Hey Guys, well the 216 came out almost too easily..thanks for the help from some new friends. The engine compartment is almost put back together and is now a nice glossy black. I am about to tackle the wiring layout, and will be re-installing the new 235 with a few choice hop-up parts. The question is I have seen the chrome re-poped side covers for the 235 everywhere, but are they worth the 25 bucks or so, and what type of nice bolts should be used for the dress-up??? I have been looking and hate to say the only place I have seen anything is ebay and they are just like a threaded rod with stainless bolts, better than the flat head screws from the factory, but....I have been searching this for a little bit this morning, and have found nothing!! looking at pics, most people seems to use the factory plate, and no I don't have the cash to put a "nice" McGurk, Fenton, Nicson or ??? valve/side cover combo. While nice it's just not a high priority right now-maybe after the car is running, and painted but not this moment. Anyhow I am looking for good ideas, pics and your .02 cents worth of advice...Thanks again for the advice, and as always the help is always appreciated!!!
Patrick's has a combo for $100 that includes a chrome factory type valve cover, breather, side cover, all gaskets, and fasteners.
I looked through my catalog yesterday and found nothing Turd, maybe I got a little bit of the Down's lately....anyhow I was looking to spend about that much anyhow, but do they leak, chrome peel or just paint the side cover and keep looking at swaps, and here on the for sale items???? I just figure if it's not really seen or done very often I might spend the $$$$ somewheres else. Thanks again!!
If you want a quality chrome job, consider taking your existing (or a spare) cover to a local chrome shop. May cost a little more but you should be able to get good work. For fasteners, like said above, ****on heads are nice, also might consider stainless allen head screws........IMO either looks nicer than ol' hex heads... Ray
Well for $25, the plating is going to be very thin and likely right off the boat from Taiwan/China. Just an idea, but considering that this piece is not highly visable once installed, try to polish it up on your own and have a plate-only job done at a custom plater. It won't be show quality (either will the repop,) but it isn't exactly a hood ornament either, ya know? The best part is you keep American iron on it with American plating that will have a real warranty and proper plating thickness. If you brought the piece here completely clean of rust/dirt/oil etc. (thorough sandblast) and polished up, I would do a plate-only for $20. Takes a lot more work than buying a cheap new one, but it will last many times longer. I could put a real plating on a new repop too, if that interests you. Just trying to put some light on some other options. edit: I forgot to mention you can get the original screws plated too, or buy new stainless versions from a fastener supplier. I am partial to the old flathead screws; I think they look cool.
Well I talked to a chrome plater and the turn around time would be too long. I am aiming to have the car at the Blacktop Barons Road Block the first weekend in June. So I am looking for any other Brite & Shiney ideas. I hate the idea of using cheap re-pop chrome outta Taiwan, but I might not have have much choice.