Show your cool finned aluminum parts

here is my finned aluminum, O'Brian covers

 

You know something I have noticed is that there are tons of small block finned rocker arm covers and matching oil pans, but none for Big Blocks. Not to Hi-Jack the thread or anything but anyone know why. I have a straight axle Gasser so no worries about banging, scraping or knocking a hole in one but there are none to be had. Seems odd to me.

 

Just an old set of Fenton staggered bolt small block valve covers.

 

I'm in love with fins, but I like the foot pedals too.

 

I love fins too.


Love the basic look of these valve covers, too bad the plug holes were improperly machined, and I could not use them.


these fins aren't too bad. that is what I am using now on my '51.

Not many fins on my current project, but these are pretty nice, imho. from O'brian Truckers.


more beautiful fins from my '60's A/SR, 401 nailhead


and more finned treasures hanging on the wall, waiting, in my shop

 

Here is my Thickstun set up

 

WoW !!!

 

I've rubbed on my share of M/T valve covers. Taking them from rough castings to a mirror finish is kind of a zen thing...

 

You should do a Tech thread on how to polish MT valve covers

 

Some of my stuff...:

 

...some more...:

 

I did. It's in the Tech Archives. Here's a link:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97179

 

Awesome I will subscribe to it so I will be able to give it a try

 

Plenty of aftermarket valve covers but for the oil pan you have to venture over to the marine world.Problem getting one cheap.

 

Fins are cool on any engine, and old fins are even better! I found this pair of finned valve covers on fleabay not long ago for $49 BIN price. Seems everyone was afraid of them because they were so crusty.


I had to actually sand them with wet-dry paper and solvent to get the worst corrosion off, but they are very solid, and no big dings or cracks. Never drilled for the original baffles inside, so I also made baffle plates, and D&T for screws to install the baffles. I spent a couple hours sanding and polishing, plus installing the baffles, but they came out looking pretty good. Older aluminum castings seem to have a nicer color than the new stuff. Must be different metallurgy in the aluminum mix?


I had some newer fabricated covers on my previous engine that wouldn't clear the new cross ram intake, so glad to find these and get back to some old aluminum fins!

 

1971B, you are right about the composition of the aluminum alloy- I am around old motorcycles sometimes and have noticed the difference too. In the 70s when pressure and centrifical die casting came in, they did change the alloys. In general, before that they chose alloys that would polish nice, but after that the casting qualities became more important.
It's the difference between product engineering and production engineering- one is for the benefit of the customer and the other is for the benefit of the producer.

Love them cross rams...

 

some homegrown finned machine porn

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Thanks for that info! I'm old enough to remember a lot of these parts when they were new, and never noticed the change until recent years when I started seeing this stuff side by side, and it jumped out at me!
The cross ram was a mess when I bought it a month ago too!

 

Slightly modified filter cover on my project. Yes, the Fram will go after mock up.

 

Rogers Quickchange. Still looking for this ring and pinion gear. I was told it was from a Willys.

 

Here's a dash I just finished, already posted it on the dash thread, but it fits here too...will post the motor tomorrow...

 

Aluminum Spark Plug Coolers

 

394 Olds Weiand valve covers with breathers

 

Man I love this thread

 

Here's the motor going in my T. The valve cover is a Pontiac super Duty, as is the rest of the motor, with a Buick nailhead valley cover adapted to it to attain the fins. The front cover is a cast aluminum piece from EVM made for the early Iron Duke moters that were run in midgets in the sixties. Also fits the later ones like this, (and maybe even chevy sixes)...had to cut out the drive boss for the fuel pump drive to clear the trick cam degreeing modification added by the builder or the short block Steve Benoint, whose dragster had this motor. The side cover is the same story, sixties Iron Duke midget stuff.(still trying to figure out these images.)

 

Not as cool as some stuff here, but I was happy to find these old Mr Gasket finned valve covers for my Austin gasser project. And of course my little finned fuel block:

 

HERE ARE A FEW PICS OF MY JUNK . I HAVE A CORVETTE VALVE COVER FETISH