Newer Indy Cast Aluminum Wedge Valve Cover Finish

[zyzzyx]

Hello Everyone! Just some informational Heads-Up! I ordered a pair of Indy cast aluminum valve covers with the LOGO
on them and was horrified when I opened the box! Seems as though they have a new foundry making them and just
handling them took some of the skin off of my hands! I sold an older pair on here a few years ago and they were finished
nicely on the outside. STUPID ME! The outside of the new covers have casting and shrinkage marks and are so rough, it
looks as though they were grit-blasted with 36 grit Aluminum Oxide. Here are some pic's so ya'all know.

 

[Aron Gleason]

I bought some indy valve covers. Sanded them down, and used gloss back vht paint. Then then lightly sanded the letters to give them some shine. Turned out pretty good.

 

[zyzzyx]

Looks good but as I can see from your photo you have the older ones. Either that or you put alot of
work into them!

 

[Aron Gleason]

Looks good but as I can see from your photo you have the older ones. Either that or you put alot of
work into them!

I'm sure they're the older covers. Not too much work went into them.

 

[gkent]

My ten-year-old covers have those shrink marks as well as a bunch of different parting lines from the molds. I wasn't impressed considering the price of them. Would sooner have had off-shore ones that were half the price and had been "cleaned" up. That said, I have never been impressed with Indy's quality. On their older dual-plane intake it was blatantly evident they'd taken another brand intake, lathered it up with plasticine to increase the runner size and made the molds from that with visible lines where the aluminum ended and the plasticine began. And if you own an older set of their big block aluminum heads you know they really screwed the pooch there since you couldn't install a distributor in the motor unless you ground a significant corner of the head away. This is still evident on their aluminum heads although they now mill the area before they sell them.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I personally like the textured look.

 

[zyzzyx]

The problem is it's hard to keep kleen and you can't wipe them down with a cloth!
The old covers had a nice smooth coating on them.

 

[zyzzyx]

So, I'm returning the INDY covers and buying a pair of Trick Flow. They are powder coated already
just like the INDY covers used to be. Price is right also. $186.00 and free shipping. No leaks!

 

[Aron Gleason]

So, I'm returning the INDY covers and buying a pair of Trick Flow. They are powder coated already
just like the INDY covers used to be. Price is right also. $186.00 and free shipping. No leaks!

Couldn't you sand the covers down and use high heat paint? I would think you could make those covers look really nice with little effort.

 

[zyzzyx]

I didn't pay $275.00 to have to do another $200.00 to powdercoat them. Now they're $399.00! The covers are way too rough. If you look at the pics closely, you'll see.

 

[zyzzyx]

So, I bought the TrickFlow covers and milled the text off the top and sent them to the powder coater. Let's
see how they look after? At least I'm starting with something nice!

 

[MarPar]

Sheesh Paulie, I would have sold you the M/T covers I have cheap. I think I even have a pair of the anodized direct connection ones too.

 

[dvw]

I started with a cracked pair with the raised Indy logo. Milled that off. The top of the covers were sunk like a bathtub. Some bondo and urethene body paint and they are all good. Every engine part has been smoothed before paint. Makes it easy to wax.
Doug

 

[zyzzyx]

Yeah Mario, the reason I want the cast aluminum is for a seal! Don't want oil spoiling the party. Thanks though!
And if my engine looked that good I guess I'd wax it too! I think you missed a spot!