Any1 tried polishing engine parts??

[Monopoly]

I was wondering if any1 has tried polishing the intake manifold or the front valve cover???:confused:

I was just wondering if it's possible todo on your own instead of having to pay $200 US each when you could do it yourself.
Any1 tried it out???:confused:

[BigBoi]

check with memystealthandI, I think he had his plenum done in alberta for a little over $100 US

[Diablo]

I did. What can I say? I started it and never finished it. Its not hard, but requires time and patience (which I have very little of), and some tools/sand paper. My only advice is, if you do the valve cover, dont use a wire brush attachment to "clean it up"...it left a lot of little but fairly deep scratch marks on mine.
Also, you absolutely must take them off the car to do it....it creates a heck of a mess in your engine compartment otherwise, so expect some downtime on the vehicle while you work on it.
Eastwood sells polishing kits with the polishing compounds needed to do it.

[Monopoly]

wow thanx diablo
i mean i was a toolmaker last year and i've spent sometimes 11 hours of straight polishing...But i've only polished Steel and alloy-steel. Never had any exp with aluminum...
aluminum is prolly a lot easier to work with too!

altho we used stones to polish with, then used sandpaper, then used compounds for the final step...we never used wire wheels to polish, thats just crazy!:p

taking off the plenium just requires you to remove the bolts on the front right??? But then when putting it back on...what do you torque the bolts to???

[Diablo]

You shoudl have no troubles then. Plenum removal is basic. Check out one of the many FAQ's on changing spark plugs for the how-to's.
I dont remember the torque specs, and I dont think that like head bolts, it matters which are tightened first. I have always went for a "firm, wrist tight" and never had a problem.i.e. dont crank on the ratchet with an extension bar or full arm force from the end of the ratchet.

[Monopoly]

lol yeah a few clean rags and my good Snap-on ratchet set should do the job. It just makes me nervous thats all.

[BigBoi]

Originally posted by Monopoly
my good Snap-on ratchet set should do the job.

OH well. you are one of those guys huh.......

All I got is da 'ol mastercraft & craftsman gear, LOL:D

J/K!!!!

[Monopoly]

lol no no!
i won them in a skills competition at high school!
all my other tools are from Sears i swear!

And no my mom is not a cougar and does not wear a Snap-on tools jacket:p

[memystealthandi]

Originally posted by BigBoi
check with memystealthandI, I think he had his plenum done in alberta for a little over $100 US

Correction, that was $104 CDN.....not US.
I actually had my plenum ceramic coated, and I polished my valve cover myself. By hand, with different grits of sand paper, a dremel, and a mouse sander. I suggest buying a 2nd one so you can take your time with it.

I also polished a set of wheels. Took forever. I did one wheel a weekend for a month.

-R

Here is a pic of the plenum.

[Diablo]

for the money, thats pretty nice!

[memystealthandi]

Here is a pic of my valve cover. I actually polished the entire thing and then decided I wanted it blue. I worked on it on and off for about 3 months.

[memystealthandi]

Originally posted by Diablo
for the money, thats pretty nice!

Yeah, I'm happy with it. It does have a little bit of a rough texture left to it, but it looks even better in person. The pic doesn't do it justice. I should have really sanded the roughness out first..

-R

[Monopoly]

whoa that valve cover looks fucking awesome!
when it gets warm out ill polish by myself for sure!
you didnt use any compounds or anything or the final polishÉ
cause it looks damn good!

and what kind of engine paint did you use on the valve cover...
ill try the plemium myself and if it doesnt look so hot ill ship it off out west to get it done!:)

[memystealthandi]

Originally posted by Monopoly
whoa that valve cover looks fucking awesome!
when it gets warm out ill polish by myself for sure!
you didnt use any compounds or anything or the final polishÉ
cause it looks damn good!

and what kind of engine paint did you use on the valve cover...
ill try the plemium myself and if it doesnt look so hot ill ship it off out west to get it done!:)

It is a good idea, after all the different grits of sandpaper to use some rubbing compound or polishing compound. I didn't use any in this case, but did when I polished a set of wheels.

I used Duplicolour metalcast paint. 2 step paint, base metallic primer, and the blue overcoat. I did about 20 (plus about 5 primer coats) or so very light coats on that. No problems with it burning off, it resists heat quite well.

If you're polishing a plenum I'm actually found that for the plenum a Black and Decker mouse sander works quite well. Saves you a lot of time, doesn't leave any big grooves, and you can get in into most of the cracks, corners on the plenum. They go for about $60. But are well worth it......

[Monopoly]

omfg i have a black and ecker mouse in my house!
I never thought of that man! Thanx!

anyways i gotta lot of stones for polishing that i taxed from my old work..they're amazing!
i got grits 60 to 400!

[BrossardTT]

how much time would it take to polish the valve cover and wat do I need exactly.......

[Monopoly]

OK i think this is how im gunna do it BossardTT

you'll need probably a good 4 to 6 hours i'd say depending on how fast and how much of a perfectionist you are.

heres what you need

1. Get a palm sander(Blk and Deckr sell the mouse which is the best for this job)

2. Start off using somewhere around 60 to 80 grit sandpaper on sander. Then goto 120, 160, 180, 220, 240, 400 until somewhat smooth

3. Get out the old drill or Dumore and buy some rubber compund polish. and go over the cover a few times or you could use wet sandpaper

4. blow off and clean cover and youre done! Unless you want to paint it:)
pretty EZ huh?

[BrossardTT]

where can I buy paint for it.....how much and wat brand......

[BrossardTT]

where can I buy paint for it.....how much and wat brand......and how many cans I need

[Monopoly]

dunno i was gunna start it yesterday but got sidetracked replacing one of those four little bulbs on the rear brake light thingy.