2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

just curious what kinda tools, consumables, etc...is needed to polish the alluminum stuff under my hood like the valve covers, AC canister, coolant pipe, misc brackets etc.......and can you get that stuff at any parts store or what?

chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

I've been using some off the shelf stuff called Noxon 7. I originally bought it for another household project (I forget what), but it works great on engine parts. I've also used Mother's Billet Aluminum Polish on the hoops of my rims and it's definitely good stuff.


-Mike

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

ah....let me clarify:

what is needed to take an UNpolished valve cover, MAF end, TB, etc....and make it look like a mirror?

SPECIALIZED STAINLESS

iTrader: (15)

This might help... https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/760020-polished-my-maf-tb-added-some-stuff-pics.html

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

that's more what i'm talking about. what compounds did you use and where did they come from? did you do the AC canister in the car or did you take it out? if you polished it in the car, what'd you use? are you using a bench grinder with a buffing wheel or handheld with a wheel on it?

chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

That's a horse of a different feather.

Taking unpolished aluminum and making it mirror-like is not an easy process. I started to do my calipers and ended up just painting them because I got tired of the upkeep.

What I did:
Started with the "coarse" sandpaper drums on my Dremel (I think it's 120 grit), taking off all the rough spots and casting flash.
Move to 600-grit sandpaper.
Move to 1000-grit sandpaper.
Move to 1500-grit sandpaper.
Move to 2000-grit sandpaper.
Apply tripoli compound with drill/buffing wheel and/or Dremel with India Cloth attachment
Apply various stages of rogue with drill/buffing wheel and/or Dremel with India Cloth attachment

They looked very shiney for about a month. Then I drove through a puddle and they looked like hell again, so I scuffed them with some 600-grit paper and painted them black. Under the hood may be a little less of a pain, but getting to all the nooks and crannies on those parts without removing them won't be fun.


-Mike

SPECIALIZED STAINLESS

iTrader: (15)

I used the buffing compounds form eastwood. I took the ac canister out of the car. I have a buffer. You can put buffing wheels on a bench grinder also. It helps too if you have some small buffing wheels for a dremel too. It's really not that hard, it just takes A LOT of time!

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

yeah i knew it was time consuming. i don't want things to literally shine like a mirror, although i wouldn't complain ...

toofazt, you engine bay looks VERY nice....all i've got to show off right now is my tool box BTW, these pics were taken with my phone....

SPECIALIZED STAINLESS

iTrader: (15)

Thanks.

Looks good to me! Are those unpolished stainless pieces that you polished or did you add to it?

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

i made those when i worked at a fab shop. they're 20 guage mirror polished stainless. i piece on top i actually had to pay for i made the radius's on both sides using a press brake with a V-shaped die in it BTW...it took a while...

we made big truck (semi's) accessories, www.brunfab.com is their site which is never updated, but that's where i worked.

thesoundandthefury

iTrader: (3)

Polishing writeup I did for another site:

http://www.z28.com/forum/showpost.ph...4&postcount=22

If you have any more specific technical questions I'll be more than happy to answer.

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

THAT'S what i was after...just curious what kinda sanding drums and rouge was being used out there.....now i just gotta get the stuff rounded up and get to work

JAvenger007

iTrader: (9)

where do you find those parts? Does a local lowes, ace have that stuff?

thesoundandthefury

iTrader: (3)

The tapered cones and all of the buffing compounds/rouge are from Eastwood.

The Gesswein drums can only be bought directly from Gesswein.

The Cratex bits can be bought directly from Cratex, Ebay, or whoever comes up in a Google search.

texinteg

iTrader: (4)

I have had good results with a product called Haze to Amaze. It is made by a company called Hot Flashes.

aznspeed

iTrader: (6)

Thats one of the cleanest engine bay pics i've seen. Im jealous I need to go buy a dremel with a polishing tip now....