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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 443
 
Location: Beaumont TX | I'm stripping down and getting ready to paint my '55 Plymouth Poly valve covers while the valve guides in the heads are being replaced.
My valve covers are galvanized and actually look pretty good without any paint. I didn't know the valve covers were galvanized. Is this normal? Has anyone ever polished up the galvanized valve covers and installed then without painting them? I'm just wondering if I'm about to make a mistake by considering not painting them. |
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Expert
Posts: 3033
 
Location: N.W. Fla. | Never heard of it, even on marine hemis. Maybe someone had it done. Tin rooves look good foir a long time, but it probably can't hurt to spray then with clear. |
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Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA | Mopar1 - 2023-03-08 3:03 PM Never heard of it, even on marine hemis. Maybe someone had it done. Tin rooves look good foir a long time, but it probably can't hurt to spray then with clear. Unfortunately, clear high-temp paint over bare steel sheet or galvanized sheet will turn a yellow-brown from engine heat and will peel rather quickly since there's no primer or base coat to which it can adhere. |
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Expert
Posts: 4036
Location: Connecticut | Galvanized ? Sounds like someone got creative. But it's totally incorrect. I would media blast the valve covers clean. Then prime and paint them the same color silver as the engine. Ron |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9649
 
Location: So. Cal | Most of the pre-'58 Dodge & Chrysler poly valve covers that I've owned were plated with something as well, so I would bet it was done by the factory for some reason. But I agree, that I doubt it would last long on it's own. You could give it a try and see. You can always paint it later. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 443
Location: Beaumont TX | Thanks for your comments.
I was just shocked when I stripped them down and found they weren't just bare steel.
I decided to paint it just for the reasons y'all said but it sure looked good stripped. Maybe it was just a zinc plating but it had the splotches like galvanized.. I think they may have done it to keep the inside from rusting because so little oil splashes up on the inside of the valve cover. They don't have any rust, that's for sure.
Edited by samstrader 2023-03-18 3:33 AM
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1955 Poly Head Valve Covers
