Well I finally decided that if I was going to have a polished plenum I might as well just do it myself and save the $$. I have more time than money right now. I took it off and started sanding it down yesterday afternoon. It does take a lot of time but the results are worth it. I don't plan on polishing the bottom side, just the top and wrap it around to the bottom. The tubes are not too hard to do. It ldoes look like the back and where the plenum meets the Throttle body will be the hardest part. I will keep you posted on how it turns out.

For those of you who polished your aluminum parts did you apply a clearcoat at the end? Or just a good carnuba wax? Thanks

Kyle

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93 3000 GT VR4

I found it tough to polished the parts inbetween the intake runners. Just take your time. The longer you spend on it, the better it will turn out.

I don't have any clearcoat on mine. I just wax it a couple of times a year. Its aluminum, so at best it will only tarnish after time. Just keep some wax on it and you'll be fine.

later,
Curt

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It doesn't take too long to get it look nice but to get it sanded perfect for polishing will take a long time. Just when you think you have an area done you see a few small black pits and you know you have to keep sanding more. I'm a woodcarver and have a ton of specialized equipment. I have shaft drive carving tools but need to get some grinding tools to fit the collet. I was going to have the valve cover powder coated by now I might just polish it. Still not sure yet.

Kyle

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93 3000 GT VR4

No clearcoat. I just keep it clean and use a little metal polish and wax every now and then.

Because I have the plenum off and am busy sanding it I will need to clean it out good before I polish it. I assume carb cleaner is the best to clean the inside of the plenum. I will spray it and then probably pressure wash it and let it dry. Then I will tape off all the openings and do the polishing. Then one last thing I will do before installing it is remove the tape and blow it out good with air just to make sure there are no metal pieces floating in the there. I have heard horror stories about people trashing their engine by just installing a powdercoated or polished part and not making sure they are clean. Because the look nice they just install them like they were new and forget to do a final cleaning. Then the wonder why their engine died.

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93 3000 GT VR4

I wouldn't worry too much about taping it up while you are polishing. Sticking you fingers in the runner holes is a good way to grip the plenum while you polish it. Just make sure to blow some compressed air through it after you are done and I'm sure you'll be fine.

later,
Curt

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The polishing of the plenum is coming along. My poor fingers are hurting from so much sanding. I have a couple of detail sanders, orbital, flex shaft drive carving set up, etc. But just the finish sanding all the little corners by hand takes a lot of time. I'm only polishing the top and sides....No way am I going to do the bottom that you never see. I still have a few areas I need to work the bigger scatches out and polish again. Then I will mask and paint the backround of the lettering black. I will look for some type of engine black that can take the heat. It lwill ook great finished but sure takes a lot of work.

Kyle

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93 3000 GT VR4

yes, I wore my fingers to bloody stumps polishing my plenum.

Well I finally got some time to finish polishing the intake. It turned out pretty good. I only did the areas you would see. No way was I going to do the bottom. Here are the before and after pictures. It wasn't too hard, just took a lot of time.

Kyle

Before picture


After Polishing

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93 3000 GT VR4

very nice!

Looks like you've got most of the pits out of it. You probably could get a little more luster out of it, if you wanted to. Did you go over it with tripoli and then white rouge? Here is a pic of my Stealth plenum when I was done with it.
http://www.mn3s.org/polish4.jpg

later,
Curt

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