How do I polish the Intake manifold on my car?

Question

Hi,

I want to get that high shine polished finish on my intake manifold in my FTO - but I'm not sure how to go about it. The metal at the moment is clean but bording factory oxidised gray.

Any ideas? Would a dremel be any use toolwise?

I'm talking abou tthe outside here - think shiny shiny bling bling - non performance enhancing - all for show.!

Answer 1

Smooth it as best you can with sand paper. Keep stepping down to 600 grit then use a polishing wheel like the professionals use -
http://www.caswellplating.com/index.html
Go to - Buffing Polishing -Tapered Buff and get the correct compound for your carbs material.
A dremel will work fine if the shaft and bit will reach all areas of the intake port.

Answer 2

To be perfectly honest, it makes little or no difference.

There are two schools of thought regarding air flow.

One says - the smoother the better, the other wants small eddys and currents to better mix with the fuel. Each believes their idea to be best.

If you want MORE performance you need a BIGGER intake before a smoother one.

Dremel works fine to get rid of the big casting lumps - then a wire wheel and finally grinding compound (like rough T-cut) on a 'mop' to smooth that out.

Answer 3

It will be a lot of work but you could sand off the finish by using wet and dry sandpaper, start with 120 grit and then use finer and finer then finish off to a mirror finish using autosol polish on fine wire wool.

Answer 4

wire wool then brasso metal polish you get different grades of wire wool

Answer 5

Put brown sauce on for couple of hours
True

Answer 6

Do it the easy way - spray it with heat proof silver paint.
RoyS

Answer 7

not worth the effort.

Answer 8

INVEST IN A BIG POT OF ELBOW GREASE

Answer 9

I don't know