polishing my engine?

lee11 · 31-07-2008, 21:17

i hav a engine that im going to put in my cally but while is still out of the car i was thinking of polishing the whole engine+gearbox anyone got some info like what would be the best stuff to use +tips

**Benn** · 31-07-2008, 21:22

Block would be a nightmare cause of getting in to all the small/hard to get to bit,
the gear box isnt much better, you'll need to sand everything smooth first, then best off looking on ebay at metal polishing kits.

Tip wise, sand sand and sand.. till your doing to 1000 grit paper.. then strat buffing on a corse wheel then med then finest wheel.

MarkyG · 31-07-2008, 21:39

The best way to do it would be to CNC the outside of the block to create smooth planar surfaces, then strip the gearbox and take both to someone with a vibratory polisher. Then you'd have to lacquer it to keep it shiny.

Machining - £200-400

Polishing - £100

Lacquer - £20

Shiny engine - priceless.

**Benn** · 31-07-2008, 21:42

Gonna do my gear box.

observer · 29-08-2008, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyG

The best way to do it would be to CNC the outside of the block to create smooth planar surfaces, then strip the gearbox and take both to someone with a vibratory polisher. Then you'd have to lacquer it to keep it shiny.

Machining - £200-400

Polishing - £100

Lacquer - £20

Shiny engine - priceless.

any pics of a cnc'd engine block?

Agent Kellerman · 30-08-2008, 20:50

Get a wire wheel drill attachment and clean the block and box up.

Then paint in a decent bright silver paint.

It's much easier than polishing and looks almost as good

1800lsi · 30-08-2008, 21:02

I would imagine that it would be a bugger to keep it looking polished

**Benn** · 30-08-2008, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Kellerman

Get a wire wheel drill attachment and clean the block and box up.

Then paint in a decent bright silver paint.

It's much easier than polishing and looks almost as good

Polished will allways look better..

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1800lsi

I would imagine that it would be a bugger to keep it looking polished

Lacquar it and it would stay looking shiney...

Davey · 31-08-2008, 10:58

I doubt there is a lacquer available that you can use at those temperatures with out it bubbling, cracking or going yellow.

1800lsi · 09-09-2008, 15:57

I found a tin of high temperature engine laquar in my Garage made by car plan have a look in halfords matey

Davey · 09-09-2008, 15:58

I'd give it 10 minutes before it started yellowing and peeling off.

Carneyste · 11-09-2008, 14:22

halfords do high temp engine laquer. its made by gunk and works. i polished my engine and put that over the top and it hasnt bubbles/flakes/gone yellow.

I would never do it again tho. it took hours to get a good finish, unlimited ammounts of autosol and you need to clean it every 5 mins to keep it shiney. since ive done mine its been a complete pain in the arse and adds a good 30-40 mins on the time it takes to clean the car cos the engine bays gotta be done aswel.

Having said that when its clean it looks fantastic

**Benn** · 11-09-2008, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carneyste

halfords do high temp engine laquer. its made by gunk and works. i polished my engine and put that over the top and it hasnt bubbles/flakes/gone yellow.

I would never do it again tho. it took hours to get a good finish, unlimited ammounts of autosol and you need to clean it every 5 mins to keep it shiney. since ive done mine its been a complete pain in the arse and adds a good 30-40 mins on the time it takes to clean the car cos the engine bays gotta be done aswel.

Having said that when its clean it looks fantastic

Pics?

Jimbo · 11-09-2008, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benn

Pics?

Funk yeah I want pics to.....

Carneyste · 14-09-2008, 00:30

ill give it a clean next time i do the car and get some uploaded. im not off again until next monday so you may have to be paitent lol

**Benn** · 14-09-2008, 00:55

Benn doesnt do paitent.

tng21 · 14-09-2008, 10:18

no need to go to 1000 grit, upo to 400 - 600 will do then go to emery compound then green then white. Tbh it isnt worth the hassel. I do polishing myself doing xe covers and bmw stuff and this would be a pain in the ars of a job.

The £100 polishing isnt realistic either as i do inlet manifolds for £150 and a engine blocks so much more work. Any polisher would hum n har about doin it i would of thought.

Plus whats the block made from? if its cast iron then thats more of a problem too