Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
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Dan Epperly
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#16 Post by Dan Epperly »

Joris Koning wrote:clear zinc, the good old type which is no longer being offered in most countries. Modern zinc looks different
True, modern zinc is duller looking, but once your vented valve covers spew enough oil on them it looks pretty close to original.

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Jim Nelson
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#17 Post by Jim Nelson »

Dan Epperly wrote:
Joris Koning wrote:clear zinc, the good old type which is no longer being offered in most countries. Modern zinc looks different
True, modern zinc is duller looking, but once your vented valve covers spew enough oil on them it looks pretty close to original.
Ain't that the truth.

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Martin Benade
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#18 Post by Martin Benade »

And don't try to pull the bale out and down with your fingers to protect the finish, it really hurts when they get stuck under it. Guess how I know that?
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Bruce Smith
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#19 Post by Bruce Smith »

Joris Koning wrote:clear zinc, the good old type which is no longer being offered in most countries. Modern zinc looks different
Originals may have been clear cadmium (CAD I) rather than clear zinc. Later C/912 style in yellow zinc are still available from Porsche, though they might actually be CAD II. I just bought a single replacement from Sunset Porsche for $260.Decent price I thought. I'll strip it back together with an original and take them to the plater for clear zinc. Should be close to original.
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Dick Weiss
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#20 Post by Dick Weiss »

Correct, Franny.

Dick

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Heidi Frances
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#21 Post by Heidi Frances »

Thanks Dick!

Franny
 

Erik Thomas
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#22 Post by Erik Thomas »

So, out under the 356 B seems that the valve covers are black. We cannot have that . Thanks for bringing this up Franny.

I will take them off and have them white zink plated this winter.

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Wil Mittelbach
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#23 Post by Wil Mittelbach »

As a reference per below photo:-
Had my 65C cab's valve covers re-plated in their original CAD, and re-painted the black bails. (Zinc plating will become grayish over time.)
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C Engine Valve Cover & Bail.JPG
C Engine Valve Cover & Bail.JPG (41.15 KiB) Viewed 1571 times

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#24 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Dick-
You mentioned Krylon Silver spray paint in a post above. Do you have a current color number for them? I could not find Krylon "silver" at my local ACE Hardware store. Photo of can and sku number maybe?
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Heidi Frances
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#25 Post by Heidi Frances »

I did get mine (well, Eva's) done (Joe sent them in with one of his batches) and they turned out really well! It took me a while to figure out why they were all dented in the bottom corners and then it dawned on me that I bet someone servicing the car was whacking them with a hammer to get them off. I bet they were sticking because too much glue on the seals. The things people do to these cars...

Franny
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Covers and straps back!
Covers and straps back!
 

Erik Thomas
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#26 Post by Erik Thomas »

Those look like the correct zink color to me, nice job. Mine are still black.. time to get them off and sent out during the winter months.

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Eric Wills
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#27 Post by Eric Wills »

Paul Hatfield wrote:Dick-
You mentioned Krylon Silver spray paint in a post above. Do you have a current color number for them? I could not find Krylon "silver" at my local ACE Hardware store. Photo of can and sku number maybe?
Krylon 1403 Dull Aluminum. Let dry a few days, add some clear. I can't find it locally anymore, so I order online.

EW
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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#28 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Thanks Eric.
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Cory Evens
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#29 Post by Cory Evens »

I'm currently plating mine clear cad. I always figured Porsche were silver vs VW black as I always saw black on VW's. Liked how the Porsche's were silver. I think it makes a difference in id'ing them. Glad to know the bails are black as I forgot to take them to the plater! Now I can do them properly too. :)

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Ronald Sieber
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Re: Valve Covers: Painted or Plated?

#30 Post by Ronald Sieber »

Paul:
You asked about Krylon, and I ordered mine online from The ToolWorks in NJ. Good service. I had gone to several stores, big and small, and found that Rust-Oleum and other brands were pushing Krylon off the shelves. Had to oder online...
Another alternative to consider is Eastwood's Clear Zinc paint. Very good quality and color. Held up for eight years on my Ford brake drums.

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