engine and drivetrain Valve Cover Media blasting

[john02md]

Is there any material inside the little box to which the breather pipe connects?  Any concern about media blasting material getting inside the little box?

Hans

 

[2002Targa]

It's just an open baffle in there, but it is going to be caked full of old oil which will attract ANY kind of media like duct tape.  There will be no way of thoroughly removing the media without removing the cover and scrubbing it. I've been running mine without the cover for 3 years with no adverse effects.

[john02md]

Thanks, and the cover is removed from the vehicle for blasting.

Hans

[HBChris]

I have had several M10 and M30 valve covers media blasted, tumbled and then clear ceramic coated. I used engine degreaser, long thin soft wire brushes and compressed air to remove any remaining media. It comes out easily, no need to remove the cover.

[VillaBMW]

I removed the cover and the plastic sleeve for media blasting and powdercoating.  The cover was attached with pressed in rivets so I ground the heads and drilled out the rivets.  My intention is to reattach the plate with self tapping screws and loctite.

 

 

 

[Hans]

I'm not so sure about the self-tapping screws in that application.....

[VillaBMW]

As in they might back out?

[jgerock]

Thanks for sharing those pictures of the area below the breather cover plate.  I've always wondered what that looked like.

[kinarcy]

If you use soda for blasting it will dissolve in water so no disassembly is necessary

[flyingjolly]

I reattached the cover inside with new rivets. I have to admit i feared the cover or rivets could fall into the head, but it's holding a few years now without a problem and BMW did it the same way.

 

What's that plastic thingie for? I alway thought someone broke off a plastic hose and removed it from my valve cover. 

[VillaBMW]

What's that plastic thingie for? I alway thought someone broke off a plastic hose and removed it from my valve cover.

 

 

I don't know...it goes here:

 

 

Maybe I'll use aluminum rivets also.

[Wahnsinn]

Did you use the self-tapping screws?  How did that work out?  I removed the plate to make sure all the blasting media was out of there, and now am considering several ways to put it back.  Thoughts so far include self tapping screws, J-B Weld, or soldering it on. I personally like the idea of something positive like screws.  If the bond breaks on the other stuff, the plate ends up in the valve train, which doesn't sound good.  

 

Or do I even need the plate?  Is it there to keep too much oil from being sucked out?

 

Thanks

[2002Targa]

drill and tap original holes, new machine screws w/holes and safety wire.  prob solved.

 

[Wahnsinn]

Sounds like a good plan.  Thanks for your comment.