Rocker cover clean up - how?

Cornishman

Cornishman

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I have the rocker cover off and it is typically dirty, tarnished and lightly corroded on the outside. What is the best way to clean it up at home?

I am not keen to send it off for a vapour clean as the rest will then look bad. Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do at home?
Brillo pad
Fine wire wool and WD40
Solvent

Thanks
 
Good point Bob, thanks.
I hit it with degreaser, Gunk, then a domestic cold water pressure washer. It looks a touch cleaner, but as we can all expect it to look, about the same just not greasy.

I also called a local vapour blaster, nice guy who invited me to come and watch him do some.
FYI, there are issues. My M30 rocker cover has the breather baffle welded in, so can’t be cleaned after vapour blast, which is water and glass beads.
My proposed fix was, to drill a piece of 3/4 inch ply and bolt the cover to it with the old gasket. He seemed to like that idea. He has a Merc Pagoda jig which is a like I described with a rubber sheet between the plate and cover.
Costs, £50 for the rocker cover
Then the inlet manifold, C tubes, throttle body (if I strip it) and oil filter manifold would make a total of £200.
I fear that if I do this I will still need to replace many clamps, paint or plate many brackets, covers etc. Where does it end - rear bumper?
 
I’ve had valve covers tumbled as well as vapor honed, I’ve never an issue with media remaining as I cleaned them with carb cleaner and slender nylon brushes. I prefer vapor honing now but the appearance will be bright, I shot matte clear ceramic from Cerakote and they look OEM.
 
Cornishman said:
Good point Bob, thanks.
I hit it with degreaser, Gunk, then a domestic cold water pressure washer. It looks a touch cleaner, but as we can all expect it to look, about the same just not greasy.

I also called a local vapour blaster, nice guy who invited me to come and watch him do some.
FYI, there are issues. My M30 rocker cover has the breather baffle welded in, so can’t be cleaned after vapour blast, which is water and glass beads.
My proposed fix was, to drill a piece of 3/4 inch ply and bolt the cover to it with the old gasket. He seemed to like that idea. He has a Merc Pagoda jig which is a like I described with a rubber sheet between the plate and cover.
Costs, £50 for the rocker cover
Then the inlet manifold, C tubes, throttle body (if I strip it) and oil filter manifold would make a total of £200.
I fear that if I do this I will still need to replace many clamps, paint or plate many brackets, covers etc. Where does it end - rear bumper?
Click to expand...

It does not end.
 
Best fix may be - Wait on frequent WallothNesch sales.

Sill cover steel 2,5CS+2800CS+3,0 CS+CS left you need 1 for 1 carA51131810551€151.22Ordered: 1
Shipped: 1		€151.22
Sill cover steel 2,5CS+2800CS+3,0 CS+CS right you need 1 for 1 carA51131810552€151.22Ordered: 1
Shipped: 1		€151.22
 
Cut the studs off that hold that plate in place, and you would be amazed at how much crap is wedged in there Grind the studs flush and drill some small holes into the boss area and tap them for some small screws Fit the screws in with loctite and then you can really clean it out anytime Do it to all the valve covers of engines that I work on. Have never lost a screw yet

Thanks, Rick
 
Cornishman said:
I have the rocker cover off and it is typically dirty, tarnished and lightly corroded on the outside. What is the best way to clean it up at home?

I am not keen to send it off for a vapour clean as the rest will then look bad. Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do at home?
Brillo pad
Fine wire wool and WD40
Solvent

Thanks
Click to expand...
You could make a tray with 1x2's, line it with plastic and them get mineral sprits and clean with brushes. If you want to clean the aluminum surface you can use Insta Glo drain cleaner to remover the dirt and light oxidize the aluminum surface. Be careful stuff is hard on skin. Won't hurt inside either. It could be polished, vapor honed or powder coated.
If your good with a buffer it can be shiny aluminum.
 

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Take the parts to a Coating specialist........I had mine cleaned/prepped and ceramic coated in both the the E9 and the Pagoda Benz. E9 done 1 1/2 yrs ago.....Benz done 6 years ago and look like new today. $380 Aus each car. Headers on E9 dulled a little after getting a bit warm on the dyno

Never use steel wool to clean up as the tiny fibres that break off will stick in the porous casting and rust.
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Thank you for so many great pieces in information and good ideas.
You,we’re right about the wire wool, it makes sense. The idea to make a tray of the correct shape with wood and then line with plastic is a great idea.
I did clean the valve cover or rocker cover as I described it! I did not touch the sill or rocker covers as some of you say, but thanks for the suggestion for new on a future project. Divided by a common language . I will pay more attention to what I mean next time.

I used Gunk with plastic and then brass wire brushes, followed by a pressure washer. After a day it did dry and looks cleaner than I expected, but not a touch on the photos that many of you have sent. I am so impressed with engine bays that and the components that you have posted, wow, just wow.
Perhaps next winter I will have a go at that, instead tonight I put the car back together and all appears fine.

Thanks again guys, much appreciate your help.
 
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