rocker cover refurb

[marcus1875]

In a bid to get my engine bay as shiny as marks (mr zigazaga) i have a pair of covers to refurb. going to do it today, so what do you folk recommend to clean them up and get the old paint off other than lots of elbow grease?
i have a tin if Galve Cote "s" to put on after (black).
cheers guys
marcus

[jon haines]

Strip the old paint off with nitromors if the insides are full of gunk then a soak in degreaser overnight, sand them down and if you are just painting them i would use etch primer. If you are going to polish them up then thats a different thing.

[TVRIK]

Hi mate, sorry to ask a question rather than help you with your question.
But I'm lookig to do the same sort if thing at the mo,
It looks to me like the Plenum will have to come off to get the nearside Rocker off
But if I do... Is it straight forward remove Allen keys off and back on or are there gaskets involved etc?

[Wedg1e]

TVRIK said:

Hi mate, sorry to ask a question rather than help you with your question.
But I'm lookig to do the same sort if thing at the mo,
It looks to me like the Plenum will have to come off to get the nearside Rocker off
But if I do... Is it straight forward remove Allen keys off and back on or are there gaskets involved etc?

It does indeed need to come off... but if you do the mod. that gets rid of the throttle body heater underneath, in future the plenum can stay on.
It's 6 Allen screws and a smear of gasket sealant (but no gasket).

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus..As Jon says...But you can use either brake and clutch cleaner on the inside or some gunk which can be rinsed off after applying on with a paint brush thereafter..I had mine sand blasted but thats only because i wanted them chrome plated..For things like the plenum then it might be worth getting a polishing kit for an electric drill or better still a bench polisher..There is still however quite a bit of sanding with various grades of wet n dry to remove the dimpled effect...Before and after pics please...Cheers...Ziga

[marcus1875]

cheers guys. I didn't take the plenum off. A bit of fiddling and manually turning the engine over and they both come off fine. Two spare ones on now.
I've got a refurbed plenum to go on as well, plus some shiny new blue silicone piping, leads.
I've put the covers in the dishwasher to get the worst off, pic to follow. I'll also take a before and after once i put the above parts in.
cheers
marcus

[marcus1875]

For some reason i cant upload photos. I'll try again later.
But the Nitromorse was a great suggestion / tip.
Dishwasher first, gunked the inside, not much left to clean up after the dishwasher, then the nitromorse, sanded the rust of. Smoothed down, and put first coat of black paint on. Except it wasnt black, it was matt silver, stupid idiot that i am picking up the wrong tin.
Anyway it looks f**king great. smooth it down again and next ciat on tomorrow.
I'll post pics when i can.
cheers guys
marcus

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..Have you used any etching primer/primer..You normally only need etching primer on alloy due to oxidisation but its good to use some sort of primer first on any metals....Ziga

[marcus1875]

Hi Mark,
i didnt use a primer.
i know i should have but was too keen to get on with it. if it flakes off i'll do it again. I've a spare set on now which i'll do up as well, so i'll make sure i put primer on them, they'll probably end up being the main set as i'll spend more time on them.
marcus

[mrzigazaga]

You might be ok...look forward to the pics...

[marcus1875]

[marcus1875]

Had to use the wifes phone to upload the pics. I'm well pleased with how its turned out!
Another coat today, then fit, along with refurbed plenum and silicone hoses.
It'll soon be shinier than yours Mark, lol.
Marcus

Edited by marcus1875 on Saturday 27th July 09:21

[carob]

Looking good Marcus mate. Soon be the RNR and we will be able to have a good nosey around. Looking forward to meeting up again.

Rob

[marcus1875]

Cheers Rob, looking fwd to the RNR too. Three days hooning around Argyll, I'm doing thurs, fri and sat, miss the sunday as it's my daughters 4th, cant miss that!
Hoping to get all the wee jobs done by then for the RNR scrutineering!
Marcus

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus...Looking good mate..I would of avoided getting paint into the oil breather hole but you should be ok..Did you save the rubber grommet that goes into it?...If not i have some somewhere and there is a part number if i can remember where i put it...Cheers...Ziga

[ElvisWedgely]

My rocker covers have been chromed by a previous owner. All I have to do is give them a quick wipe and I can comb my hair in it.

Tony. TCB.

[marcus1875]

Hi Mark, Tony,
You're right Mark, school boy error. I'll tape up the other pair correctly (and prime!). I've got a rubber gromet on the set in the car now but its pretty beat up, if you've got one spare or part number that would be appreciated.
Tony,
I thought about chroming them, they looked pretty cool when i'd taken them back to the bare metal. Could you put a pic up of your chrome ones, i might chrome my other pair.
cheers
marcus

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus...Here is the part number R9760, They are 3/4" ID x 1" OD...I could only buy them in the states though...I will see if i can find a spare one for you...Cheers...Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=r...
Here is a pic of my rockers just after they were chromed...

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Marcus...Its your lucky day..Just had a look in my box of bits and found a new spare grommet..Email me your address and i will post it out to you...Cheers...Ziga

[marcus1875]

Cheers Mark,
The chrome looks brill. I'll chrome the pair on the car i think. Thanks for the grommet. YHM.
cheers
Marcus