Engine detailing

[24OZ]

I started polishing my rocker cover yesterday, i have only done a small section and the results are pretty amazing.

All I have done is used a high quality chrome/aluminium polish ( I got this from a bike store and the Harley Davidson riders recommended it!). It has taken a lot of buffing and reapplying but the look is very impressive.

I hear some people use different grades of wet paper and then polish it but I am too worried about scratching the rocker. I may use a dremmel with a polishing attachment as it does take forever.

Has anyone got any tips of how they did theirs??? Do you think i should remove the rocker cover??? This would be the easiest way to go but I had better buy a torque wrench first.

Also how do you preserve the shine as all this rubbing does remove the patina, someone suggested hair spray to me?? Or should I just buy a clear coat?

Thanks

[260z]

I did use very fine (1000??) wetsandpaper. It didn't scratch. Some water and that shoul do it pretty good. After that I polished it with some silver and metal polishing paste...The result was pretty good. I did remove the cover...But did not use torquewrench just ordinary tools...

[24OZ]

Thanks for the input. I may go today and buy a polishing attachment for the dremmel to get a mirror like finish. Did you use some clear coat so the shine will stay and not tarnish?

Thanks

[2ManyZs]

I would try a clear coating such as you find for polished aluminum wheels to keep them from tarnishing. You should be able to find them fairly easily, Eastwoods here in the US has a couple of products in aerosol cans for coating polished aluminum.

If you go through all the work to get a great shine, you ought to try to protect it. Even heat and the atmosphere will dull the finish over time.

[24OZ]

Thanks Keith, i think that is definately the way to go. Not sure if we have eastwood products but I will look out for alloy wheel coating applications.

As you said, the shine wont last unless its protected. I've never been into this engine detailing malarky but I think I am now addicted. Only 1 more hour to go and i'm off home to carry on polishing

[Daniel]

The dremel tool doesn't have enough power and the path it cuts leaves small trails.Kinda like washing your windshield with a Q- tip.I mounted my 3/4 drill in a vise and had a 6" buffing wheel in it .Using the metal polish that looks like red wax I worked on it about 4 hours.I then said enough and went to a shop that does chrome work.Can you make this shine better than this I asked?The man said Hell yeah! He hit that valve cover on about a 15 h.p. buffer with A 12" wheel that was about 4" wide.In 10 minutes it was as good as chrome.I had wasted 4 hours.Cost $10.00.Every now and then I rub it with some "mothers" brand wadding.It looks like dirty cotton.It removes the oxidation.Once it is polished it will stay that way.No need to clear it with anything.The Intake and carbs will shine also.One great thing about it is polishing removes all the little roughness.It doesn't collect dirt like it used to and it is easy to wipe clean. Keith you have seen my valve cover.It was done 10years ago!!! Never used anything on it. Have fun!!! Daniel

[2ManyZs]

George, the Dremel might work best if you only use it in the little "nooks and crannies" where a larger wheel won't go.

Yeah Daniel, I have seen your car, and if you post those pics everyone can see it too! :cross-eye

It's a toss up as to whether or not to clear coat it, a lot would depend on the coating you use. Where Daniel uses a "wadding" polish to touch it up, with a coating it might only need soap and water. Guess it's up to what you really want and if you can find a coating that will take the heat and chemicals such as gas and oil without discoloring.....that's the reason I suggested the mag wheel clear coat, it should be a bit more resistant to the elements and to chemicals since it is designed to stand up againt the brake dust etc. Some clear coats will yellow over time (at least the cheap ones do) so it's a judgement call......

BTW, I used to use a product called Quator(sp?), which is a wadding with the polish such as the Mother's is, and it works fantastic although it takes a lot of "elbow grease" to remove. I used a little tacum powder or even regular flour on a rag and it came off a lot easier......

[24OZ]

Daniel and Keith,

Thanks for the great info.

Daniel - my fingers are aching and so too is my back from leaning over the engine bay for too many hours!!

I dont want to sound like i'm throwing in the towel but I feel exhausted and I cant get that thought out of my mind, "me trying to clean a windscreen with a Q tip".

I'm gonna make some enquiries this week about polishing shops.

Thanks again,

George.

[Mr Camouflage]

How to Get One of Those Shiny, Gleaming,

Eye-Searing Valve Covers for Your Datsun

http://www.georgiazclub.com/tips/ztech/coverpolish.htm

[24OZ]

Thanks for the link and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[carguyinok]

Look here. http://www.240z.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4492

sandpaper is the ticket. You can just polish but it will take you forever. The other part is keeping the shine. I use 3M perfect it automotive glaze or dri wash n gaurd by DWG international. The key is keeping the air off the raw metal. With paint style sealers you can get a fog haze or chipping over time.

Have fun take your time and have a happy new year.