Over the winter months I plan to do some clean up and detailing in the engine bay, painting the charge coolers, stuff like that.

In a previous life the car spent some time in the sun and the plastic bits (airbox) and also the ends of the valve covers are faded.

Any advice on how to improve the appearance of these parts?

I'm not completely against removing the valve covers to paint or powder coat them but there is not a single leak, and I'd hate to cause a problem where there was none before.

 

Charlie,

The car spent some time in the sun..................with the bonnet open?

There's been several posts showing valve covers and airboxes refinished (red seems to be a popular choice) but the only way to do a proper job is going to be remove and thoroughly clean them prior to painting.

Graham

 

Sun bleaching is very common with XKRs, especially the oil dip stick, fuse box and air box, back to black works on the dark items but you will have to keep doing it but it should last a couple of months, I have painted dip sticks but prefer to replace them with polished aluminium.

 

Here's a link to vettegood's thread, I believe he painted everything in place, there are work in progress pics too.https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...int-job-74358/

 

If only... were it uniformly faded I could claim it was "vintage", but, alas, it's just a dull spot at the front under the vent.

 

You could always polish the aluminum & recover the plastic in carbon.

 

Now that's just pornographic. ;-)

Polished aluminum is rather what I had in mind.

My big question is what to do with the valve cover. Is there any option to clean it up, or is removal and a new gasket the best path?

 

Wow! All those dumpy intercoolers I've seen over the years are not necessary.
RJ_________________
95 XJ6 120K mi
97 XK8 86K mi

 

Listen! I stumbled across an EXCELLENT product that really brightens up an engine bay nicely! It is called S100 Engine Brightener (Duh..) and is available at most Harley shops for around $10 a can. It has a special nozzle that "fogs" on a fine mist of the product directly onto your parts, and you don't have to wipe the excess off, unless you want to. Really brings out the color in hoses, plastics, wiring looms... anything that gets dull after time or exposure. Also works well for hard to reach areas. No odor, and lasts a long while. I use it all the time in our shop. Definitely recommended! One can will do an engine compartment, if you aren't "too" liberal with it!