Polishing Engine Pieces

[PhilW]

I'll be doin a load soon with my mate who knows what to do properly.

Will have the manifold finish and the intercooler pipe and just generally clean everything up.

I'll write a how to with some pics if anyone wants it.

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Nice one phil. Be a great help that. Want to smarten up the bay as one of my objectives.

Cheers

 

[PhilW]

Talkin of smartenin up the engine bay, i've just ordered a carbon engine cover.

But i'll sort the 'how to' up coz apparently its easy, just a bit of elbow grease.

 

[Daz_gibbo]

They make them for the Ibiza? Where was that from?

 

[PhilW]

Now that would be telling... lol.

Here's the link...


http://www.auto-concepts.co.uk/show_product.asp?id=244

 

[foxy42]

Is there any benefit aside from the aesthetic to having an engine cover on? Does it route air better or anything, or is it better to remove them altogether?

 

[Scotty_b]

I want to get my Intake mainifold done on my LCR but im worried about getting into the edges!

 

[Czechboy]

Decided to clean up my engine bay this weekend because it hasent been cleaned since i bought the car and it sure looks a lot better now Tools used: wire brush,brasso, cloth, furniture polish and a lot of sweat.

Before clean up (nasty):

http://img122.echo.cx/img122/6702/picture0126th.jpg


After:

http://img103.echo.cx/img103/4496/picture0181ow.jpg

 

[Fl@pper]

I want to get my Intake mainifold done on my LCR but im worried about getting into the edges!

get as close as you can - and worry about the bits you CAN see

 

[Scotty_b]

So wire brush then smoother and smoother wet and dry?

 

[Fl@pper]

yup and more and more and more and more

fold the wet and dry to make a shape for hard to reach bits

buy a sheet of these grits and try it on any similar small piece to get the knack - af any similar easy to do section (lawnmower ?)

400/600/800/1000/1200/1500

im sure hellfrauds do a selection pack from memory - even so its not dear stuff

just to note - welds are cool looking lightly gone over - DONT smooth em down to blend them in like the guy down the road with his new cossie inlet chamber - turned up the boost and split it open did wonder why he had a drill going to polish it up ??

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Im onto 600 now and it's like a dull finish at the moment. Hope it goes well!

 

[Fl@pper]

wax on wax off

are your arms tired yet ?

lol

 

[Daz_gibbo]

knackered. just polished it up with a once over. I guess its now just keep polishing and rubbing? Give up for today anywayz lol

 

[Fl@pper]

the finer grit you go the more brush type marks you will lose

best work more with the rougher to start to get it down as flat as possible then the finer ones merely take scratches and swirls out - if you find it seesm to be doing nothing then move to the next one up - water will help as long as its not steel of course

in the end you should be able to hold it at half arms length and see a blemish free mirror finish reflection - was always my old test for the antiques as they were usually stored at waist height on a table

just remember ALL polishing is technically destructive as you are finely smoothing down the original surface - hence the comment on welds on post above - personally a polished surface with fresh welds on it (untouched) looks the dogs to me anyway

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Used 400 500 600 800 1200

Will give it another bash tomorrow.

 

[Scotty_b]

Pics????

 

[Daz_gibbo]

When complete !

 

[Scotty_b]

How about some stages? As im only really after a dull finish, not wanting chrome!

 

[Daz_gibbo]

i'LL see what I can do. I doubt it'll come out very well as it'd be from my phone see!