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re-chrome valve covers

Discussion in 'Engines' started by Beau, Oct 11, 2019.

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  1. Beau, Oct 11, 2019
    #1
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Hey folks

    After 20 years my valve covers could use a re-chroming with a high nickle count. Any ideas of a source here in the NE near Long Island??
  2. Capt Ralph, Oct 11, 2019
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    You have the MANs? A few YF threads on this already.
  3. Beau, Oct 12, 2019
    #3
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    OK thanks. I'll read them again. I saw the ones about painting. Don't remember seeing a rec for a rechromer ( my word)though.
  4. Capt J, Oct 12, 2019
    #4
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Check with custom wheel stores in your area. They should know who does chroming.
  5. Beau, Oct 12, 2019
    #5
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Ah, excellent suggestion, thanks
  6. BoulderGT3, Oct 14, 2019
    #6
    BoulderGT3

    BoulderGT3 Senior Member

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    I just saw this. I redid my MAN covers and looked at all options. To have them rechromed correctly is very costly. I looked at wheel shops, guys who did Harley covers and other options. It was $200-250 a cover to do it correctly. I ended up doing black wrinkle powder coat and even then I ruined a couple of valve covers getting it right. It's looks great and should be much more durable.
  7. Beau, Oct 14, 2019
    #7
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    I think I saw that picture posted? They looked great. Wow $200-300 per cover x 20 = ouch. What do they cost new??
  8. BoulderGT3, Oct 15, 2019
    #8
    BoulderGT3

    BoulderGT3 Senior Member

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    They are $225-275 each depending on if they have the oil fill/breather. Gaskets are about $12 each. The prep for chrome is very difficult and can be impossible if they are badly pitted. The wrinkle finish hides a lot.
    View attachment 86550

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 15, 2019
  9. Beau, Oct 15, 2019
    #9
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Those covers look excellent!
  10. BoulderGT3, Nov 30, 2019
    #10
    BoulderGT3

    BoulderGT3 Senior Member

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    A bit of follow on from the valve covers. Full detail in the engine room after the 1000hr service. I had two years on the heat exchanges and 4 years on the after coolers. Both looked good visually and tested fine. The only surprise was a broken manifold bolt that cost maybe $1000 extra to drop the manifold and repair. Did the sea trial and temps are exactly where they were before but I know it's clean as a whistle and good to go.
    The major service took about 2 weeks plus a week for detail and a week to find the right conditions to sea trial. I waxed the walls and ceiling. Did HVLP touch up on motors as needed.
    IMG_2298.jpg
  11. Beau, Nov 30, 2019
    #11
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Looks excellent. Looks like a very nice ER, too. What hull? I've been looking at the possibility of a dark blue wrinkle coat
  12. BoulderGT3, Nov 30, 2019
    #12
    BoulderGT3

    BoulderGT3 Senior Member

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    It's a Viking 56. Really good working room.
    Blue wrinkle would work great. The keys I learned are to not let the inside of the cover get blasted and use a medium wrinkle finish.

    Attached Files:

  13. Oscarvan, Nov 30, 2019
    #13
    Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    Nice work.....
  14. Beau, Nov 30, 2019
    #14
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    thanks
  15. mapism, Dec 1, 2019
    #15
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    +1, great job indeed! Also adds a Caterpillar touch to those engines... :)

    I'd just be curious to see a "before" pic. I mean, those are CRM engines, either 1224 or 1360, I think.
    So, they can't be as old as mine, which are 2003 vintage, originally white rather than chromed (which as I recall was optional), and never repainted.
    In spite of that, after several valve checks, my covers are still in pretty decent shape (see below, sorry for the poor pic but it's the only one I've got where some covers are well visible).
    So, I wonder why you had to repaint yours...?

    PS: memo to myself - re-touch the screws!
    PPS: coming to think of it, with those aftercoolers, the above engines might as well be the earlier version of the 1550. Still, can't be as old as 2003, anyway.

    [​IMG]
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2019
  16. Beau, Dec 1, 2019
    #16
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    After 22 years (20 in my hands) the out board chrome covers are badly pitted - symptom of my girth preventing me from being able to get around those engines as easily as I used to. The hull air intakes are adjacent to that side of each engine.
  17. mapism, Dec 1, 2019
    #17
    mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Aha, I see. Maybe the plain vanilla painted covers are more longlasting than the chromed ones.
    In fact, I would think/hope that mine will still be OK by the time they will be 22 years old... But only time will tell, of course.
    It's still a bit surprising that BoulderGT3 had to do paint his covers anyhow. I don't think those engines can be more than a dozen of years old, or thereabout.

    That aside, funny that you should mention girth and going round the engines.
    My back still hurts from the last time I squeezed on the external side of one of my engines to replace a hose! :mad:
  18. Beau, Dec 1, 2019
    #18
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Its the genny that gives me the challenge. Once I'm "in" it's ok, until I need that tool that I forgot...
  19. BoulderGT3, Dec 1, 2019
    #19
    BoulderGT3

    BoulderGT3 Senior Member

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    The motors are 2006 CR1550 with about 970hrs when I did them last spring. The outboard ones were the worst. Picture of the outboard side now. If you have MAN's and want to go through this send me a note and I can fast forward you through it. I ruined three covers my tech gave me and spent about $400 to figure it out. I've got pictures of the ones I screwed up too.
    IMG_2301.jpg
  20. Beau, Dec 1, 2019
    #20
    Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Interesting that Viking didn't move the oil filters to the inboard side?
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