View Poll Results: To polish or not to polish that is the Question
Yes
11
61.11%
No
7
38.89%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll
Should I Polish or no?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Palos Hills, IL
Should I Polish or no? Do you think it'd be worth it to polish the QTP Stainless LT's and GMMG Exhaust I'll be putting on my car? Will it last or will it need be re-done?
any dangers like extra heat extraction or bad discoloration or anything to worry about?
EDIT: Forgot about rims, should i polish the Fikse FM5's once i get them or after i use them?
Also what polish do you think i should use for it? I have some Mothers Aluminum and Metal Polish, but am unsure if thats what i should use.
any dangers like extra heat extraction or bad discoloration or anything to worry about?
EDIT: Forgot about rims, should i polish the Fikse FM5's once i get them or after i use them?
Also what polish do you think i should use for it? I have some Mothers Aluminum and Metal Polish, but am unsure if thats what i should use.
Last edited by 02WS6Bird; Mar 26, 2005 at 10:16 PM. Reason: Forgot Rims
Tech Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Marysville, WA
Are the headers coated or stainless like an exhaust? If it is plain stainless uncoated they will turn blue.
Your exhaust will be fine and will fade if daily driven in the rain, snow etc., but will look nice if maintained for a year.
Polished Borla Pics...
Your exhaust will be fine and will fade if daily driven in the rain, snow etc., but will look nice if maintained for a year.
Polished Borla Pics...
Thread Starter
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From: Palos Hills, IL
ttt anyone else (that borla looks sweet) my headers are jsut stainless steel, and so is the GMMG. What polish should i use or is the one i have good enough?
is it worth while? or is it fine to clean it when i jsut clean out the engine bay?
is it worth while? or is it fine to clean it when i jsut clean out the engine bay?
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Palos Hills, IL
I drive daily other then the winter, but the car will be entered in a few shows here and there, and i am picky so its gotta look good. I dont really want to keep needing to polish something tho anyone got pics of the Tint that the headers get, is it worth it?
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12 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Redmond Washington
I vote to polish them.
The second post from Todd2001SS, go to his site he has a great write up on how to polish. I followed his instructions and have since polished my exhaust, valve covers, Throttle Body, MAF Ends, Power Steering Cooler, A/C even polished my drive shaft.
It makes a great statement.
The second post from Todd2001SS, go to his site he has a great write up on how to polish. I followed his instructions and have since polished my exhaust, valve covers, Throttle Body, MAF Ends, Power Steering Cooler, A/C even polished my drive shaft.
It makes a great statement.
Check out this link:
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/bluejob.html
I do metal polishing as a side business, so I've played around with alot of different products, including this one. If you get this setup, you can expect to put in about 30 minutes of labor with a power drill about every 3 months. Bling is a rare commodity to be found in the aftermarket for 4th gens. (Anybody ever seen a chrome timing chain cover for an LS1? I know I haven't.) I think people appreciate seeing polished pieces under the hoods of the 4th gens, because it usually means that to get that look it took a little more effort than picking up a phone and your credit card and ordering it out of a Summit catalog. Just my .02
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/bluejob.html
I do metal polishing as a side business, so I've played around with alot of different products, including this one. If you get this setup, you can expect to put in about 30 minutes of labor with a power drill about every 3 months. Bling is a rare commodity to be found in the aftermarket for 4th gens. (Anybody ever seen a chrome timing chain cover for an LS1? I know I haven't.) I think people appreciate seeing polished pieces under the hoods of the 4th gens, because it usually means that to get that look it took a little more effort than picking up a phone and your credit card and ordering it out of a Summit catalog. Just my .02
Polish it, definitely! I've got a Corsa and I polish the tips religiously but, that's about as far as I went on my DD. I got underneath it the other day while washing and scrubbed down the muffler and pipes. It was like, "Wow! That made a big difference." Then I broke out the Mother's, the power drill and a polishing wheel and BOOM! The muffler was like "Hey, look at me!" The muffler has a brushed finish and the pipes, no finish but, it's all stainless. A little polish and some TLC and it's like a whole new mod. Definitely worth the time if you're, as Barry Meguiar would say, "Car Crazy". 
edit: Wow. Didn't realize how old this thread was.
edit: Wow. Didn't realize how old this thread was.
If you like drying your engine compartment and then driving down the street a couple of miles and re drying it after the electric fan blew water all over it again go for it. I have been down this road and I will never do it again, eventually they will look worse than if left unpolished.
headers are one thing thats best left unpolished IMO.
headers are one thing thats best left unpolished IMO.
I polished my headers. I had enough time I have had them sitting here for a while. 
It won't last if you drive your car a lot like I do but i does look nice at 1st. Once you use them they will turn color a little bit so it really doesn't matter
It won't last if you drive your car a lot like I do but i does look nice at 1st. Once you use them they will turn color a little bit so it really doesn't matter 
I polished my headers. I had them looking great too. When I installed them I hated to do it because I knew how they would look after a short drive. They turned a golden color so you can't even tell I did it. Don't do it, it's a waste of time. The GMMG might be ok though I don't know how hot it will get so it may not turn