Engine bay renovaton ....ideas, suggestions.
Engine bay renovaton ....ideas, suggestions.
Author
Discussion

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
OK, before I get accused of going all Max Power as I did at the weekend, please understand I want a functional but clean and shiny engine bay.

I'm not entering concours competitions with this thing !

I need some opinions, suggestions and answers.

How difficult is it to polish the alloy swirl and expansion tanks ? This looks useful ...

shiny!

Can you also get it lacquerred so that it doesn't lose it's luster ??

I fancy having the rockers covers and plenum painted .... what colour combo wouldn't look to Max Power ...

Rocker cover's silver, plenum moonraker black the same as the external paint.

Is it possible to replace the nasty black power steering reservoir with and alloy one ??

I've looked at different manifold coatings, anyone got a recommendation for paint ? I don't want to wrap.

Any other suggestions to enhance it's appearance ?

I will change the jubilee's for proper s/s spring clips anyway ...

Other than those it will be a lot of polishing and cleaning, but I think ultimately worth it before I get the car external resprayed, which will include the area around the engine bay.

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

296 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
Hello my Blinging friend

PIES you help is needed.

Rocker covers look pretty good in black I reckon, with the Groves showing the metal.
I started polishing my Expansion Tank just for a trial with Wet n dry and it started coming up nice, but like you say will it stay like that.
Pipes - Silicon jobbies.

BB

>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Thursday 7th October 23:30

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
Done the silicone, smooth bore later in the year and HT leads ... it's the metal that's in need of attention.

Nearly left yo a note on Sunday I couldn't find ya !!

Had to leave early to get back for 2nd race in WSB.

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

296 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
johno said:
Done the silicone, smooth bore later in the year and HT leads ... it's the metal that's in need of attention.

Nearly left yo a note on Sunday I couldn't find ya !!

Had to leave early to get back for 2nd race in WSB.


Were You There, You still got my Number should have given me a bell, Gutted mate, would have been good to see you.

BB

pies

13,116 posts

285 months

Thursday 7th October 2004
quotequote all
Did my ally bits with wire wool and washing up liquid,
then used a clear laquer over the top

Im not certain that once you've used a polish/wax you will get a laquer to adhere

I changed my coil for a bosh one but its ally case not black plastic,a bloke is selling on ebay at the mo

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
BB,

Haven't got your number ..... it's on Neil's phone.

Email it to me ...

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
pies said:
Did my ally bits with wire wool and washing up liquid,
then used a clear laquer over the top

Im not certain that once you've used a polish/wax you will get a laquer to adhere

I changed my coil for a bosh one but its ally case not black plastic,a bloke is selling on ebay at the mo


Pies,

Is that all you used to get a mirror like finish or did you start them with that and then finish with a propriety metal polish ??

pies

13,116 posts

285 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
johno said:

pies said:
Did my ally bits with wire wool and washing up liquid,
then used a clear laquer over the top

Im not certain that once you've used a polish/wax you will get a laquer to adhere

I changed my coil for a bosh one but its ally case not black plastic,a bloke is selling on ebay at the mo



Pies,

Is that all you used to get a mirror like finish or did you start them with that and then finish with a propriety metal polish ??


that was all i used fine wire wool shines really well,and i doubt laquer would adhear to a wax/polished surface,but by all means try

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Good point ...

burriana500

16,556 posts

283 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
I started polishing my Expansion Tank and it started coming up nice!


So that's what you call it down there Simon
See you at BT&P?

Johnno - I would do the rocker covers red with the tops of the metal grooves left bare, then you can get red ignition leads and it will look smart against the black and silver but not too bling. Never did like the purple heads... er, rocker covers!

burriana500

16,556 posts

283 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
I started polishing my Expansion Tank and it started coming up nice!


So that's what you call it down there Simon
See you at BT&P?

Johnno - I would do the rocker covers red with the tops of the metal grooves left bare, then you can get red ignition leads and it will look smart against the black and silver but not too bling. Never did like the purple heads... er, rocker covers!

mickypee

355 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
I had all my castings roller ball burnished.The were done some 18 months ago now and still are as hinny as the day they were done.The exhaust system has been ceramic coated and all the fastners,hose clips are polished stainless.All the other bits(whole car)have been shot blasted and stove enamelled.ACT hoses and stainlessradiator pipes(they will need polishing!) finish the job.

Have a look at my profile and see what you think.

If you need any help,call me and I will sort it out for you.

Mike

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
mickypee said:
I had all my castings roller ball burnished.The were done some 18 months ago now and still are as hinny as the day they were done.The exhaust system has been ceramic coated and all the fastners,hose clips are polished stainless.All the other bits(whole car)have been shot blasted and stove enamelled.ACT hoses and stainlessradiator pipes(they will need polishing!) finish the job.

Have a look at my profile and see what you think.

If you need any help,call me and I will sort it out for you.

Mike


I like that .... I like that a lot ... I'm blue rather than red .... so maybe I'll do the same with blue Rocker cover ...

Burriana,

I like the idea of leaving the metal bare on the ridges. I really fancied trying to source the old 'TVR' embossed rocker covers, there was one for sale on ebay, but 1 is no good !!

Mike,

It can honestly be said that you have the cleanest tidiest car's around, and I am totally loathed to bring the Griffith within even a 1000 yards of your place as I watch your face contort at the stone chips and engine bay condition ... it'll be sorted soon !

Where did you get your bits done then ??

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
I will take some piccies of mine over the weekend, and you can see what it looks like in blue.

Lost of stainless overbraid, blue silicone pipes, nice coil, carbon fibre, chroming and polishing, and a repainted chassis!

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Friday 8th October 2004
quotequote all
That'd be good thanks Starmist, any info on suppliers would also be very useful.

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Saturday 9th October 2004
quotequote all
As promised:-



stesrg

1,578 posts

267 months

Saturday 9th October 2004
quotequote all


and this one

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Saturday 9th October 2004
quotequote all
Do really like that ..... thanks Starmist.

Not going to have the carbon as i want to keep the engine bay looking standard with it being an SE .... next year it'll get a larger throttle, trumpets, smooth bore, AFM and MA treatment .... finishing touches

starmist

1,052 posts

271 months

Sunday 10th October 2004
quotequote all
Could do worse than a Taraka upgrade, if you've got £2500 burning a hole in your pocket! It still looks standard.

johno

Original Poster:

8,593 posts

311 months

Sunday 10th October 2004
quotequote all
Or how abot a fully belanced V8 Developments lump ....