Made my own cast alloy nailhead valve covers

Finned stuff from Finland!

I didnt like the shape of Moon valve covers (for nailhead) and Offenhauser has big logo on the center, and I didnt like that either. Moon looks way too billet and vintage-parts were too hard to find, so I decided to design my own valve cover model.
Long story short;
First, I made wooden valve cover. That took the most time...

Another picture;


Then I painted it and took it to foundry. There they sand-casted it.


When I got it back to home-garage, I polished it

Another pic;



So there it was, shortly.
Small batch of these was made, at the moment, I still havent got 'em all from the foundry. I need few pairs myself, and one pair is already reserved. Rest will be sold.

As you notice, there is not breather or oil-filler tube. I'm currently fabricating valley cover which also will have some high fins, breather in original place, and short oil filler tube.

 

Wow!

 

kick ass!

 

Did you make the buck a little oversize to account for shrinkage of the
Alluminum?

 

How did you compensate for "shrinkage"? Like when the aluminum cools doesn't it lose 5-10% of its size (you know about shrinkage...you're from where it's cold!!!!) Awesome looking valve covers!

 

Do you have a picture of the underside of your wooden form? I would like to see exactly how you made it.

Thanks,

Geno

 

Yes, I did.
Also, there can't be sharp corners, they will crack hardened casting sand. I've studied to furniture-carpenter some ten years ago and I'm carpenter as a trade, but this was my first sand casting buck ever.

 

Groovy covers.
I would like to see/read more about the hollow side of the covers and how that portion is dealt with.

 

very cool. i have thought of doing the same thing but it sounded like ALOT of work.

 

wow, simply wow

 

I wonder if shrub hugging so cal has any foundrys? Great Post!

 

OMG!

How did you build the wooden prototype? What does the other side look like? How did you build it and allow for the shrinkage?

Damn!

 

Outstanding, you are one talented Fin. Could describe what tools you used to make the buck.

 

Now THAT'S Hot Rodding!

Very nicely done!!!

 

Kick Ass.

 

that's amazing.

 

Thats some cool stuff man.

 

Those are gorgeous, you have an amazing eye for proportion. The fin size and spacing is perfect.

 

Damn!!!!

 

thats amazing

 

MAKE EM FOR ROCKETS!!!!! i need something with no name on it... since i will NEVER find sharp ones

 

MOST EXCELLENT
Klaz

 

Okay, seriously; we all want AS MUCH detail and info as you can give us. No lie. I know there are probably dozens of us over on this side of the pond who have thought about having our own stuff cast. We'd very, very much like to know how you compensated for shrinkage when you designed your prototype. We want to see how you handled the underside of the cover, how you machined the gasket surface, etc. etc. etc.
There's a ton of interest here, and unfortunately most of us haven't or don't want to get off our lazy asses to do the homework--especially if we know someone who has already done the homework! So let's hear it!
Brad

 

That is cool as hell dude! Nice work, man keep it up as you obviously have a knack for this stuff-

 

He's a Fin....what did you expect?

Great work....


Mutt

 

that's so damn cool! i wish i could do that . guess that's why fellas like me will pay fellas like you to do it.

 

Awesome...........

 

Great googly mooglies....!

Tech-o-matic classic.

 

Those are really nice. I think that the square shape would be great on SBC. If you would try a SBC version, I would take two pairs. Maybe some other guys would like some ,too. Rough castings would be alright. I would be happy to send a deposit. You'll have to name that style,something like "Retro Square Fins".

 

Carb-Otto: I think you found yerself a new business??? haha!
Damn those are nice...like everyone else said......more info....or better yet, a complete TECH 'article'........