Turbo Cover
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strikeeagle
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The problem with the aluminum ones is they scratch very easily. I think DC Tech used to make both aluminum and chrome plated aluminum covers, and gave up on the former, after repolishing many of them, some at their own expense. They really don't hold up well to even the day-to-day usage they're exposed to...
strikeeagle
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Oops, I stand corrected - I see DC Tech still offers the unplated covers. However, I stand by my comment that they are a PITA...
Polished aluminum is very susceptible to scratches and when polished to a bright finish like our product is, any scratch will show. Anyone who has ever owned a set of polished aluminum wheels like Weld Pro Stars or Drag Lites, knows how careful you have to be to keep from scatching them. The fact of the matter is, we have not "repolished many of them". On the contrary, we have repolished only one. I'm not sure where strikeeagle got that info but it is incorrect. Day to day usage is not a problem and our products hold up very well, but caution must be used when cleaning polished aluminum.
As far as the brushed finish is concerned, that is an interesting concept. It may be a little difficult to blend the grain on the ends and the top surfaces but it's something we could look into. If you would like to pursue something like that please email us at: www.eds@dctech-inc.com
As far as the brushed finish is concerned, that is an interesting concept. It may be a little difficult to blend the grain on the ends and the top surfaces but it's something we could look into. If you would like to pursue something like that please email us at: www.eds@dctech-inc.com
strikeeagle
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I vaguely recall that when the unchromed shields first came out folks couldn't keep them from scratching, and were sending then back to DC to be refinished at $25 a pop or so. Am I mistaken, or did you not offer a refinishing service? Were the chrome plated shields not targeted at addressing this?
Anyone with any kind of turbo shield knows they are dust magnets. Anyone with any kind of turbo shield knows they get in the way of anything you're working on, so they do see get swiped by a tool now and then. So, unless you care to remove them every time...
Your chrome plated shields are a good choice - the chrome is hard and solves the problems of a soft aluminum shield taking a scratch now and then.
The shield is not as forgiving as a wheel - wheels are at ground level and upright, a shield is right there under the hood staring at you, you see any imperfection.
Whatever, your chrome plated shields are excellent, and I have then on my TRs.
Anyone with any kind of turbo shield knows they are dust magnets. Anyone with any kind of turbo shield knows they get in the way of anything you're working on, so they do see get swiped by a tool now and then. So, unless you care to remove them every time...
Your chrome plated shields are a good choice - the chrome is hard and solves the problems of a soft aluminum shield taking a scratch now and then.
The shield is not as forgiving as a wheel - wheels are at ground level and upright, a shield is right there under the hood staring at you, you see any imperfection.
Whatever, your chrome plated shields are excellent, and I have then on my TRs.
turbo nasty
Turbo Dojo / MNTR
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I think a set of machine turned valve covers, and turbo shield would look mean.
Thanks for the input strikeeagle. We appreciate it.
From the beginning we have offered to re-polish any of our product at cost plus UPS. I believe we estimated that worse case scenario it would not cost more than $25.00 plus UPS. But we have only had one returned to be re-polished. There may be more out there that could use a little touch up and we would be glad to do so at our cost.
Actually there were a number of reasons we added a chrome version to our line, including the scratch issue. The first time we went to the Nationals with our turbo shields and showed them to Mike Licht of Modern Muscle Car (that goes back a ways doesn't it), he told us he wanted chrome. We had others make the same request probably because they already had a number of chrome pieces in their engine compartment and the polished aluminum was just a shade short of matching the chrome. To this day we probably sell as many polished units as we do chrome. One of our fellow workers has almost every piece of aluminum under the hood of his GN polished, including the intercooler, upper plenum and turbo; and he has a polished turbo shield. He just likes the matching finish.
Anything that is shiny (black cars especially) is a dust magnet, and no, polished aluminum is not as durable as chrome, have to agree with you there too, but in our effort to please as many of our fellow Buick lovers as possible, we offer both versions.
Again, we really appreciate your input and are very thankful for your having our product on your car.
From the beginning we have offered to re-polish any of our product at cost plus UPS. I believe we estimated that worse case scenario it would not cost more than $25.00 plus UPS. But we have only had one returned to be re-polished. There may be more out there that could use a little touch up and we would be glad to do so at our cost.
Actually there were a number of reasons we added a chrome version to our line, including the scratch issue. The first time we went to the Nationals with our turbo shields and showed them to Mike Licht of Modern Muscle Car (that goes back a ways doesn't it), he told us he wanted chrome. We had others make the same request probably because they already had a number of chrome pieces in their engine compartment and the polished aluminum was just a shade short of matching the chrome. To this day we probably sell as many polished units as we do chrome. One of our fellow workers has almost every piece of aluminum under the hood of his GN polished, including the intercooler, upper plenum and turbo; and he has a polished turbo shield. He just likes the matching finish.
Anything that is shiny (black cars especially) is a dust magnet, and no, polished aluminum is not as durable as chrome, have to agree with you there too, but in our effort to please as many of our fellow Buick lovers as possible, we offer both versions.
Again, we really appreciate your input and are very thankful for your having our product on your car.
strikeeagle
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Ed,
That's a great post. You guys are top notch. Your shields are beautiful - the design, the fitment, the fabrication, the plating are perfect, the fastening system well thought out. They really set off the engine compartment. And kudos for standing behind your stuff 100%, even though it's bulletproof. We sure could use more guys like you in our little community...
That's a great post. You guys are top notch. Your shields are beautiful - the design, the fitment, the fabrication, the plating are perfect, the fastening system well thought out. They really set off the engine compartment. And kudos for standing behind your stuff 100%, even though it's bulletproof. We sure could use more guys like you in our little community...
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Originally posted by strikeeagle
Ed,
That's a great post. You guys are top notch. Your shields are beautiful - the design, the fitment, the fabrication, the plating are perfect, the fastening system well thought out. They really set off the engine compartment. And kudos for standing behind your stuff 100%, even though it's bulletproof. We sure could use more guys like you in our little community...
I agree with the above, they are class guys and make nice stuff. I love their covers.
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