Getting started on the finned valve cover top for the rear valve cover. Anybody need some aluminum chips? 
 

Justa  WOW.....

are they salt and vinegar chips ? 

Edited February 29, 20241 yr by 64 kiwi boni

20 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

are they salt and vinegar chips ? 

No, but they will be crunchy & I guarantee they will have some bite! 

Last Indian 

how do you keep your aluminium bright ?….

i have these valve covers and air cleaner on my 72 

On 3/3/2024 at 3:13 AM, 64 kiwi boni said:

Last Indian 

how do you keep your aluminium bright ?….

i have these valve covers and air cleaner on my 72 

Kiwi, depends on the condition of the aluminum. If it’s still bright, looks fully polished, but has a bit of a haze, you know like aluminum gets after sitting in the weather for a bit. I use simichrome! Good sh- - ! Wear gloves though as the chemistry can bother some folks.

If it’s worse than that you need to rebuff it with a buffing motor & pad & buffing compound. If it’s really bad you may need to wet sand with very fine grit. The courses grit should be no more than 1000 & from there move to 1200 than 2500. Than start buffing. If the valve covers look like the air cleaner  I think the simichrome would work fine.

Edited March 5, 20241 yr by Last Indian

Thanks Last indian, i will find some simichrome

i will need to use ppe, as my skin doesnt like chemicals, have psoriasis my whole life 

My skin is so sensitive that when fitzy was talking about selling the 65 i was getting itchy !

As I continue with Last Indian winters projects, which will undoubtedly continue into late spring, maybe even summer. While building the back valve cover setup I decided to change the overall concept. Just getting started.

Justa  WOW.....  some more.

That's sexy

A little more done.

If I had your mad skills, I would make a tall valve cover with an extension of some sort to Hide/cover your plugs in their normal position.  Then run a slot through side of valve cover to run a small plug wire from the plugs to inside the valve cover. A cover on the inside would keep it out of the oil.  Attach the post from a distributor to a hole in valve cover, (like your your oil filler hole) to attach the wire to the plug from the underside of the cover and run your plug wires from coils to the top side of the hole. Now you have the 1st Pontiac HEMI (looking) transverse engine! Hmmm looks/sounds better on the napkin!!! 

 

Edited March 16, 20241 yr by JUSTA6

Reasoning though, that since these new polished aluminum covers will more than likely not bond as well to the finned aluminum tops, as they did to the fiber ones, I’ve made some improvements. There is a structural vein that runs across the top of the cover in two places. So, while risky, I drilled & taped the valve covers for two 4-40 screws with matching through holes in the finned upper plates. Those screws in the upper plates will be covered by the copper inlayed strips. The veins are only 3/16” wide, by about 1/2” tall. Any miscue, & I break through into the vapor space of the head, & there is no way you are going to keep that constant pressure from weeping past the screw threads long term. 

Every time I think that I can't be anymore amazed you prove me wrong. Great work Last Indian, you truly do inspire sir.

Fantastic work Last Indian!  I am so amazed and impressed!!

I consider myself fortunate to be on the receiving end of some of Last Indian's great work. I can't say thank you enough. It was like opening presents on Christmas Day.

On 4/2/2024 at 10:26 AM, Frosty said:

I consider myself fortunate to be on the receiving end of some of Last Indian's great work. I can't say thank you enough. It was like opening presents on Christmas Day.

Well; maybe a birthday I don’t know about Christmas? But, thanks! Always glade if something bring joy!

Found a little more time to get closer to finishing the valve covers. Once there done I need to make the T handle valve cover bolts for the new back cover.

I also obtained one of the last pieces I wanted, so I could finish the drivetrain aesthetics. A finned aluminum transmission pan. Unfortunately it’s just a sand casted pan, not polished. So there will be a lot of elbow grease I’ll need to put into it.

Started putting everything back together piece by piece. You talk about 20 pounds of s- - t in a 1 pound bag. Man have you ever seen this much crap stuffed on top of a motor. 

clearly these guys never heard of the KISS principle!

Edited April 10, 20241 yr by Last Indian

yeah Last indian !!! 

where is the art in  all that wireing and hosery 

Design for manufacturing is DEFINITELY not the same thing as design for serviceability. Guess which one GM chose?

17 hours ago, Last Indian said:

Started putting everything back together piece by piece. You talk about 20 pounds of s- - t in a 1 pound bag. Man have you ever seen this much crap stuffed on top of a motor. 

clearly these guys never heard of the KISS principle!

Man have you ever seen this much crap stuffed on top of a motor?  Yea I'm lookin at it....  Needs more.  Maybe a big shiny alternator???   Those valve covers are amazing.  Then again wouldn't expect anything less from the master.

11 hours ago, Frosty said:

Design for manufacturing is DEFINITELY not the same thing as design for serviceability. Guess which one GM chose?

Manufacturing as we know, but the real # 1 goal is always the almighty dollar! Bingo! If they can save 10 cents; that trumps everything! What a shame! The automotive industry was once one of only 3 industries where new & important developments in mechanics & electromechanics happened. That was important!   In those days those designs focused on the KISS principle! They focused as well on serviceability & much more! This all went to hell with the governmental agency EPA! I could say a lot more about who & what they are, but it would be to no avail in this current world!

Let me just say this them! They are responsible indirectly for the V6 direct injection car I drive. This design is all wrapped around fuel economy & emissions. When comparing this car/drivetrain to a 1967 Impala V8 car/drivetrain using the same driver (me) the MPG hasn’t changed! And neither has the emissions! Really! The fools who think the emissions have changed; are the reason we are all where we are today! Sorry, but it’s true!

Been a real bad month, wife’s been sick for the past 4 weeks. Lots to take care of, not complaining, just glad she has finally improved & slowly getting back to normal. 
So the past two days I got some time to get a good share of the engine back together.

I am pleased to hear your boss is on the mend last Indian 👍

 

It’s about now that you will need to purchase some sun glasses justA for when you open that hood and the beams of brightness  hit you 

Edited April 25, 20241 yr by 64 kiwi boni