SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

6600DURAMAX · 04-01-2009, 07:51 AM

I'll repost this in the 4x4 section in hopes to get more response, I need to make a decision quick on if I should send them back

Bought polished aluminum diff covers for the 14 bolt and 60 - showed up today and I am dissapointed in the quality of the polishing. They aren't horrible but when looking at them up close you can see very small pitting. Is anyone running these covers?? I feel since I ordered them from Summit for $85 I might have got factory seconds instead of spending the $122 from 4 wheel parts Wholesale???

Should I try and finish polishing them? If so how?

msgross · 04-01-2009, 09:02 AM

don't know the answer.. why do the chrome? polished aluminum might hold up better... I know the cheap chrome timing covers are so/so as well.. Or get a heavy duty steel one and have it powdercoated chrome (won't be as shiny but it will be tough)

*FormerMember* · 04-01-2009, 09:18 AM

I wouldn't run one of those covers that will see any off road usage.

Hit a rock and kiss your gear oil good bye.

6600DURAMAX · 04-01-2009, 10:02 AM

This is more of a show truck, you know the trailer queen type. haha

Wont see any rocks, just hookin to a sled !!

*FormerMember* · 04-01-2009, 10:08 AM

Then I would polish what you have. You'll find they're all from the same two manufacturers.

**special-K** · 04-01-2009, 11:12 AM

If they are seconds Summit would be required to disclose that info in the description.A polish job on cast is only as good as the casting.It`s hard to not got open pores in it.I would still consider sending them back.I`ve removed nice looking powder coated parts from my Harley and had them chromed and they were full of pits.I went through a bunch of the same parts at my friend`s shop and came up with one that wasn`t porous.

MickMc · 04-01-2009, 05:30 PM

It's all in the quality of the casting.

I have a bunch of diff covers, hickey and rough country and transdapt, old and new, all of them have a very rough casting.
I was going to polish one up like Pacific Customs did, but you can't expect the highest polish if the base metal is rough to start with. Good from a distance but no mirror like appearance.

I've wheeled my dana 60's with cast covers for years, never an issue, but I was careful not to bash the covers into anything or it could have been an interesting drive (or walk) home.

Good luck with another set.

Mick

6600DURAMAX · 04-01-2009, 09:44 PM

I talked to Summit and they said they are not seconds and are more than willing to take them back and trade them out for a "better" set. They sent me a prepaid postage, so they will go out tomorrow.

shakedown96 · 04-05-2009, 12:06 AM

aluminium is one of the easyest meatals to polish. when the second set comes back and they are not shiny enough hit them with some 1000 or 1200 grit wet sand paper. then get that mothers power ball. and some liquid polish and buff the crap out of them. I get my liquid polish from the local big truck chrome shop. also I will let you in on a little seceret remove polish when black and dry with a sock turned inside out with baking flower on it.

6600DURAMAX · 04-06-2009, 10:04 AM

Covers should be here by the end of the week, I will post about the qaulity of this second pair.

I also heard when polishing metal to not use anything finer than a 600 grit sandpaper then use buffing compounds. The super fine sandpaper actually hurts the quality. Not for sure if this is true though??

shakedown96 · 04-06-2009, 07:16 PM

this guy used 1200 @ 6 min and 2000 @ 7 min

YouTube - Mirror Finish on Milled Aluminum!

04-01-2009, 07:51 AM	#1
6600DURAMAX Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wheatfield IN, USA Posts: 1,124	SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers I'll repost this in the 4x4 section in hopes to get more response, I need to make a decision quick on if I should send them back Bought polished aluminum diff covers for the 14 bolt and 60 - showed up today and I am dissapointed in the quality of the polishing. They aren't horrible but when looking at them up close you can see very small pitting. Is anyone running these covers?? I feel since I ordered them from Summit for $85 I might have got factory seconds instead of spending the $122 from 4 wheel parts Wholesale??? Should I try and finish polishing them? If so how? __________________ 1972 K5 - LS3/408 (595Hp) -6L80e-One Tons with 4.56, 20'' Beadlocks with 37'' rubber, full TMI interior, JL Audio ..... 1971 CREWMAX Build.....at body shop for couple more years

04-01-2009, 09:02 AM	#2
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers don't know the answer.. why do the chrome? polished aluminum might hold up better... I know the cheap chrome timing covers are so/so as well.. Or get a heavy duty steel one and have it powdercoated chrome (won't be as shiny but it will be tough) __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

04-01-2009, 09:18 AM	#3
FormerMember Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,051	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers I wouldn't run one of those covers that will see any off road usage. Hit a rock and kiss your gear oil good bye. Last edited by FormerMember; 04-02-2009 at 03:52 PM.

04-01-2009, 10:02 AM	#4
6600DURAMAX Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wheatfield IN, USA Posts: 1,124	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers This is more of a show truck, you know the trailer queen type. haha Wont see any rocks, just hookin to a sled !! __________________ 1972 K5 - LS3/408 (595Hp) -6L80e-One Tons with 4.56, 20'' Beadlocks with 37'' rubber, full TMI interior, JL Audio ..... 1971 CREWMAX Build.....at body shop for couple more years

04-01-2009, 10:08 AM	#5
FormerMember Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,051	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers Then I would polish what you have. You'll find they're all from the same two manufacturers. Last edited by FormerMember; 04-02-2009 at 03:38 PM.

04-01-2009, 11:12 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers If they are seconds Summit would be required to disclose that info in the description.A polish job on cast is only as good as the casting.It`s hard to not got open pores in it.I would still consider sending them back.I`ve removed nice looking powder coated parts from my Harley and had them chromed and they were full of pits.I went through a bunch of the same parts at my friend`s shop and came up with one that wasn`t porous. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-01-2009, 05:30 PM	#7
MickMc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 359	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers It's all in the quality of the casting. I have a bunch of diff covers, hickey and rough country and transdapt, old and new, all of them have a very rough casting. I was going to polish one up like Pacific Customs did, but you can't expect the highest polish if the base metal is rough to start with. Good from a distance but no mirror like appearance. I've wheeled my dana 60's with cast covers for years, never an issue, but I was careful not to bash the covers into anything or it could have been an interesting drive (or walk) home. Good luck with another set. Mick Last edited by MickMc; 04-02-2009 at 02:46 AM.

04-01-2009, 09:44 PM	#8
6600DURAMAX Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wheatfield IN, USA Posts: 1,124	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers I talked to Summit and they said they are not seconds and are more than willing to take them back and trade them out for a "better" set. They sent me a prepaid postage, so they will go out tomorrow. __________________ 1972 K5 - LS3/408 (595Hp) -6L80e-One Tons with 4.56, 20'' Beadlocks with 37'' rubber, full TMI interior, JL Audio ..... 1971 CREWMAX Build.....at body shop for couple more years

04-05-2009, 12:06 AM	#9
shakedown96 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: gilboa ny Posts: 91	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers aluminium is one of the easyest meatals to polish. when the second set comes back and they are not shiny enough hit them with some 1000 or 1200 grit wet sand paper. then get that mothers power ball. and some liquid polish and buff the crap out of them. I get my liquid polish from the local big truck chrome shop. also I will let you in on a little seceret remove polish when black and dry with a sock turned inside out with baking flower on it.

04-06-2009, 10:04 AM	#10
6600DURAMAX Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wheatfield IN, USA Posts: 1,124	Re: SUMMIT Polished Diff Covers Covers should be here by the end of the week, I will post about the qaulity of this second pair. I also heard when polishing metal to not use anything finer than a 600 grit sandpaper then use buffing compounds. The super fine sandpaper actually hurts the quality. Not for sure if this is true though?? __________________ 1972 K5 - LS3/408 (595Hp) -6L80e-One Tons with 4.56, 20'' Beadlocks with 37'' rubber, full TMI interior, JL Audio ..... 1971 CREWMAX Build.....at body shop for couple more years



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