[Doc4421]

Thanks to all the folks who offered advice on the repainting/sanding of the valve covers. At your encouragement, I pried those suckers off yesterday and began the sanding and grinding process. You were right: the valve seals were brittle and hard, so I've got some nice rubber ones I'm going to install.

Question is this: In looking at the inside of the valve covers, there is some build up of oil and clumps of crud in there. Should I clean that stuff out before I put the seals on and reinstall them or should I leave it alone? Sometimes, disturbing crud has done more harm than good (it looks like clumps of old oil and various bits of dirt) but other times, a fresh cleaning is a good idea when you've got the part open anyway.

Second Question: The cap on the oil fill in the valve cover is a big honking thing that attaches to the air filter (never saw one of these before; she's my first classic). Any harm in painting her as well?

Thanks and thanks for not laughing at me.

Doc

[buzzboy]

If you have them off there you might as well clean everything up. Leaving the crud in there isn't really bad but clean and free of crap is always good. I'd give it a good scrub in some carb cleaner or diesel fuel.

[Boidster]

Originally Posted by Doc4421

Question is this: In looking at the inside of the valve covers, there is some build up of oil and clumps of crud in there. Should I clean that stuff out before I put the seals on and reinstall them or should I leave it alone? Sometimes, disturbing crud has done more harm than good (it looks like clumps of old oil and various bits of dirt) but other times, a fresh cleaning is a good idea when you've got the part open anyway.

Better you clean the crud out now than it get knocked off into the tops of your valves later, IMO.

Originally Posted by Doc4421

Second Question: The cap on the oil fill in the valve cover is a big honking thing that attaches to the air filter (never saw one of these before; she's my first classic). Any harm in painting her as well?

Can't say anything about harm in painting it, but for what it's worth when my engine was cleaned/repainted the guy cleaned that riser pipe but did not paint it blue. Original factory color was "metal", I guess. (This jibes with a Mustang restoration book I have, too.)

[Boidster]

One other thing: this article from Mustang Monthly might help when sprucing up your engine.