Valve Cover Sandblast & Powdercoat

[JRYE30]

Hey guys,

I just sandblasted my valve cover and upper/lower intake manifold - what is the best way to get all the glass bead out of these parts?

Especially the riveted metal baffle in the valve cover?

Is a hot acid bath the only way?

And on another note - whats a reasonable price (or what have you paid) to get the valve cover and upper/lower intake powdercoated?

Thanks!

[AndrewBird]

Compressed air works well. A nylon brush will help in corners. Shaking them around to get stuff out works well. Basically anything you can do to get everything out.

[JRYE30]

Ya, I'm just worried that if even one bead stays - it can run through the motor and do bad things. I used a parts washer, brush and compressed air, shook water through - but I still cannot reach under the riveted baffle.

Has anyone had a working solution to this? Or am I going to be getting another valve cover?

[brads2002]

Dishwasher?

[roguetoaster]

If you are really worried the only way is to grind the rivets off and replace them with rivets or self tapping screws. Alternately, you may be able to place a filter in line on the breather outlet.

If you go the grinding rivets route maybe you can write up the fix as I am sure if there was a gasket in the separator at some point it's not doing much anymore and needs replacing on most M42s.

[Dj Buttchug]

OP fwiw I sandblasted a VC long ago and had the same worry. I then ground off all the rivets and removed the windage trays only to find NO SAND or debris had even entered this area.

So I just spot welded it back on and called it a day. chances are if youve cleaned the VC several times there wont be any trapped debris

[AndrewBird]

A few grains of sand (even a teaspoon's worth) won't damage your engine. I mean, yes, it is possible it could, but it is very unlikely. Sand through the intake is much more of a concern than sand in the oil. That's what the oil filter is for, to catch bits of stuff.

As long as you got 99% of it and there is no more visible sand, you will be safe to run it.

[JRYE30]

Thanks for the advice - gives me a little more confidence in cleaning and putting it all back together. I'm going to pressure wash, and then give them a hot bath in dish soap water and try compressed air a few more times.

[AlphaE]

OP i counter arguee. I removed the baffle cover and there was TONS of sand. be careful is all i have to say..

[JRYE30]

Thanks! Still haven't gotten around to this

[bmwman91]

I'd pull the baffles and be sure. Sand in the intake would be bad news for the cylinder walls. Even in the oil it could potentially score things in the oil pump housing when it gets sucked up...unlikely, but honestly it is worth the extra hour of work to pull the baffle cover and be sure.