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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
I am polishing a plenum and runners and I was wondering if there was something you can use to retain the shine such as a clear coat. I saw at CT a can of VHT hight heat clear. It says it can be used on intakes, rims etc. Has anyone used this before? Any other ideas? Before pic And after....
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Sat Jan 29, 2011 2:01 pm |
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wheelman
Senior Forum User
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 2:31 pm Posts: 832 Location: Etobicoke
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
I tried that on my aluminum rims years ago, but found it had a bit of a yellowish tinge to it, so I scraped it off the bare aluminum. It may be better now, but I would test it first on some white paper at the store. Highly polished aluminum maintains it's shine quite well. That intake looks great. Is that auto part I see on the dining room table? Must have been to Niagara Casino lately.
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Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:37 am |
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FOWL PLAY
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:01 pm Posts: 1061 Location: Barrie
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
I agree, that stuff yellows...just keep a little metal polish around and give it a little rub when the shine needs a little go over
_________________ 1995 FORMULA CURRENTLY INBETWEEN RIDES
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Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:44 pm |
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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:46 pm |
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flame
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:52 pm Posts: 1164 Location: Drayton
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
Looks good Kevin! You should let everyone know the products you used in case they want to do it too. I don't think I can ge the LS1 intake to shine though LOL!!
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Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:33 pm |
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lb9 GTA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:57 pm Posts: 823 Location: scarborough/markham
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
I was just about to ask that. It looks really good. Are you doing a Corvette plenum extention too?
_________________ 1988 Trans Am GTA, LB9, 700R4, CAI, cat back, SFCs, Pro Kit springs, wonderbar, LCRBs
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Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:26 pm |
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juice
Forum Moderator
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:04 am Posts: 2855 Location: you know
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
i thought there was some stuff called zoop seal....could be mistaken though not sure how it works with heat though
_________________1995 Trans AM
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Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:53 pm |
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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
All I can say is that it is alot of work and patience. I started by sanding the cast down starting with 80 grit flap wheels then 120, and then 180. I started wet sanding with 320, 400, 600 and finally 1500. Wet sanding is the most important stages as it will keep the paper from buiding up and scratching the surface. After that, it is buffing wheels and compunds. I used black (emery) , grey (mid), white (finishing) and then red (jewelers rouge) Between each step I clean it up with Mothers Aluminum polish. If you have air, it works so much faster and generates heat which makes the shine come up. A dremel is a very useful tool as well. As for the corvette dist cover, I didn't get a cover with this motor, so I will have to find one.. Although, I am thinking of selling this setup when I am done. It will incude the complete TPI intake, fuel rail, egr ,throttle body, plenum and runners. The intake I am going to clean up and either paint it black or leave it stock, depending on how it cleans up. I am definitely not polishing that though. My hands are so rough now from all this work that I could sand it with out paper... Anyhow thanks for the compliments...
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:54 pm |
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colin911
Senior Forum User
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:17 pm Posts: 799 Location: St Catharines, ON
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
Very nice! TPI is such a good looking setup
_________________'85 Camaro Z28 350 5 speed - Sold
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Sat Feb 12, 2011 11:10 am |
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lb9 GTA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:57 pm Posts: 823 Location: scarborough/markham
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
I bought my 'vette dist cover new from GM a year ago. $45 I think. I did mine dry sanding by hand from 50 grit to 2000 grit then shining it up with aluminum polish with it still on the car. It has a decent reflection right now but not as good as yours obviously. When I replace my injectors I'll be getting at it with compounds and rouge and painting the unpolished areas. Again not perfect by any means but this is what I managed
_________________ 1988 Trans Am GTA, LB9, 700R4, CAI, cat back, SFCs, Pro Kit springs, wonderbar, LCRBs
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Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:34 pm |
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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
Do you have a part number for that dist cover. Your plenum looks good with that cover. I think with a little compund and some buffing wheels, you will be quite pleased with the results.
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:43 pm |
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lb9 GTA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:57 pm Posts: 823 Location: scarborough/markham
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
The p/n is 10108425 If you need the screws the p/n for them is 14082425. They're sold individually. It took a week or so. No dealership in Ont. stocks it any more.
_________________ 1988 Trans Am GTA, LB9, 700R4, CAI, cat back, SFCs, Pro Kit springs, wonderbar, LCRBs
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Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:08 pm |
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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:08 pm |
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Vetty
Operations Team
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 5:27 pm Posts: 3072 Location: Oshawa
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
Looking good kev! Just make sure not to mod the valve covers for 1.6rr if they are the Mr Gasket ones my dads leaked like a siv after we put them on.
_________________ 1969 Firebird Sprint OHC 6 - 250ci/M5 1995 Trans Am - Blue Green Chameleon - 350ci/A4 1994 Fire-Am - Polo Green - 355ci/M6 380rwhp: SOLD
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Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:00 pm |
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Kevs87TA
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:28 am Posts: 709 Location: Kitchener, On
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Re: Polishing Aluminum plenum and runners
Vetty wrote: Looking good kev! Just make sure not to mod the valve covers for 1.6rr if they are the Mr Gasket ones my dads leaked like a siv after we put them on. Thanks Matt. As for the valve covers, not going with 1.6's right now. They are stock. But good advice though. This setup isn't actually going to be on this engine. To much work to change everything over to TPI. This engine will carbed and the intake is being polished as we speak. It is an Edelbrock Performer and will look even better than the TPI I polished. As much as I love the look of the TPI in an old car, I still like to go old school. This TPI is going up for sale on either Kijiji or EBAY, probably both. So if you know anyone interested, let me know.
_________________ 1990 GTA 1987 TA (gone but not forgotten) 1976 TA (project) 1995 Z -28 Camaro 1982 Firebird ( my 1st )
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Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:52 pm |
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