Powder coated valve covers help!

[mantas]

Here is the problem. Got the valve covers powder coated and i have sand blasting dust stuck inside the breather galley if thats what you wanna call it. Anyone know of a good way to get that crap out of there?

I tried spraying with a hose in there, dunked it in soapy water in the tub and sloshed it around but there is still residue in there. Rb25 valves if that helps.

UPDATE:

Finally I got everything together below are some examples of why you don't sand blast and if you do - get ready to remove baffles.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PSZUhcg9290/UCGpgDcHSzI/AAAAAAAADaQ/abHNQm-ICLM/s640/8C70818C-4620-4D14-B6C9-614C4764336B.JPG

[97nismo]

parts washer?

[mantas]

Never heard of t but is it abrasive? Like 409 or any other degreaser?

[jholman]

No maybe wash them in a parts washer...It's just mineral spirit it won't hurt the finish

[mantas]

No maybe wash them in a parts washer...It's just mineral spirit it won't hurt the finish

Ill go to autozone right now and grab some if they carry it.

[Briou]

air compressor maybe? I don't know how the rb cover is or if you could put a blow gun to it but you could give it a try...

[mantas]

air compressor maybe? I don't know how the rb cover is or if you could put a blow gun to it but you could give it a try...

Gonna give it a shot tomorrow since i could not find any cleaner.

[mantas]

Well i ended up drilling out the welds on the baffles and it was a sand box underneath. My conclusion- if you sandblast, be prepared to remove the baffles, or end up with a pretty paper weight. There is no way any kind of washing would have cleaned the sand that was stuck in the valve covers. After using a wire brush for a good hour i finally cleaned them up and tapped new threads for some bolts and washers to have the baffles reinstalled. The end...

[fliprayzin240sx]

Or, just dont sandblast it next time. Strip that shit by hand or use paint stripper.

[mantas]

Or, just dont sandblast it next time. Strip that shit by hand or use paint stripper.

Yeah if i would have known, i would have never sand blasted it - you live and learn. I have read that some places wont powder coat unless its blasted first. Apparently the powder coating material adheres to the metal much better if its blasted. If there is a next time im definitely not blasting.

[Silentoreo34]

Or, just dont sandblast it next time. Strip that shit by hand or use paint stripper.


+1

You can always try and getting it hot tanked.

[mantas]

+1

You can always try and getting it hot tanked.

I thought of that too but it was already too late haha. Now i will have that thought in the back of my head - what if one of the bolts i used to reinstall the baffles decides to fall out?? Scary!

[qay2fotayesex]

Before you start it up i'd put some loctite on those bolts just for extra insurance.

[mantas]

Before you start it up i'd put some loctite on those bolts just for extra insurance.

Did that and she fired up fine but i have to replace the intake manifold gasket, has a leak. What a PITA. Running lean because of it and cuts out under boost. Im pretty certain its the mani gasket since i stripped 3 bolts on it trying to tighten her down lol.

[mantas]

Btw that mess in my update picture - took me a good 2hrs per valve cover to remove with a wire brush. When i first saw the sandbox i thought - piece of cake, but believe it or not the baking process had baked the sandblasting residue in with the old oil and there is no fucking way to get rid of it with any kind of rinsing. If anyone ever has this problem arise - remove the baffles and dont waste water or time trying to wash it, that sand just wont come out. I cant even imagine what would have happened to my engine, may be not on the initial start up but within days or weeks it would have been a sandy mess with lost bearings and scorched cams.

[onehundredoctane]

In the future, paint stripper, sand paper, and patience.

[4DZC]

Hey, sorry I havent been on in a while because ive been very busy, but as a powder coater, you simply MUST media blast to remove ALL of the contaminants or you may incur delamination of the cured powder or chipping. The reason for the above is the powder bonds to clean metal, and if dirt, oil, or grease is still present, the finish will be compromised in one way or another. If you dont prepare the VC correctly this is pretty hard to prevent...media material in the baffles. before out gassing the part, media blasting is performed, BUT you have to make certain that the part is free of oil residue that can remain under the baffles. Best way to do this is hot tank the part before media blasting, as well as after, rinse with plenty of water, and using your air compressor, quickly dry the VC off to prevent any sort of flash rust from forming....if the part is iron etc. With powder coating prep is 99% of the work, coating it is the fun easy part.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_17-52-31_485.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_17-52-31_485.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_17-52-53_563.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_17-52-53_563.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_19-19-25_61.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_19-19-25_61.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_19-19-37_686.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_19-19-37_686.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-25_17-49-46_106.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-25_17-49-46_106.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/062512023501.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030316.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030329.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030333.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030334.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124057.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124057.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124209.jpg

[mantas]

Hey, sorry I havent been on in a while because ive been very busy, but as a powder coater, you simply MUST media blast to remove ALL of the contaminants or you may incur delamination of the cured powder or chipping. The reason for the above is the powder bonds to clean metal, and if dirt, oil, or grease is still present, the finish will be compromised in one way or another. If you dont prepare the VC correctly this is pretty hard to prevent...media material in the baffles. before out gassing the part, media blasting is performed, BUT you have to make certain that the part is free of oil residue that can remain under the baffles. Best way to do this is hot tank the part before media blasting, as well as after, rinse with plenty of water, and using your air compressor, quickly dry the VC off to prevent any sort of flash rust from forming....if the part is iron etc. With powder coating prep is 99% of the work, coating it is the fun easy part.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_17-52-31_485.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_17-52-31_485.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_17-52-53_563.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_17-52-53_563.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_19-19-25_61.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_19-19-25_61.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-21_19-19-37_686.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-21_19-19-37_686.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/th_2012-05-25_17-49-46_106.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/2012-05-25_17-49-46_106.jpg)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/062512023501.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030316.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030329.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030333.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/P1030334.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124057.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124057.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e362/4DRVIPER/Powder%20Coating/102912124209.jpg

Well i worked it out by drilling the baffles but this does help for any future projects. Im sure someone else will find this information useful too. Thanks.

[EsChassisLove]

Just sandblast the sand off.

Lol

[mantas]

Just sandblast the sand off.

Lol

Impossible to do that. There are crevices in the baffles that sand blasting wont get to. Once the shit is baked amd if the oil is left in, you will not have a good time. Hahaha.