cleaning valve cover
 

well i now have a extra valve cover for my car, im going to strip the paint and polish it completely. any ideas how to strip the paint off without harming the metal? i dont want to throw paint thiner on it till i know its safe.

aircraft coating/paint remover
you can pick it up at any auto store

Wear 2 pairs of gloves (rubber or latex, not vinyl), long pants w/ shoes, and goggles while spraying it. It REALLY burns...trust me

sandblast it !!!

edit: that just gave me an idea. if i could find some dull clear coat to make it look like brushed aluminum (clear coat just to protect it).