I have a '90 L98 I'm getting ready to sell. I want to dress up the engine bay some for cosmetics. I've seen one user here who has a pic of his immaculate engine bay in his signature. :cool:

I'd like to find out if there is a book or a guide on this topic.

I don't want to spend a great deal on this, but I think a small investment could be worth a lot of "curb appeal." One example is plug wire looms. All my original looms have long ago crumbled. Would I be better off buying OEM stuff, or are there any aftermarket replacements that come in chrome, stainless, or some other desirable finish?

What kind of tricks are there to polishing the TPI plenum or other parts?

I would appreciate any help!
:flag

 

There are a ton of things you could do to detail the engine bay, but I'd start with a good old fashioned steam cleaning. We don't have an opti to worry about, so simply cover your dist. cap and spray with some type of a degreaser. Follow this with a high pressure spray and watch the grime fly.
I usually then put some type of a rubber protectant on the hoses and black painted parts and it really shines up the whole bay. Then you can address any individual parts that need more attention. :chevy

 

If you're selling the car, you obviously don't want to get TOO nutty with Aesthetics. That was good previous advice in steam cleaning the engine first. Go to your local car wash bay, bring a bottle of de-greser(whether it be castrol super clean, simple green or the like) and clean it up nice. You've got the L98 with a distributor so it won't be a concern like it would be if it we're an lt-1(opti).Summit sells some beautiful wire looms that go directly on the valve covers(made for you is the mfg). A few forum members have them here. It's on my list of things to do.

Once it's all clean and gunk free..you could score some green scotch brite pads, use it on the upper control arms, then take a soft cloth and some mothers polish(also works well on the a/c lines like in my sig pic) to the aluminum pieces. I actually wet sanded my upper arms(A little freaky hehe) and then polished them to almost chrome like appearance.

Other than that, I'd suggest maybe a little tire dressing on the hoses-wheel wells. Some use pledge on the engine. I never have....but maybe you can try it out and see how it works.

Take some before and after pics.

Let us know how you made out. :cheers:


[Modified by JD 90 383, 8:50 PM 12/8/2002]

 

Here's a pic of the "Made for You" wire looms JD was talking about

 

That's them. Thanks TA! Good reference engine.

Now, see how the a/c lines and upper control arms are a flat, non lustrous finish? The green scotch brite will smooth them,and I forgot to mention a mix of some polish on a 0000 steel wool pad will brighten them up nicely.

I like those looms! Very very nice.

 

Those "made for you" looms are too :cool: , can't wait to get some.

 

if your engine and compartment are very dirty to start, i would take it and have it steam cleaned, that way they can put it on a hoist and really clean it well underneath as well. once its clean, you will have a better idea of what you have to do to make it look great :cheers:

 

They come in blue too :yesnod:




[Modified by chucks88, 12:32 AM 12/9/2002]

 

Shopping list....

Simple Green
Eagle-1 Neverdull
Armor All (he's selling it, so who cares ;))
Toothpicks
Quarters

First take the quarters and go to your local do-it-yourself carwash. Put a large plastic bag over the distributor if you want and use the engine degreaser all over the place. Let it sit a few seconds and blast the hell outta it with the pressured water. Just try not to totall soak the dist. and you'll be perfectly fine.

If you can I would then use compressed air bigtime to blow out anything the water couldn't get to.

Then use simplegreen all over until satisfied.

Then use the neverdull on the AC lines, suspension, and other bare metal parts.

Then use a very light coat armor all on the hoses and other plastics.

 

Hey Chuck! I see you've got the same emissions equipment _I_ do! :lol:

 

I use the coastal purple cleaner on the whole engine trying to keep clear of the dist..After it dries for a little while ,spray some Eagle etching alum. wheel brightener on all of the alum. parts ecspecially the intake.Now take it for a good drive to dry everything .Then I use some CD2 engine detailer on it and wipe off the excess .Everything can be bought at autozone. :yesnod: :seeya

 

I've been gradually doing mine with simple green sheets.

 

:iagree:

 

Dude you forgot the plenum! :lol:

I found the best thing to clean up and get things looking real shiney is some weinals (sp) aluminum polish. Works great and is not to hard to get things looking pretty.

:cheers:

 

What about the battery and alternator getting wet? And do you pull the spark plug wires first or leave them on?

 

I would cover the alternator too. I have killed 2 of em right after I washed them down. Did this on other cars.

I wont be washing my engine with water ever again, too much polished stuff to mess up.