Custom set of valve covers
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,622
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Originally posted by Birdie2000
Very nice! Gonna have them polished or anodized or anything?
Very nice! Gonna have them polished or anodized or anything?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 229
From: NorCal
Originally posted by Birdie2000
Very nice! Gonna have them polished or anodized or anything?
Very nice! Gonna have them polished or anodized or anything?
You kiddin'? That would be like taking a dump on the Mona Lisa.
VERY nice looking covers man. I
down to the welder!
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,639
From: Toledo, OH
Are they putting a billet rail on those? If not make sure they do, if not they will leak like a sieve, the summit fabricated dont have billet rails and from what Ive heard they suck, thats the main reason morosos are $350, but Dayam, that Guy can frickin weld, looks like he was running out of filler on the sides though where it breaks up. Still though, awesome welds.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,519
From: Westland, MI
I dunno, I'm just not a big fan of where the welds turn white around the edges. I do agree that they're amazing welds, but polished or anodized you can still see the welds, just not the discoloration. Regardless, they're extremely nice pieces and I would be wanting them if I wasn't relocating my alternator. 
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,017
From: Toledo, OH
Originally posted by Birdie2000
I dunno, I'm just not a big fan of where the welds turn white around the edges. I do agree that they're amazing welds, but polished or anodized you can still see the welds, just not the discoloration. Regardless, they're extremely nice pieces and I would be wanting them if I wasn't relocating my alternator.
I dunno, I'm just not a big fan of where the welds turn white around the edges. I do agree that they're amazing welds, but polished or anodized you can still see the welds, just not the discoloration. Regardless, they're extremely nice pieces and I would be wanting them if I wasn't relocating my alternator.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 594
From: Fort Smith, AR
I will be keeping the covers as is for now--perhaps down the road I may have them powdercoated along with a few other pieces.
He said if other people were interested that they just need to get in contact with him if they have something else in mind. One guy mentioned he wanted a set if he wasn't moving his alternator, in which case he could just make a regular set of centerbolts with tipped ends or not. (I personally like the tipped ends which is why I went that route.) Another guy mentioned perimeter bolt heads on an LT1 with shaft mount rockers which I asked about specifically and he said "I would want to talk to him about it, but more than likely would go through the same ordeal that you and I did." (Meaning he'd send a mock-up and you'd make any corrections to make sure they cleared everything and send it back to him.) He also mentioned the they are CNC flanged.
Now for the price. The set I ordered is going to cost me $360--this is how it was broken down: $300 base price, $35 for the filler cap I wanted, $10 to weld up a tube for the cap, and $15 for the 1/2" NPT bung. Please bear in mind that these were built specifically to my needs--thus the term custom valve covers. I know the price will scare some off, but to me it's worth it because I've just saved myself a lot of headaches down the road as far as not having to relocate anything and being able to put 1.6 RR's in with no clearance issues inside the cover.
If you have any other questions you can go to his website at RFR Custom Fabrication--he has his contact information in there somewhere. He's a really cool guy to deal with and answered all my stupid newbie-ish questions and really worked with me to make sure I was getting what I wanted.
Like I mentioned before, I will post up the pics when I get them installed.
He said if other people were interested that they just need to get in contact with him if they have something else in mind. One guy mentioned he wanted a set if he wasn't moving his alternator, in which case he could just make a regular set of centerbolts with tipped ends or not. (I personally like the tipped ends which is why I went that route.) Another guy mentioned perimeter bolt heads on an LT1 with shaft mount rockers which I asked about specifically and he said "I would want to talk to him about it, but more than likely would go through the same ordeal that you and I did." (Meaning he'd send a mock-up and you'd make any corrections to make sure they cleared everything and send it back to him.) He also mentioned the they are CNC flanged.
Now for the price. The set I ordered is going to cost me $360--this is how it was broken down: $300 base price, $35 for the filler cap I wanted, $10 to weld up a tube for the cap, and $15 for the 1/2" NPT bung. Please bear in mind that these were built specifically to my needs--thus the term custom valve covers. I know the price will scare some off, but to me it's worth it because I've just saved myself a lot of headaches down the road as far as not having to relocate anything and being able to put 1.6 RR's in with no clearance issues inside the cover.
If you have any other questions you can go to his website at RFR Custom Fabrication--he has his contact information in there somewhere. He's a really cool guy to deal with and answered all my stupid newbie-ish questions and really worked with me to make sure I was getting what I wanted.
Like I mentioned before, I will post up the pics when I get them installed.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 583
From: $oCal Goodne$$
Originally posted by Bastardcat
I will be keeping the covers as is for now--perhaps down the road I may have them powdercoated along with a few other pieces.
He said if other people were interested that they just need to get in contact with him if they have something else in mind. One guy mentioned he wanted a set if he wasn't moving his alternator, in which case he could just make a regular set of centerbolts with tipped ends or not. (I personally like the tipped ends which is why I went that route.) Another guy mentioned perimeter bolt heads on an LT1 with shaft mount rockers which I asked about specifically and he said "I would want to talk to him about it, but more than likely would go through the same ordeal that you and I did." (Meaning he'd send a mock-up and you'd make any corrections to make sure they cleared everything and send it back to him.) He also mentioned the they are CNC flanged.
Now for the price. The set I ordered is going to cost me $360--this is how it was broken down: $300 base price, $35 for the filler cap I wanted, $10 to weld up a tube for the cap, and $15 for the 1/2" NPT bung. Please bear in mind that these were built specifically to my needs--thus the term custom valve covers. I know the price will scare some off, but to me it's worth it because I've just saved myself a lot of headaches down the road as far as not having to relocate anything and being able to put 1.6 RR's in with no clearance issues inside the cover.
If you have any other questions you can go to his website at RFR Custom Fabrication--he has his contact information in there somewhere. He's a really cool guy to deal with and answered all my stupid newbie-ish questions and really worked with me to make sure I was getting what I wanted.
Like I mentioned before, I will post up the pics when I get them installed.
I will be keeping the covers as is for now--perhaps down the road I may have them powdercoated along with a few other pieces.
He said if other people were interested that they just need to get in contact with him if they have something else in mind. One guy mentioned he wanted a set if he wasn't moving his alternator, in which case he could just make a regular set of centerbolts with tipped ends or not. (I personally like the tipped ends which is why I went that route.) Another guy mentioned perimeter bolt heads on an LT1 with shaft mount rockers which I asked about specifically and he said "I would want to talk to him about it, but more than likely would go through the same ordeal that you and I did." (Meaning he'd send a mock-up and you'd make any corrections to make sure they cleared everything and send it back to him.) He also mentioned the they are CNC flanged.
Now for the price. The set I ordered is going to cost me $360--this is how it was broken down: $300 base price, $35 for the filler cap I wanted, $10 to weld up a tube for the cap, and $15 for the 1/2" NPT bung. Please bear in mind that these were built specifically to my needs--thus the term custom valve covers. I know the price will scare some off, but to me it's worth it because I've just saved myself a lot of headaches down the road as far as not having to relocate anything and being able to put 1.6 RR's in with no clearance issues inside the cover.
If you have any other questions you can go to his website at RFR Custom Fabrication--he has his contact information in there somewhere. He's a really cool guy to deal with and answered all my stupid newbie-ish questions and really worked with me to make sure I was getting what I wanted.
Like I mentioned before, I will post up the pics when I get them installed.
Time to order a spare set of valve covers to send there way....
Ruben "Just Loves The Thought The Shop Is IN Cali" F.
Please keep us posted on how the "Passenger side valve cover" turns out. I'll be a believer AFTER I see the indentation and clearance for the Alternator.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,639
From: Toledo, OH
Just curious what everyone here would be willing to pay for a set of aluminum ones just like the set there, but no tips, just a big rectangle, all professionally tig welded (might even surprise you after seing how awesome those welds were), without any clearances for alternator. Options would be available such as breathers, fillers, PCV bung, and so one. The would have CNCd billet rails.
When you are spouting off prices keep in mind that there would be close to $100 probably in materials alone before any labor, so no "Id pay $50" crap.
Attn threadstarter, if this post bothers you let me know and Ill delete it, but since you arent gaining anything by advertising for that shop I figured you wouldnt mind.
Just gauging prices to see if its even worth undertaking, Im working on mine as we speak so a demo should be available soon.
When you are spouting off prices keep in mind that there would be close to $100 probably in materials alone before any labor, so no "Id pay $50" crap.
Attn threadstarter, if this post bothers you let me know and Ill delete it, but since you arent gaining anything by advertising for that shop I figured you wouldnt mind.
Just gauging prices to see if its even worth undertaking, Im working on mine as we speak so a demo should be available soon.
I think polished would look bada$$. 
Advanced Tech Moderator
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,262
From: Nashville
Those are very nice looking. And a good price too. Look at Moroso Fabricated Sheetmetal valvecovers in a summit mag and they are about $360. And then you still have to mod them to work with a alternator, and any other machine work for fittings or holes.