Flip it to the dark side of the force. Hammer away carefully getting all dings, and bloaded spots back to flat on the outer top side.

Inside and out should start to look the same. Flat.
This is underneath.

On the April Fools side of the covers, it should start to look like this.
Note: the raised (O) Letter on the right that has not been worked out yet. Flat is where it's at.
It should not take too much hammering on both sides to persuade these molded letters to almost disappear.

Now for the important tool. The multi-speed grinder and its suspension sanding disc.
This I believe is a 100 grit, though it can be a 220 grit as well. Slow, solo passes over the top side only to smooth out the reservoir lines with out introducing too much heat is the trick.
All the reservoir lines do not have to be completely gone, just flat.

great info, i just picked a pair up this weekend to replace my mp cast ones to shave a little weight(72 cuda, 3136 lbs w/o me) and as suspected it looked like someone had just kept tightening them until the rail touched the head. the bolt hles are way inverted, i will try your dolly method and cross my fingers. thanks for all of the info!

The bolt holes can be restored by flipping them upside down and using a dolly or solid 90 degree angle steel stock as back support and then lightly hammering the hole sections back to flat on the topside. GOOD GASKETS is the trick.

i appreciate that, i already have the moroso gaskets

A few LIGHT pass overs here with the grinding disc and one can see the Letters almost gone to the touch.
A small smear of either All metal or Polyester putty is all that is needed across the whole facade of the letters. After sanding with first 120-180-220-320-400-600 paper, it will look like new and stock. Paint Hemi Orange or Turquoise to suit your vintage and taste.

Man, that Cuda is a Jenny Craig student isn't it.
That's pretty light already for an E-body.

I was wrong, even when I was right. LOL.

These Moroso's are indeed just a tiny tad taller than a stocker,(Shown below) but noticeably more than a 4 bolt Max Wedge cover.
My friend Special K who provided the Maxie cover and 70' cover among a few ideas mentioned that the stock 73'-74' covers are really tall. I seem to remember the chrome covers being that tall as well. That is where I might have gotten confused. In any case as small as this all may sound, it's in the name of the weight loss game, so carry on.

Maxie is not so maximum next to a lightweight. LOL

ya its light for what it is, its a full steel car with the exception of a liftoff glass hood still retains a back seat, console, factory gas tank etc. ive trimmed every bolt and screw, replaced all bolts/fasteners that i could with aluminum and removed all the emergency brake parts, wiper parts etc. toyota alt, mp master cyl, 45'd the corners of the k frame where the big bolts go in(bolts are trimmed and through drilled), replaced the 3/4 hex steering gearbox bolts with the 1/2" 12 pt ones that came on the 69 b bodies, etc, got alum bumper brackets being made by a member on here. ive learned alot from this post, and its become an obsession i have a 66 belvedere that is 3240, done the same way

Obsession? more like "The Way of Hot Rodding"

That's pretty trick with an all steel skin on a Cuda. Probably another 100 Lbs or so to go with that pup if you wanted to.

Funny enough, some cars actually need some weight to help them stay sober and straight like those Mosquito Dodge Colts. Nothing to do to those except install a warm Small block and go racing.

I've had more fun sharing this stuff compared with hiding it for years.
Not to disrespect an amazing old WW2 saying with a play on words "Weight, All have some, some got rid of it all"

This would have been an obsession if I got my hands on it.
C-bodies are the ultimate sleepers just like the old Wildcats and E-225's back in the day.
Would have been a challenge but a H$ll of run to make it run underweight.
A friend had one years back and that thing would scoot to the tune of mid 16's bone stock @4300
Imagine it @ an honest realistic 3300-3500 Lbs. High to mid 15's with its stock mill.

Your ,,,,,,,,,almost like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


An arteeest

That's probably 10 pounds right there.

Nice job on those Lee, I appreciate the flicks. I guess I musta been a lil' too heavy handed on mine. I hammered the letters completely flat!

Mine were pretty beat to begin with though, they had dents and chunks taken out of 'em already so it was a good experiment.

Hope to be able to use some old Cal Custom ones on my buildup which are a little lighter than the MP cast ones. More style points too. Have to check clearances with the rocker arms though so not set in stone yet. I really don't like the MP ones.

RMCHRGR
Those covers are nice. They look the part of the vintage speed equipment of the day as well.
Maybe you can weigh them for us curious folk.
That motor should charge forward.

Production cars have come a long way with the use of Aluminum from the race only Pontiac SWISS CHEESE Cats, Tempests and Venturas with the exception of their aluminum header pipes. LOL.

Note the aluminum caliber body, tie rods, upper and lower control arms and chassis on this current model that was being tested.

Chrysler soon took suit of the weight loss program and the rest is history.

As some may know on here, certain current Chevrolet Z06's have an entire aluminum under structure/chassis.
Now if only Chrysler could stay off the catnip and put me on board to give those porky Hellcats a taste of weightlessness.

Believe you me, it almost happened and it would have been a nasty Alley cat indeed.

Sans certain plexiglass pieces and lights, this is one of two memos that started the craze for me and my car.