Hot Rods Creating As-Cast Texture on Sheet Steel?

There are several sheet-steel stamped pieces (valve cover, cam-drive belt cover) on this 2.3L "Pinto" engine that period-looking aluminum parts are pretty much not available for. (They've been made in the past, and if I luck across some....)
What grit or process should I use to create an as-cast surface on this smooth surface?
Eddie

 

maybe try sandblasting, with a heavier grit to leave a stain sheen, but if the sheetmetal has hard edges folded, you won't be fooling anyone. If you want to try to keep the surface after blasting it, try like a satin clear.
Lastly, put a hood on it? or if its like a pre-34 just use the hood top.

 

I've had luck using a pneumatic needle scaler on some things.

 

Rustoleum makes a textured spray paint that looks pretty good IMO.

 

that would probably be my first try. lower the PSI so it's not going nuts on the aluminum, and just go back and forth

 

Cast blast paint from the auto parts store looks pretty good.

 

Needle scalers work good when trying to hide a weld on an aluminum casting, not sure about sheet metal though.
There are about three different diameters of scaler needles available, might take a couple tries to get the desired texture.

 

I’ve had good luck faking a cast surface in polished aluminum parts by taking sheets of 36 and 80 grit sand paper and placing it on the part grit side to shiny side. Then tapping with a hammer to transfer the grainyness (not really a word more of a description) moving and replacing the sandpaper frequently. A needle scaler can also be used if you keep the needles ground to a sharp point and light pressure. I have used both of these methods separately and together with great results.