i in the right direction? i read online just sand 150,then keep going up till bout 1000.? then i read sumwhere else just use SOS pad to get a lil shine outta it.


That's mostly correct...I'd start with 150 grit and go up to 2000 for the best shine. 1000 still leaves minor scratches on the surface.

reason why I say 150 is to take off the surface to make it completely smooth. I'm not sure but sometimes they have a clear coat so if you're sanding make sure you see metal dust. Then you can start moving up the grit scale.

Best of luck to ya.

[SixSquared]

I get the best results doing it all by hand. It takes longer and your fingers hurt the next day, but you get amazing detail level and shine. Be careful if you have raised letters on it and you want to keep them. They are surprisingly easy to sand off lol

[1NonlyAccord]

OK thanks guys, cuz i was reading the can on the back of the mothers and it says if u dont see black residue,then STOP u dont have metal that can be polished..is that the clear coat in the way? so after i cut threw the clear coat..i should b good?

[1NonlyAccord]

I get the best results doing it all by hand. It takes longer and your fingers hurt the next day, but you get amazing detail level and shine. Be careful if you have raised letters on it and you want to keep them. They are surprisingly easy to sand off lol

see. the honda logo and vtec i used an SOS pad,,and it already was down to bear metal so i polished those right up.but i want my whole valve cover polished instead of that dual grey looking

[JessAlba452]

Well yea that's what I was thinking that it could have a clear over it. LoL my cover is plastic so no polishing for me!

[Nittanys1]

good luck...if/when you mess up I have a spare VC for sale...


ohh and a dremal makes life alot easier...

[The BUCKY]

take some pics of what your doin

[1NonlyAccord]

take some pics of what your doin

ok ill take sum pics real fast..i got down to bare metal for 65% of it..2mins for pics..

[1NonlyAccord]

good luck...if/when you mess up I have a spare VC for sale...


ohh and a dremal makes life alot easier...

yea thats what iv been using is a dremal so far.

[Nittanys1]

^^^good deal!

[1NonlyAccord]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i243/mr_crispy1011/CIMG0028.jpg
ok so heres what a dremals done for me so far..im gettng my girl to bring me the 3" small da so i can make life a lil easier and faster with air power.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i243/mr_crispy1011/CIMG0029.jpg

shinner,but scratches. ^^ are with 80 &60 grit

[1NonlyAccord]

having a hard time getting in between the letters and ect.

[Kyle]

Well yea that's what I was thinking that it could have a clear over it. LoL my cover is plastic so no polishing for me!
You have a plastic cover over your valves or a plastic engine cover?

[AnthonyF]

1NonlyAccord-why is it still on the motor? take the cover off, you wont have to reach towards it and over everything, you can get better angles and prob save you a lot of time. Just go to Honda or Advance which ever you prefer and get a new valve cover gasket...like 10 bucks.

[Nittanys1]

new vale cover for 10 bux? what place are you going to?


1NolnyAccord you need any extra loom? I just found a ton of extra loom in my basement and its the same color you have in your bay

[AnthonyF]

new vale cover for 10 bux? what place are you going to?


1NolnyAccord you need any extra loom? I just found a ton of extra loom in my basement and its the same color you have in your bay

well, for me like 10-15 bucks. I work at a shop, but still it's just a little rubber gasket

[Nittanys1]

the valve cover is not "just a little rubber gasket" maybe the gasket for the valve cover is that.......

[AnthonyF]

holy shit man, why the fuck are you arguing with me? your right...It is more than just the outer perimeter, it also has the 4 gaskets for the spark plug holes, but still...my prices are better than yours and u can find them for that price.

[1SOL2NV]

trymy he didnt read the posts .... he thought you meant 10 bux for the whole valve cover .. he is talking about the Gasket .. come on have common sense .... .good info tho im polishing mine 2 .. keep this thread aliveeeeeee

[1SOL2NV]

1NonlyAccord-why is it still on the motor? take the cover off, you wont have to reach towards it and over everything, you can get better angles and prob save you a lot of time. Just go to Honda or Advance which ever you prefer and get a new valve cover gasket...like 10 bucks. for you Blind folks .

[Nittanys1]

doh...my bad....i did read that wrong...i thought you wrote that a valve cover would cost 10 buxs...

i know what comes in the valve cover gasket package...as i bought one not to long ago for my new valve cover...

[1SOL2NV]

lol thought id clear this arguement up .. but yea im at 320 grit on my polish so im with the thread starter ... so 2000 grit is where i should stop ???

[AnthonyF]

for you Blind folks .

lolol.



doh...my bad....i did read that wrong...i thought you wrote that a valve cover would cost 10 buxs...

i know what comes in the valve cover gasket package...as i bought one not to long ago for my new valve cover...

no problem. its all good. :goodjob:


lol thought id clear this arguement up .. but yea im at 320 grit on my polish so im with the thread starter ... so 2000 grit is where i should stop ???

yea. work it a lot though. make it silky smooth. :)

[1NonlyAccord]

i didnt want to drain my oil and everything..i got really bored today so i decided to polish my VC.lol
what i ended up doing was getting my 3"pistol grip DA and got it done..pretty decent.for the papers i had..80,180,600,1000.lol but it shines enough.wasnt trying to get it perfect.better than wat it was

[AnthonyF]

i didnt want to drain my oil and everything..i got really bored today so i decided to polish my VC.lol
what i ended up doing was getting my 3"pistol grip DA and got it done..pretty decent.for the papers i had..80,180,600,1000.lol but it shines enough.wasnt trying to get it perfect.better than wat it was

your taking the valve cover off...not the oil pan. There will be no need for oil drainage. just remove the cover...a few easy bolts, a small/medium size pry bar to help break the gasket loose, and close the hood so nothing gets in the head

[1NonlyAccord]

your taking the valve cover off...not the oil pan. There will be no need for oil drainage. just remove the cover...a few easy bolts, a small/medium size pry bar to help break the gasket loose, and close the hood so nothing gets in the head

oh..sum1 told me i would have to drain the oil in order to get to take the valve cover off..ha wooops

[Nittanys1]

if someone told you that and you believed them you may not want to be the one to polish your valve cover....sorry but its true...