Magnesium Valve covers

[The Stickman]

Ok my new Magnesium vlave covers arrived today. They are very tall, light, and very cool. Now my question is what do I do with them? Do I leave them as is? Polish them? Or paint them? Also what about PCV? Should I just do a PCV on one valve cover? PCV on one breather on the other? Or a PCV on both teed off to vacuum?


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/100_5608-1.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n251/xxThe_Stickmanxx/The%20Olds%20Kids/?action=view&current=100_5608.jpg)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/100_5609-1.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n251/xxThe_Stickmanxx/The%20Olds%20Kids/?action=view&current=100_5609.jpg)

[Scott Parkhurst]

I'd polish the raised portions at least.

Magnesium is a different animal. I know a lot of true magnesium wheel owners endure plenty of maintenance time to keep them looking nice. A lot of work, but worth it!

[TonyHuntimer]

You'll have to do some research, but magnesium is a lot of work...as Scott mentioned. GM simply painted their magnesium valve covers silver:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/CoversJPG-1.jpg
http://www.impalassforum.com/tech/engine/valve_covers/ValveCovers.html

[MuscleRodz]

you will never goet them to polish worth a crap. I would paint them, take the top to a belt sander and clear it.

[FirstGenZq8]

i'd find an experienced powder coater in your area and have them two tone the covers to your specs. be sure to research your coater and make sure that they know how to coat magnesium (outgas, prep, etc).

[Shiro666]

What about a polish and a clear coat?

I saw some wheels that were coated in Dow 7 or something like that.

[LSx_88_Ciera]

As far as PCV goes I would modify your oil fill tube to have provisions for a PCV leave the valve covers hole free. A friend of mine used a setup like this on his Cutlass and it made it look cleaner.
Black and red would look good on the VCs IMHO, black base with the raised sections logos and script red.

[oestek]

Wow, where did you get 'em?

[jfaria78]

Drag racers use magnesium all the time, in fact on my father's nostaglia AA/FC Car the intake, valve covers, blower, and injector are all made out of mag. They are dow9 finished and come out a goldish/grey color. I think it looks good and very east to clean. I have polished mag before and it comes out like an old mirror, a high polish with a slight blue hue to it. It looks great, but it is hard as hell to maintain. I would not powder coat or paint them, I like the dow finish and or polished look personally.

Be careful cutting them, if they catch on fire when you are cutting them good luck putting it out...

James

[dolf]

I like the raw magnesium look. Keep em the way they are.

[TonyHuntimer]

Drag racers use magnesium all the time, in fact on my father's nostaglia AA/FC Car the intake, valve covers, blower, and injector are all made out of mag. They are dow9 finished and come out a goldish/grey color. I think it looks good and very east to clean. I have polished mag before and it comes out like an old mirror, a high polish with a slight blue hue to it. It looks great, but it is hard as hell to maintain. I would not powder coat or paint them, I like the dow finish and or polished look personally.

Be careful cutting them, if they catch on fire when you are cutting them good luck putting it out...

James

Hey James,

How bout some pics of your father's car and how the parts look with the Dow9? :)

[bret]

I really like the barn fresh look of the raw magnesium. I left mine that way on my Boss 429. I even have a set that I left out in the weather to get that "extra ****ty" look!
If you paint them they will look like any other aluminum cover that has been painted.