Polishing Engine Pieces

[Daz_gibbo]

How have you guys gone about polishing bits under the bonnet?

I'm sure I have seen a few who have polished bits and bobs within the bay DIY method. What tools materials did you use?

Cheers

 

[CupraPower]

Use Autoglym Metal polish. Its fantastic. comes up soooo clean and shiny

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Just popped down to halfauds before you posted that. Can't say I spotted that in their range.

 

[Martin CUK]

Comes in a small oblong chrome box.

Most car places sell it.

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Is on my list then!

 

[Russ_20vt]

yup i agree used the autoglym metal polish on mine and it came up really good.

 

[m0rk]

are you getting confused with making a shiney thing shine, or a rough thing shine?

 

[Daz_gibbo]

The shiney things to shine for the moment.
Can the Rough things be done yourself?

 

[matt holley]

I got the rocker covers on my 205 to shine using a wire brush in a drill then the auto glym metel polish it is really good stuff

 

[m0rk]

you can do most stuff if you're not a total lazy ass.

but if you're not prepared to do it, or invest in tools - then no, it's not something you can do yourself

 

[Daz_gibbo]

I am a total lazy arse, but i still, I'll have a go.
Wire brush in a drill it is then.. anyone suggest any other method/tools?

 

[Fl@pper]

several grades of wet n dry and some polish

try these grades to start - SOFT wire brush 400/800/1000/1200 then polish cream

taking as many scratches etc out and smooth as much as you can with each stage

oooh nearly forgot - LOTS of elbow grease - wire brush/polish may look OK but a proper MIRROR finish is better

try it out on the leg of a rusty wheel barrow - when you see yourself in it and no scratches ya finished - well done

IT IS hard work hence why i havent started yet but worth it

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Cheers, nice one flapper

 

[Fl@pper]

no probs m8 - another valued tool is patience - trust me

i used to do full restorations of 19th century cylinder and disc music boxes etc

started with summat you'd dig out the ground/shed and using basic brass/steel stock scrap pieces like this lot (older the better) used to have to repair and restore to quality like this thing but be assured took a while mind

 

[C3 LJG]

I used a polishing wheel and some paste to get the shine up on my intercooler pipe then finished it off with autosol metal polish.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/677000-677999/677705_50_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/677000-677999/677705_39_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/677000-677999/677705_49_full.jpg

 

[Fl@pper]

looks dandy that - when ya gonna finish it

hehehe

just kidding - looks clean - but fully polished ya will see what clothes you got on in th reflection off the pipe

 

[C3 LJG]

Yeah it does come up a lot better in the flesh! but still needs to be rubbed down a bit further to get rid of some of the casting marks.

Would like to get the top of the engine polished up but it needs some really good rubbing down, before i can even start polishing but i will get round to doing it!!

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Did you remove them to do it? C3 LJG

 

[C3 LJG]

yeah its easy to get the intercooler pipe off, i also replaced the clips with stainless jubilee clips so i can take it off in about 2 mins. Also polished up some of the brackets for the air filter aswell but you can't see them in pics.

Got o polished oil cap on ebay for £15 but you can get them from trimsport for about £20 or the neuspeed caps or forge also make polished caps for the engine bay which help the bling factor!

 

[flashbsd]

i have polished stainless hoseclips on mine, awaiting the red samco hoses, and have also polished my intercooler pipe, looks nice, although as stated above, its hard to see the effort from a photo.

another thing ill do when i get chance next, is get my dremel on my rocker and get that polished up