Not clean here but here’s a pic of my engine from a past thread.

The intake and exhaust manifolds are also ceramic coated while both the covers and intake do clean up nicely with either carburetor or brake cleaner.  I originally went the ceramic coating route simply because I wanted something that would be maintenance free and it’s definitely been that.

 

The Jet Hot ceramic coating on my roadster headers was extremely bright and shiny for a year until I did a dyno session with them at which point they dulled.  The 1300°F-1400°F throwed at them was just too much but a set of covers would never see anything like that.

 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted-

I notice you're running a heat shield between the exhaust and valve covers. Does that make a big difference????

Thanks

Mo Mike

I'd rather be lucky than good.................

    but good ain't bad!!

You can find all kinds of different aluminum polishes at the motorcycle shops, or get a can of polishing compound at the auto store. Gives you something to do when it's too cold to race. Like now.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Theses were professionally polished about 35?? years ago. I've used soap and water, sometimes windex.

They are old and grey, just like me.

And…just the way I like 'em, with some character.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

These are original. I just clean them by hand with a solution of Truegreen, and carefully use a little scotchbrite on the trouble spots.

Those truck exhaust gaskets on my 272 are being used in lieu of the metallic/fiber gaskets that come in the engine rebuild kits.  After experiencing some sporadic manifold cracking issues when using the fiber backed gaskets, the all-metal truck gaskets stopped the problem altogether.  As far as protecting the valve covers from any excesses in heat radiating from the manifolds, the heat shield portions of the gasket are just a bonus but not particularly necessary.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

When I got mine they were pretty ragged but I polished and polished and finally got them shiny. I painted the grooves with black paint. When done I did regular clear coat but I should have used some kind of heat clear coat. Mine's already sort of bubbling. They still look pretty good.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL