How can i spruce this up ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 3
From: Oxford CT
How can i spruce this up ?
I already did my valve covers.
Now I was wondering if there was a way to "spruce" up the upper components.
mainly I mean the piece that covers the distributer, and runs on top acroos to where the black plastic boot connects.
I dont want to take it apart and all that, just clean it up a little. Its really dark !
Now I was wondering if there was a way to "spruce" up the upper components.
mainly I mean the piece that covers the distributer, and runs on top acroos to where the black plastic boot connects.
I dont want to take it apart and all that, just clean it up a little. Its really dark !
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
You could just paint the top of the Plenum like you did your valve covers, put then the Runners will look dirty....??? I painted all the pieces at the same time. If you just paint the plenum mask everything else real good, so overspray doesn't get anywhere else.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Alma AR
I think in the end you'll have to remove the plenum, distributer cover and runners and do whatever you did to the valve covers. Painting is a good way to go as is powder coating, if you can have that done. By the way, the valve covers do look good.
Paul
Paul
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 644
Likes: 15
From: Clarksville Tennessee
I took my plenum and runners off and took them to a local powder coating shop. Got it powder coated the same day. The next day I put everything back together and running as good as it look!! 
It took me a total time of 3 days!
(I Remove the parts on a tuesday after work. Brought them to the powder coating shop on Wedand picked it the same day. Put it back together on thursday after work. Drove it to work Friday)
It took me a total time of 3 days! (I Remove the parts on a tuesday after work. Brought them to the powder coating shop on Wedand picked it the same day. Put it back together on thursday after work. Drove it to work Friday)
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
Likes: 250
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
If you want it to look real good, take it apart. In the mean time, you could try fine steel wool with aluminum polish. Polishing the ribs is also something you can do to give it a little bling. There may be pics of my old TPI in my "corvette photo's",showing paint with polished ribs.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo Colorado
Powder coating always makes them look a little different (i don't really like PC but many do), Polishing the runners is almost impossible for the do-it-your-selfer but companies like Street & Performance do killer jobs on them. The Plennum you can polish your self, sand down to 400grit smooth then buff. The options are numerous and you just have to look around till you see what you like. The street rodders used to be a great place to look for ideas... But not too many of them running TPI these days.
Just don't go chrome happy like i did or you will never be done.
http://todd-vette.tripod.com/mycarpics/ for idea what i mean.
Just don't go chrome happy like i did or you will never be done.
http://todd-vette.tripod.com/mycarpics/ for idea what i mean.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 671
Likes: 10
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
spruce goose
I found a site www.gmtips.com that show how to polish your top end at home. There some good tips there. You pretty much have to be commited to removing stuff to do a top notch job.
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 12
From: Hagerstown MD
he all what are your secrets for getting the engine compartment clean and black.... i gave been trying to get mine cleaned up but im not happy at all... then i see some of yours and i am realy disappointed
vinnie.......very F'N sweet
vinnie.......very F'N sweet
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
This is what I came up with. Powdercoated the plenum, runners, and valve covers to match the car. Then used black pin striping to accent the fins.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../redengine.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../redengine.jpg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
cleanup
try getting a stainless steel brush about the size of a toothbrush from your local hardware store. that makes the old aluminum wake up a little bit..
Also, the air conditioning lines and dryer polish up really nice. get some aluminum polish (preferrably Mother's) and put some on a rag, and use 1 loop, see-saw back and forth with the rag and polish till they come out sparkling. A word of caution, do not use the kind of polish that has the acid in it. It never goes away, and keeps on eating the aluminum in scratches and irregular areas.
Polish the dryer by hand, and use liquid white shoe polish with the cap-top applicator to accent the caps of things, like water reservoir, wiper fluid cap, just the ones that are raised letters. It's amazing just little things make a world of difference
Also, the air conditioning lines and dryer polish up really nice. get some aluminum polish (preferrably Mother's) and put some on a rag, and use 1 loop, see-saw back and forth with the rag and polish till they come out sparkling. A word of caution, do not use the kind of polish that has the acid in it. It never goes away, and keeps on eating the aluminum in scratches and irregular areas.
Polish the dryer by hand, and use liquid white shoe polish with the cap-top applicator to accent the caps of things, like water reservoir, wiper fluid cap, just the ones that are raised letters. It's amazing just little things make a world of difference
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Apr 9, 2007 at 09:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 3
From: Oxford CT
Thanks for the advise.
I want to keep it stockish, so I dont want to powder coat it.
I also dont belive in painting something that was not painted in the first place. The valve covers were once painted. So painting them is out, unless i do a lot of prep work.
I think im going to go with the wire brush, polish method, Or the sanding down until i polish since it is a flat surace i could do the top parts.
Ill keep you posted.
Ittybitty
My motor may look nice and black b.c it only has 44k miles?
But on my other cars one thing i do is just spray the black stuff with armorol. My other car i would wash the engine down with a mild cleaner, wash it off, and while the motor is still wet spray it down with armorol, then come back in 20 min, and finsih wiping the armorol in.
Just started tiding the motor up. Look at my other threads for the valve cover restore job.
Thanks again Dan
I want to keep it stockish, so I dont want to powder coat it.
I also dont belive in painting something that was not painted in the first place. The valve covers were once painted. So painting them is out, unless i do a lot of prep work.
I think im going to go with the wire brush, polish method, Or the sanding down until i polish since it is a flat surace i could do the top parts.
Ill keep you posted.
Ittybitty
My motor may look nice and black b.c it only has 44k miles?
But on my other cars one thing i do is just spray the black stuff with armorol. My other car i would wash the engine down with a mild cleaner, wash it off, and while the motor is still wet spray it down with armorol, then come back in 20 min, and finsih wiping the armorol in.
Just started tiding the motor up. Look at my other threads for the valve cover restore job.
Thanks again Dan