Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

[Gary B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Jack,

That should be easy to find out. Just click on the member profile link to get to John DeGregory and send him an e-mail.

Gary

[Steven B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

I have seen a number of John's covers during and at judging. Excellent as others have said.

[Paul O.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

I have been using Jerry MacNeish for years to reskin valve covers and alum intakes. http://z28camaro.com/wp/restoration-services/

They look amazing when done and typically takes 3 weeks.

Tony

Unless there have been changes to his restoration product that I have seen in the past. I would not recommend them the valve cover I have seen do not appear as the did when new. They do not appear as being re-skinned cast aluminum. Others may have a different view point of their work but that is just my opinion of the product that I have seen.

[John D.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

The term reskinning valve covers is hobbiest created. No such thing as reskinning valve covers. It doesn't matter who you go to in the USA to have your valve covers restored. No one is reskinning them.
That term was first used by Don Dorfman formerly of ASL.

[Gary B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

The term reskinning valve covers is hobbiest created. No such thing as reskinning valve covers. It doesn't matter who you go to in the USA to have your valve covers restored. No one is reskinning them.
That term was first used by Don Dorfman formerly of ASL.

John,

I agree with what you state, but people shouldn't conclude from what you said that there is not some way to restore valve covers, since I know you and several others, including Don Dorfman, have done just that in the past. Yes, those restored covers won't look exactly like they did when they came out of the original mold, but they will look very nice and they typically will do reasonably well during judging.

Gary

[Richard K.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

John DeGregory did my covers several years ago. I was totally happy with quality of work and price. I need to ask him if he does alternator cases.

[Greg H.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

John,

I agree with what you state, but people shouldn't conclude from what you said that there is not some way to restore valve covers, since I know you and several others, including Don Dorfman, have done just that in the past. Yes, those restored covers won't look exactly like they did when they came out of the original mold, but they will look very nice and they typically will do reasonably well during judging.

Gary

I completely agree with John. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer with die casters and the process is one and done. I really dislike that term re skinning. It's very misleading.

[Gary B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

I completely agree with John. I have worked as a manufacturing engineer with die casters and the process is one and done. I really dislike that term re skinning. It's very misleading.

Greg,

I wasn't disagreeing with John. Or with you. Yes, we shouldn't be calling it reskinning. That term is inaccurate and misleading. Let's just call it restoring. And in my opinion, John Dr. does (or did, if he no longer does it) a great job at restoring aluminum valve covers.

Gary

[Bob I.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Here's a picture of 1970 L-46 valve cover, restored by Chuck Smith. How does this look/compare.

Bob



IMG_3605.jpgIMG_3606.jpg

[Dick W.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Personally I like John's work, some anal retentive judges might not though . Really what do you have to compare to? When we sold parts sometimes a pair of new GM valve covers would appear different for each other.

[Steven B.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Personally I like John's work, some anal retentive judges might not though . Really what do you have to compare to? When we sold parts sometimes a pair of new GM valve covers would appear different for each other.

I bought a few pair of 7 fin from parts in the 60's and some appeared with a smooth shine and others had blotches and some a full dull coating, possibly mold release. One set came from dirty molds with cracks and holes. Some with more dominant seams. The LT-1/L-82 covers I bought were more uniform but one set with more shine than another. As Dick said they did appear different. Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

I bought a few pair of 7 fin from parts in the 60's and some appeared with a smooth shine and others had blotches and some a full dull coating, possibly mold release. One set came from dirty molds with cracks and holes. Some with more dominant seams. The LT-1/L-82 covers I bought were more uniform but one set with more shine than another. As Dick said they did appear different. Steve

Just like different parts of carburetors had slightly different plating hue than other parts of the same carburetor.

[Mark P.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

I just got my set of 67 valve covers back from John DeGregory. They went to him crusty and came back beautiful. He aslso restored a set of 56 9 fins for me. Again, excellent work. He is busy but if you are patient, his services are well worth waiting for. I think it cost $130. He gets back to you promptly and communicates well. I can't say that for other vendors or service providers. Personally, I won't use anyone else. Highly recommend him.

Mark

[Bob I.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Mark
Could you post a picture of your restored valve covers.
Bob

[Mark P.]

Re: Aluminum Valve Cover Reskining/Restoration

Sure, if you can be patient, I'd be happy to post a couple either later tonight or tomorrow morning. Sorry, but I'm not near the valve covers at this time.