V-Fib

I would like to polish my intake while I have it off. I've got an 8 inch bench buffer, 1 1/2 hp@3450 rpm. What type of buffing wheel and types of compounds are needed, and in what order? I am not necessarily wanting a mirror finish, just a nice clean polished look. Thanks in advance for suggestions and help.

Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic

Jay Wellwood

When I prepared my S4 Intake, found that a combination of different sandpaper grades worked best.

I spent 3 weekends smoothing out the rough areas and the pits using 220 grit, then 400 grit, and finally 600 grit. The turns/bends were a challenge, but knowing that I wanted my intake to be black, I wanted it to resemble 'black chrome'. I am very satisfied with the results.

On a spider intake, you may be able to use a buffer, but nothing beats the detail afforded by doing the polishing by hand.

Just MHO-

hth-

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

BC

What power tools did you use Jay?

My S4 intake needs this after I, uh, put some duck tape on to hold something there during a belt check, and the paint, uh, came off with the tape....

Jay Wellwood

Hey Brendan-

I used the 4 power tools of choice...

My hands and arms.

Randy V

Why polish? They'll look good for just a few months until the aluminum begins to oxidize again.

I highly recommend ceramic coating - relatively inexpensive and zero maintenance.

Here's an intake pic that sends Mr. Struthers into apoplexy :

<img src="http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshots/MomentOfFame/l16753.jpg" alt=" - " />

Shane

Stop by your local Sears and pick up their polishing kit. It has three buffers and four polishing compounds, from course to fine. Just be careful with that 1 1/2 hp motor you can easily remove too much metal. I have a 1/2 hp motor for buffing and it will bog down should I apply too much pressure or if the work piece catches in the buffer. After I finish polishing I use Autosol which will remove any oxidization and help seal against further oxidizing.

Jim Nowak

Randy,

I hate it when you post that picture. I don't have my car back and those pics just bring some real fond memories back as well as the sad realization that I still do not have a working 928. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Randy V

Jim, think of it as being an organ donor - your car is on life support so that mine can live every day with the wind rushing through that intake, without a care in the world <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> !

Feel better now?

Bernie

OK Randy,
enough is enough.
I want to see a picture of your engine bay with a dated newspaper sitting beside it. Just to be sure that awesome bay is holding up to all that salty sea air.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Randy V

It still looks the same Bern.

Drop by and you can see for yourself.

John Struthers

Randy,
You did it again...

Thou shalt not covet thy neigbors intake.

You are lucky that I'll be tinkering with the alternator/charging system and irritating my kids during spring break next week or I'd .........
John S.
Did I mention it still looks hot?

GT Jackson

Somewhere beneath all that plumbing lies my 86.5 V8! I have planned to pull it this spring and maybe do a powder coat a la' "Bernie", but I like the look of the polished tubes as well.

Can I polish off the current factory finish which isn't too bad, except for a few flaked spots and what looks like chewing gum baked to 450 degree F, and expect to find something similar to what Randy posted? What about the cam covers?

Mark

Randy -

Please define "relatively inexpensive"!!

Also - how did you source the 'coater'...what should I look for in the yellow pages? (BTW - Ever notice in the yellow pages - "Casino" sits between "Cash Registers" and "Caskets"??? - LOL)

V-Fib

Randy's picture is now my Desktop Background. To provide a little inspiration. I hope you don't mind me doing a little "pirating".

Anthony Tate
79/928 Silver Metallic <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Randy V

$125 - all prep included. Look for specialty/industrial coating shops in the yellow pages near you. Ceramic coating is also widely know as 'Jet Hot'.

I removed the badge and had it coated as well, then handpainted it and reattached to the intake with JB Weld.