Dressing up engine bay...

[letthiswork1]

Hey Guys,

I was looking for some advise because i have seen some really nice Engine Bays out there.
Are you able to give me some advise on what i should do to get my Engine bay looking really nice.

E.g links to Coil packs or leads... I am really not sure where to start apart from giving it a real good clean!

(Yes i plan to paint my Insulators Silver!)

[VKCOMMO]

Start by polishing stuff. If you're not confident doing it to your stuff, grab some from ebay or the wreckers and have a go.. Alternator, Plenum lid and chamber, even thermo housing

[letthiswork1]

How would you polish the alternator? It has so many difficult parts!
I would love to get my Plenum done though! Can you elaborate Thermo housing

[SeattleG8]

Does anyone make a 304 stainless hood liner for your car?

[HoZy]

Ignore the kids talking about polishing things,

Start by cleaning them....

A clean engine bay is most of the challenge.

[letthiswork1]

Ignore the kids talking about polishing things,

Start by cleaning them....

A clean engine bay is most of the challenge.

I agree with this. But some things no matter how i clean i won't be able to restore to look as nice as i would like. E.g my Alternator is not going to look shiny and pretty

[bogan_vk]

^^^^^this ....theres no point having a nice polished part in a grotty old engine bay.

edit... referring to hozys post

[letthiswork1]

^^^^^this ....theres no point having a nice polished part in a grotty old engine bay.

edit... referring to hozys post

I stated that i plan to clean it. I was just looking for some productive comments also...

[MikeCuzzy]

Clean it :P

Seriously though: Plenum is probably the easiest thing to start with, read the below thread. The guys at the end perfected the process a bit more. My advice make sure you use many grades of sandpaper from about 320 up to 2000 (if you can find it) then a but load of steel whool and metal polish. Should come up a treat.

Polishing the plenum on your ecotec

[ari666]

a V8 would set that engine bay off nicely

[letthiswork1]

a V8 would set that engine bay off nicely

If i wasn't so attached i would agree with you! I would love an 8 but i just love my car... I wish i could just drop an 8 in her

[HoZy]

Oh,

K&H & VHT do an alluminium color spray paint, that works well on engines, isn't shiney an lasts ages.

Take parts off, clean them well, then spray them, very light coats so it looks natural.

I did that on all my holdens when I owned them. Makes the metal look new an clean.

[TinSnips]

Clean it :P

Seriously though: Plenum is probably the easiest thing to start with, read the below thread. The guys at the end perfected the process a bit more. My advice make sure you use many grades of sandpaper from about 320 up to 2000 (if you can find it) then a but load of steel whool and metal polish. Should come up a treat.

Polishing the plenum on your ecotec

2000 and 2500 grit is available from Car Care Products in the sponsor section or here - Car Care Products / Speciality Brands / Car Accessories / Detailing Accessories / Wet & Dry Abrasive Paper

[TinSnips]

Also, replace reservoir bottles, caps, etc that are tired and worn.

After cleaning, use a decent plastic dressing (like 303) for plastics, seals and hoses in the bay - so that everything that is meant to be black is REALLY black - Including that windscreen plenum that is dry and faded on EVERY VT-VZ I've ever worked on. May need a trim restorer for that rather than just a dressing, depending on it's condition.

[vsl67]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[letthiswork1]

Awesome thanks guys.

I will make this a weekend project me thinks

[ari666]

to this

PFFFFFT, so it polishes alloy??? i like your post, but come on! those are two very different engine bays

[SeattleG8]

When I need to do a big clean of an engine bay I use Simple Green. It does a tremendous job.

Simple Green Australia

I start my engine and either drive for 10 or 15 minutes or let it idle to warm things up. I then, with the engine still running spray a light mist of water (mist, not blast it) in the engine bay. I try not to get the electrical or belts too wet, but given that a fine mist will get in the engine bay from driving in the rain, car wash, etc. etc. you're not going to kill anything. I then spray the Simple Green, straight on every inch of the engine bay. I then drop the hood, closed but not latched and let it run for about five minutes. I then open up the hood and spray a light mist of water again until the Simple Green has been rinsed away. I then shut the engine down, let things cool to the point I can touch surfaces, and dry, wipe down the engine bay. Any residual grease left behind is typically very soft and just wipes away. It won't polish dulled metal but it will bring plastic reservoirs back to life and does an amazing job of getting built up dirt and grease out of corners, raised text, and very hard to reach places.

If you end up with some white residue or a "ring" on the hood liner than done, some water and light rubbing will make it go away. Do not spray the hood liner down or put Simple Green on it.

Hope this helps!

[vsl67]

PFFFFFT, so it polishes alloy??? i like your post, but come on! those are two very different engine bays

It cleans alloy up like new and yes its the same engine bay and no the motor has never come out to get like this

[HoZy]

No offence, But that l67 engine bay looks terrible... No "Standard" It's like he's just thrown red & blue an polished an non polished an blah...

Looks like shit

[vsl67]

No offence, But that l67 engine bay looks terrible... No "Standard" It's like he's just thrown red & blue an polished an non polished an blah...

Looks like shit

No offence but you have missed the point totally regardless if you like the engine bay or not it shows what can be done with a standard engine without removing from the car and all this was done at home with the basic of tools

Since your a judge on standards lets see a photo of your cars engine bay and show us all how it is done

[CALAIS94]

PFFFFFT, so it polishes alloy??? i like your post, but come on! those are two very different engine bays

same car same engine.

[vsl67]

Believe what you want to believe but they are the same car and same engine bay just lots of hours gone into the detailing and polishing

[CALAIS94]

No offence, But that l67 engine bay looks terrible... No "Standard" It's like he's just thrown red & blue an polished an non polished an blah...

Looks like shit

says the guy who's engine bay was as p'plater bogan spec as this. that's a fully sick purple pod filter did it go fast?

[HoZy]

Ecotec in a VN, An it's all clean...

Your point is invalid.