I did it - I Polished my inlet manifold...

[Pabs]

Well as per title really...


After thinking about it for ages, and having some spare time on me hands as I couldnt do what i wanted to.... I decided to take some sandpaper and wet and dry to my inlet manifold....

Well, after 2hrs of manual hand sanding, I got it to a stage that looked quite good. I still need to do more, but I ran out of time. I also removed the soundproofing on the underside of the bonnet due to being in the summer - I thought it'd tidy up my bay a bit more

Anyway, heres a few piccies: ( Apologies about quality - camera phone again)

 

[m0rk]

that's a good effort for doing it manually!

 

[LeeroyBrown]

Looking good mate, is that all what u used abit of sand paper and wet and dry?? No metal polishers atall?? Would love to do mine..

Nice 1

 

[gazjones]

im half way through doing mine takes ages to get it right down and smooth but ill get there looks nice!

 

[Pabs]

I used 2 different grades of sand paper, and then P240, P400 and P600 Wet and dry, using a bit of water at times.

Its very smooth - I'm lucky the pics are naff quality cos it means u don't see the naff bits lol....

All by hand - no electric sander at all. Took f00king ages (or at least felt like it) but at the 2hr mark thats how I left it. I'm gonna have another go at a later stage.

I removed the engine cover (all plastics) and the dipstick - covered the dipstick hole with some masking tape and did it in location.

Obviously I've only done the bits you can see, and not behind the main bit where it breaks off into the 4 inlets... just the main body at the top, front and end (of which i need to do the end again as i missed a bit)

But well happy - cost me a total of £1.99 for the wet n dry

Oh, by the way, i cleaned it up using "Meguiars Metal Polysh" - suprisingly good. I intend on using some G3 compound when i next try to finish it off.

 

[gazjones]

i started with the finest wet and dry and kept rubbing really hard lol its smooth but still little indents in it will try rougher grade of paper in the evenings this week i think then polish it up

 

[jenk]

looks a very good job for doing it by hand and while its on the car

Iv been given some inspiration

 

[Pabs]

hehe enjoy

Didnt see the point in going through all the hassle of removing it all, especially with my limited knowledge lol.
Its purely for aesthetics and nothing more - so I only did the bits you can see

 

[ArosaRacer]

looks good mate every weekend you'll be there cleaning now to stop it going matt and dull

 

[Pabs]

hehe - nah... I clean my engine bay once a month roughly anyway, so i'll just add it to the list.
I've been trying to clean the manifold for ages - oil stains and all. Now its polished - no worries

 

[Empi5]

Looks good mate, ive cheated and bought it already done,cant wait to see what it looks like

 

[Simsy]

Paul, that is a mighty fine job there. You've got me thinking about it now!
Was there a lot of mess from all the sanding?

Bet you've got a few scrapped knuckles now

 

[Fl@pper]

looks good

when you get your arm strength back try more (sorry) with 800/1000/1200/1500 and some solvol or similar to finish off - can turn a rusty old scrap bit of steel/ali into a mirror finish then - good old hard work - best mods ever

got some here - might do a guide showing the effect after each level - could help

 

[WeeJase]

bit of grinding paste will help

 

[Pabs]

yeh, i'm definately in need of some of the 1200/1500 grit stuff, it needs finishing off.

There's one annoying pit in the surface that I can't really get out - so might have to go over it again.

Simsy - knuckles are fine mate. Was suprisingly un-messy LOL - just a bit of dust here and there.

Can't wait to finish the job properly tho.. It looks good now but will look even better

 

[Mr Roboto]

Looking good Pabs


Tempted to have ago myself now

 

[Pabs]

go for it

 

[Mr Roboto]

Is it possible to mess it up at all

 

[Pabs]

thats the exact question I asked myself, and when 1/2 way through i thought - what have I done????

It is worrying taking sandpaper to my car, but it was worth it

Just don't go mad - take it slowly and if you think you are taking too much off, use some finer grit stuff (or wet/n/dry) and polish it up a bit and stand back and have a look. Then work on the areas you've missed.

Thats what I did anyway.

I got the inspiration to do it from a thread on here a while back by another Leon member from abroad - think his username was surfo.... He did his in 40mins!

 

[Mr Roboto]

I'll wait for your final verdit when you have finished

You got much left to do?