I am looking for some finned steel,similar to what you would see on a set of finned aluminum valve covers... Maybe like a large heat sink off of something or something like that? Any ideas where to look?
Most heat sinks are aluminum and what do you plan on using it for? ie: how thick? ,how long? How wide?
About 6" wide x 10-30" long, fins need to run parallel to the long dimension. Fin height can be 1/2" plus doesn't matter as I can cut them down.
I take it you plan on welding it into something made of steel? Reason I ask is that I've got a half-dozen aluminum heat sinks that are pretty good sized, maybe 6" wide, by about a foot long. The biggest problem is that they are quite heavy, so they might be a zinc/aluminum alloy instead of straight aluminum. I'll try to get a couple pics tomorrow, if you're interested. Roger
Unfortunately yes I need steel. And you are right, I plan to weld them to an existing valve cover.............if I can find something suitable. Stainless would be my no. 1 preference.
I've got some aluminum ones. 10"x 20" the fins are about 3/4 on center.those are in industrial control panels. Some times them goofy sterio amps are built on finned aluminum base. But again aluminum. There's a foundry that has truckloads of that extrusion someplace. Also I have a piece of ribbed stainless. It more like a tight washboard not finned in 18ga. They are about 1/8" high and 1/4" on center & brushed one side and polished on the other. I've been trying to get the info on where that's from. I have seen cast iron in a finned profile but that's not steel and really heavy.
This has definately crossed my mind, and probably the direction I will head if I can't find something at a s**** yard. I would just think there has to be something out there that would work.
I would think it would be easier to form it in a brake than mill it no? Sheet metal shop that's well equipped should be able to do that.
Post a drawing and I'll put it in front of the right guys for you. They love doing weird stuff , I'll let you know what they say. Couldn't you cut some china made SBC finned tops off and bolt that onto your covers? Small screws tapped into a blind hole
Iv s****ped heat sinks at work that were quite large. The stuff is probably produced in bulk extrusions by someone.
so you're trying to make finned valve covers using OEM steel ones with these finned pieces welded in or on?
How about cutting the top off the valve cover and welding some strips around the edge to create a bolt flange in the opening? Then you can just cut a piece of the "common" aluminum heat sink and bolt it in with a gasket. I know Howe Racing has a ton of that stuff. They make finned dry sump oil tanks out of it.
I like exwestracer way, Thanks for the idea. If you want I had to buy some made from stainless & inconel for a project I did for heat transfer. I used a company in New Hampshire called AAVID Thermalloy #603-224-9988. Might give them a call for steel ones. You don't wnat to know how it cost for the stainless and Inconel parts. PB
Well.......I have to raise the roof of the cover to clear the valves, having one pressed would work nice so I could lengthen the sides. Thanks for all the ideas.....Do you all think body filler would be ok on a valve cover, or would it get too hot?
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