If you have, can you give me some insight on how to do it and if you think it is a good substitute for powdercoating?

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The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Justin:

I've never seen "painting" turn out well. Over time it, well...

Powder coating yes.

Just my 2-hp.

SJ

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Racing is life. Everything else is just waiting.

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Justin:

Last year I was thinking about having my plenum and front valve cover powdercoated. But by the time you add in the brushed letters and a clearcoat the price got to be pretty expensive. I have also heard horror stories about people who get there newly powdercoated parts back and put them right on the car. Well there was sand blasting grit caught under the extra plated inside the valve cover. Well hot oil washes it out and presto, trashed motor.

What I did was buy a $5 can of paint remover in a spray can. It removed the paint on the valve cover in minutes. I bought a $35 polishing kit and went to town. It took a lot of sanding and polishing but I think it turned out pretty nice. I still want to polish the plenum and valve cover more this spring so they are a mirror finish.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2351471/3

Kyle

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93 3000 GT VR4

I like the polished looked better than powdercoating:
http://www.mn3s.org/umg2003/hotel3.jpg

later,
Curt

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That's what I did. Harbor freight FTW

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Confucius say "Man who run behind car get exhausted, man who run in front of car get tired." Unless we are talking about a 3S. Then it's obviously "man who run is going to get another beer!"

Kyle, that looks really good. Do you recall what products you used and where you got them?

I think I'll give the polishing a try and if I find a way to screw it up, I can always get it powder coated.

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www.rockauto.com

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Justin,

I had to search for an old post here to find the link to the polishing kit. It was from Eastwood. The kit is on sale right now for $32.99

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?item ... pe=PRODUCT

I bought an el cheapo sander from Walmart for like $12. It came to a point and it helped a lot. Start with rough sand paper and slowly get finer. You just need to get all the scratch marks out and then go to 400 grit. I think I also used a 600 grit. Then I starte to polish. I have a shaft drive carving set up so that worked great for polishing. It's a lot of work but the results were worth it. As far as the plenum I only did the top. Forget polishing the bottom, no one will ever see it.

When your done polishing make sure to wash out the plenum and valve cover with a pressure washer to make sure they are perfectly clean before installing them.

Kyle

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93 3000 GT VR4

Come out to Mount Horeb some time and I'll show you the ropes...

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Confucius say "Man who run behind car get exhausted, man who run in front of car get tired." Unless we are talking about a 3S. Then it's obviously "man who run is going to get another beer!"

I painted both my plenum and valve cover.

I think it turned out pretty good.

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92 RT/TT Evo3 16Gs
93 RT AWD Single Turbo
93 RT Non Turbo
00 F350 Powerstroke