How to polish The metal on your motor!

[Blazingwolf]

I just did one portion of the valve cover. Top side so that everyone knows what im working on.

Start with 300-350 grit sand paper and rub with about 10 lbs of pressure in an even pattern. i preferred horizontal lines as they were easier to see when changing grit..

I used 320 which looks like this...



Wipe away the grit and start with 1000 grit sandpaper or 700 if u can find it. the 1000 is going to get full of aluminum very quickly, have a microfiber ready to wipe off the excess from the cover and the sandpaper.you should go through about 5 pieces of 1000 grit paper if you use 3M wet or dry paper.

go in the same direction you went with the 300 grit and you will notice over time at 10-15 lbs of pressure that the 300 grit scratches will go away. KEEP GOING after you think they are all gone. I promise you that they are not gone yet. if they are gone after 2 pieces of paper then use all five. it wont hurt anything but ur arms and will ensure a clean and scratch free surface when you are done. it should have a sheen like this with a fluorescent light

Remember to look at the top valve cover not the bottom





Now use the same microfiber technique and use 2000 grit sandpaper. use 5-10 pieces and rub in the same direction starting with 15lbs of pressure and working your way down to 10 and then 5 on the last few pieces. Wipe Periodically with your microfiber cloth on the metal surface.

sheen should be equivalent in fluorescent light to....





The final process is to use rubbing compound. I work in the car detail business so i had plenty of industrial compound with no fillers or wax, and the convenience of a dewalt variable speed buffer. IF you have a buffer use a wool pad between 1400 and 2000 rpms. the smaller the pad the lower the rpms. I had a 10 inch pad at 1800 rpms

If you are not so lucky then a lot of rubbing will follow. you will probably use a whole container of Meguiars rubbing compound. Once the surface is smoothuse a metal polish which will feel like a compound and essential is.

polish your ARM off. rub and rub and rub till you can't rub anymore. all the scratches will eventually go away and you will be left with a mirror finish.

It is easier if you don't have a buffer, to buy 3000 grit paper from a paint shop. 5 lbs of pressure and lots of rubbing and then compound

your end result should look like this



Modified by Blazingwolf at 10:43 PM 6/5/2009
Modified by Blazingwolf at 11:21 PM 6/5/2009

[allensteiner]

very nice...you should come up to montana and do my stock rims

[Blazingwolf]

I am actually about to do that to my stock rims too!!! except i have the painted 97 rims but i think they will look sweet

money talks