Engine steamed cleaned and detailed (with pictures)

[Seraphitia102]

I just got my engine detailed once again (it's a once a year event for my Mustang).


Before: (This is an old picture of my engine back 3 years ago or so... I then put a strut tower brace, changed the intake and added a lil engine bling)

After:

 

[Tim2002GT]

Looks good! A nice polished throttle body/plenum combo would really top it off. Or, of course, a 2.6KB would too!

 

[Seraphitia102]

Looks good! A nice polished throttle body/plenum combo would really top it off. Or, of course, a 2.6KB would too!

I would love a polished Kenne Bell or ProCharger supercharger I wanted to do a throttle body/plenum, but the only nice polished one available is Accufab and I don't like how it says "Accufab" on the top of it compared to the running pony

 

[IIGood]

Do you take it somewhere to have that done? It looks real good...I want mine to look that nice again. I wouldn't consider it till spring here though.

And where you'd get that CF airbox?

 

[Novanutcase]

Very Nice! They missed one spot though(OK...two!) the threaded shock rods going through your CC plates are rusty! LOL!

A little Steel Wool oughta clean that up nicely or even tape it off and hit it with some black rustoleum?

The CF Box is trick!

I remember seeing a Plenum that had no name on it but was identical to the Trickflow one. Get one of those and anodize it whatever color you like. I saw one anodized red and it looks pretty good. I'm thinking of yanking mine off and having it anodized blue like my pullies.

My .02

Install a fuel pressure gauge where your shcraeder valve is. Looks trick and you don't have to go back and forth from the engine to the cabin to figure out how much pressure your fuel pump is pumping.

Aluminum Power Steering tank!

My bay!(Not as nice as yours but I'm trying!)

John

BTW since your engine bay is so clean you may want to look into one of these clear radiator hoses:

Might look kinda cool!

John

 

[mustangman9812]

Wow that is clean man. And Novanutcase that is kinda cool if i say so myself lol

 

[Novanutcase]

Wow that is clean man. And Novanutcase that is kinda cool if i say so myself lol

Yeah but I'm sure a lot guys will say it looks rice!

I think it's kind of cool though! It would look really good under her hood!

John

 

[crzyhrse99]

Looks awesome, I hope no water got into youre plug wells or you will be throwing a code in a day or two.... been there done that, I just keep a dirty engine bay anymore.

 

[Seraphitia102]

Do you take it somewhere to have that done? It looks real good...I want mine to look that nice again. I wouldn't consider it till spring here though.

And where you'd get that CF airbox?

Yes I went to a detailer to get that job done. I found a company in the phonebook and called them up to ask if they detail engine bays and apparently they do! My shop (who does most of the work on my car) also steam cleans engines but he does not detail them in which I didn't get the "gloss" I was looking for.

The carbon fiber box is part of the "Street Smart" CAI system. MRT also licensed the Street Smart kit to brand it as their own. It looks exactly the same, just with MRT branding.

Very Nice! They missed one spot though(OK...two!) the threaded shock rods going through your CC plates are rusty! LOL!

A little Steel Wool oughta clean that up nicely or even tape it off and hit it with some black rustoleum?

The CF Box is trick!

I remember seeing a Plenum that had no name on it but was identical to the Trickflow one. Get one of those and anodize it whatever color you like. I saw one anodized red and it looks pretty good. I'm thinking of yanking mine off and having it anodized blue like my pullies.

My .02

Install a fuel pressure gauge where your shcraeder valve is. Looks trick and you don't have to go back and forth from the engine to the cabin to figure out how much pressure your fuel pump is pumping.

Aluminum Power Steering tank!

My bay!(Not as nice as yours but I'm trying!)

John

BTW since your engine bay is so clean you may want to look into one of these clear radiator hoses:

Might look kinda cool!

John

Man! Thanks for your .02! That was one of the best I've received! I'd love to do a blank, unbranded chrome/polished plenum! Also, who makes that clear radiator hose!???? I WANT ONE!

Wow that is clean man. And Novanutcase that is kinda cool if i say so myself lol

Thanks! I was really impressed with the detailer's work. Just to maintain that shine, I use Turtle Wax detailer in my engine bay to keep it that way.

Looks awesome, I hope no water got into youre plug wells or you will be throwing a code in a day or two.... been there done that, I just keep a dirty engine bay anymore.

I was afraid that my car wasn't going to start or something because the Ford dealer near my house used to offer engine bay steam cleanings but they stopped since they had a few problems!

 

[Novanutcase]

I think the Plenum I was thinking of is a Professional Products one. It looks like it just has a sticker where Trickflow etches it's name so you can just peel off the sticker. You might want to ask someone that has one first to make sure.

The radiator hose is made by a company called Blow By Racing.

1999-2004 Mustang GT Glass Radaitor Hose

I think they are just Borosilicate tubing bent at the right angles. I guess that's why the call them "Glass" hoses. I know that they use Borosilicate glass alot in laboratories for beakers and stuff. Pyrex stuff is usually borosilicate glass. I'm going to try and find some and see if I can get someone at a local art college that has a glass blowing class to bend it for me.

Fuel Pressure Gauge choices:

Midnight Black

Traditional

Engine turned

Carbon Fiber

They're all the same gauge with different faces. Also, they're liquid filled for better anti-vibration/shock. The metal cases are stainless.

You'll need an adapter for the Schraeder valve. It needs to be 1/16" male to 1/8" female.

Just push on the bleed(Just like on the air valve on your tires) on the Schraeder valve and bleed off the pressure that is in the rail. You can also uncap your gas tank and leave it open for a few hours. That should also bleed off any fuel pressure. Put a rag under the valve in case any pressure pushes out any gas(Wouldn't want to dirty up that beautiful engine bay! LOL!). Unscrew the valve. Take your gauge and put some high temp thread sealer or teflon tape on the male end on the back of the gauge and screw it into the adapter. Make sure it's fairly tight. Not TOO tight but enough so that you have maybe a 1/2 turn before you can't turn it anymore. Put some High Temp thread sealer or teflon tape on the 1/16" male end and screw it into where you just pulled the Schraeder valve. Same deal as far as how tight but try and position the gauge so that it's right side up.

Start your engine and watch the needle jump to around 26lbs or more of fuel pressure.

Your done! LOL!

I have a Canton Power Steering tank

View attachment 275840

But I kind of wish I had gone with the Moroso one

Good thing about the Canton one is that the hose inlet/outlets are in the right postion whereas you have to fiddle a little to get the Moroso one to work.

John

 

[BlownStangGT]

Looks great!

 

[fasterthanthem]

Just curious, how much did they charge to detail the engine bay? I might look into this.

 

[GettinThere]

A nice polished throttle body/plenum combo would really top it off.

That's the first thing I thought too.

I wanted to do a throttle body/plenum, but the only nice polished one available is Accufab and I don't like how it says "Accufab" on the top of it compared to the running pony

Yeah, but it would look so good in your engine bay, and would give you a little bump in performance. I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I bet the vast majority of stangers, myself included, would much rather have the Accufab logo instead of the stock pony.

btw, looks good.

 

[Novanutcase]

I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I bet the vast majority of stangers, myself included, would much rather have the Accufab logo instead of the stock pony.

btw, looks good.

I have to disagree on the Accufab plenum. Sure, it pulls a few more CFM's but you're not going to feel any difference from the AF to any other plenum. The only time I would even consider paying the difference would be if I was building an all out race car and every pony counted. Otherwise it's a waste of money. JMO!

John

 

[SRT Handz]

MRT Intake FTMFW

 

[GettinThere]

I have to disagree on the Accufab plenum. Sure, it pulls a few more CFM's but you're not going to feel any difference from the AF to any other plenum. The only time I would even consider paying the difference would be if I was building an all out race car and every pony counted. Otherwise it's a waste of money. JMO!

John

I agree that the performance difference between the Accufab plenum and most other aftermarket plenums is negligible. She is going for the nice engine bay / chrome look and the Accufab plenum would serve that purpose nicely. Yeah they are pricey, and if the polished look is the most important aspect, then maybe the PP plenum would be good enough. But she is wanting to stick with the stock pony plenum, so for her, the top-shelf Accufab plenum seems to be the best choice.

If money were not an issue, I would get an Accufab plenum over any other.

 

[Novanutcase]

I agree that the performance difference between the Accufab plenum and most other aftermarket plenums is negligible. She is going for the nice engine bay / chrome look and the Accufab plenum would serve that purpose nicely. Yeah they are pricey, and if the polished look is the most important aspect, then maybe the PP plenum would be good enough. But she is wanting to stick with the stock pony plenum, so for her, the top-shelf Accufab plenum seems to be the best choice.

If money were not an issue, I would get an Accufab plenum over any other.

True....

John

 

[BurningRubber]

Oh laaawdy that is one clean engine!

 

[fasthippo]

i have the pro. products tb & plenum. just peel off the sticker n it has no markings on it.

lovin the engine bay!
i like the aluminum coolant reservoir a couple of you have. i think i might just make one at work next week

 

[Seraphitia102]

I think the Plenum I was thinking of is a Professional Products one. It looks like it just has a sticker where Trickflow etches it's name so you can just peel off the sticker. You might want to ask someone that has one first to make sure.

The radiator hose is made by a company called Blow By Racing.

1999-2004 Mustang GT Glass Radaitor Hose

I think they are just Borosilicate tubing bent at the right angles. I guess that's why the call them "Glass" hoses. I know that they use Borosilicate glass alot in laboratories for beakers and stuff. Pyrex stuff is usually borosilicate glass. I'm going to try and find some and see if I can get someone at a local art college that has a glass blowing class to bend it for me.

Fuel Pressure Gauge choices:

Midnight Black

Traditional

Engine turned

Carbon Fiber

They're all the same gauge with different faces. Also, they're liquid filled for better anti-vibration/shock. The metal cases are stainless.

You'll need an adapter for the Schraeder valve. It needs to be 1/16" male to 1/8" female.

Just push on the bleed(Just like on the air valve on your tires) on the Schraeder valve and bleed off the pressure that is in the rail. You can also uncap your gas tank and leave it open for a few hours. That should also bleed off any fuel pressure. Put a rag under the valve in case any pressure pushes out any gas(Wouldn't want to dirty up that beautiful engine bay! LOL!). Unscrew the valve. Take your gauge and put some high temp thread sealer or teflon tape on the male end on the back of the gauge and screw it into the adapter. Make sure it's fairly tight. Not TOO tight but enough so that you have maybe a 1/2 turn before you can't turn it anymore. Put some High Temp thread sealer or teflon tape on the 1/16" male end and screw it into where you just pulled the Schraeder valve. Same deal as far as how tight but try and position the gauge so that it's right side up.

Start your engine and watch the needle jump to around 26lbs or more of fuel pressure.

Your done! LOL!

I have a Canton Power Steering tank

View attachment 275699

But I kind of wish I had gone with the Moroso one

Good thing about the Canton one is that the hose inlet/outlets are in the right postion whereas you have to fiddle a little to get the Moroso one to work.

John

I have to get one of my car savvy buddies to decipher your post there's lots of technical stuff in there I don't know much about!

You're the only person in here who is making me spend money! I love that clear coolant hose and the power steering pipe! I'm a fan of Canton in general (since I have their coolant tank), but I think the Moroso one looks better

Just curious, how much did they charge to detail the engine bay? I might look into this.

It costed me $50

That's the first thing I thought too.



Yeah, but it would look so good in your engine bay, and would give you a little bump in performance. I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I bet the vast majority of stangers, myself included, would much rather have the Accufab logo instead of the stock pony.

btw, looks good.

I agree with you that the Accufab is a nice piece (very well constructed), but I can't find myself spending $400+ on the throttle body + plenum combo for only 6rwhp. That's about $67 per horsepower! I would get it if it was cheaper because I'm running out of money too many clothes and cars (best of both worlds of a guy and girl)... hahaha!

You know... if our plenums were as large as the ones in the Fox Mustang, I'd sooooo pay the price because it's a HUGE piece and a LARGE SHINY THING in the engine bay! I love bling!

I have to disagree on the Accufab plenum. Sure, it pulls a few more CFM's but you're not going to feel any difference from the AF to any other plenum. The only time I would even consider paying the difference would be if I was building an all out race car and every pony counted. Otherwise it's a waste of money. JMO!

John

I calculated it at $67 per horsepower

MRT Intake FTMFW

It's the best intake I've seen because it breathes air from the fenderwell but it'a easy to access the filter to clean

I agree that the performance difference between the Accufab plenum and most other aftermarket plenums is negligible. She is going for the nice engine bay / chrome look and the Accufab plenum would serve that purpose nicely. Yeah they are pricey, and if the polished look is the most important aspect, then maybe the PP plenum would be good enough. But she is wanting to stick with the stock pony plenum, so for her, the top-shelf Accufab plenum seems to be the best choice.

If money were not an issue, I would get an Accufab plenum over any other.

Money is always an issue I need to win the lottery! Bling is sooo expensive and so hard to maintain (it's shine)

Oh laaawdy that is one clean engine!

Thank you!

i have the pro. products tb & plenum. just peel off the sticker n it has no markings on it.

lovin the engine bay!
i like the aluminum coolant reservoir a couple of you have. i think i might just make one at work next week

How is the PP combo? Any issues with it? I was afraid to try PP ever since I hear their intake manifold sometimes has leaks and fitting issues from people who own it.

I wanted to get the PP intake manifold because they're the only company I can find who makes a polished one! (I love bling, yes I repeat myself).