Mass Air Inlet Tube = Ugly

ImportSlayer347

Member

Oct 13, 2008

173

1

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Sarasota, FL

Jun 8, 2009

#1

• Jun 8, 2009

• #1

I have a 76mm mass air system from C&L. It works fine, however the inlet tube going to the TB is a casting so it is ugly. Where can I find a polished or chrome inlet tube to replace this very bland looking cast tube?

 

LiquidGT

Member

Oct 8, 2007

368

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16

Near STL hell

Jun 8, 2009

#2

• Jun 8, 2009

• #2

Well you can take the time out to polish the inlet tube to a mirror finish, it will take some time but it should be worth it... or you can buy a cheap CAI on eBay and use it.

 

ImportSlayer347

Member

Oct 13, 2008

173

1

19

Sarasota, FL

Jun 8, 2009

#3

• Jun 8, 2009

• #3

What should I use to polish it?

 

vristang

15 Year Member

Mar 31, 2005

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Seattle

Jun 9, 2009

#4

• Jun 9, 2009

• #4

ImportSlayer347 said:

What should I use to polish it?

Click to expand...

Google will return a wealth of info on polishing aluminum....








OR,
Just bust out the Be-dazzler you have in the closet....

 

nisreo

New Member

Jul 22, 2006

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Jun 9, 2009

#5

• Jun 9, 2009

• #5

ImportSlayer347 said:

What should I use to polish it?

Click to expand...

Alot of time and effort. I polished this set of valve covers and it took me roughly 6 hours. And these are pretty easy pieces to work with considering all the flat surfaces.

before

after


And I didnt even polish to a complete mirror finish, kind of in the middle of brushed aluminum and mirror.

 

ImportSlayer347

Member

Oct 13, 2008

173

1

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Sarasota, FL

Jun 9, 2009

#6

• Jun 9, 2009

• #6

That looks awesome! Great job. What did you use to do it? I have no problem putting in the time.

 

nisreo

New Member

Jul 22, 2006

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Jun 9, 2009

#7

• Jun 9, 2009

• #7

I started with a scotch brite pad because these had alot of oxidation. Then I wet sanded it starting with 400 grit down to 2000 grit. Lastly I used snap-on polish to shine it up.(I dont have the part number on hand) But it comes in a little tin shaped like a band-aid box. Its looks like pink cotton candy and you pull apart little chunks. As you polish, the pink will turn black. Keep going until no more black shows up on the polish. Your done.

I didnt use the 2000 for that long since I didnt want the full on chrome look.

 

ImportSlayer347

Member

Oct 13, 2008

173

1

19

Sarasota, FL

Jun 9, 2009

#8

• Jun 9, 2009

• #8

This stuff?
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/28600/28540.JPG

Thanks for the help.

 

nisreo

New Member

Jul 22, 2006

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Jun 9, 2009

#9

• Jun 9, 2009

• #9

thats the stuff,

 

Cobra912

Active Member

May 1, 2005

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Wish I was anywhere but here

Jun 9, 2009

#10

• Jun 9, 2009

• #10

or powdercoat it chrome or silver

 

Saleen0679

10 Year Member

Apr 14, 2005

876

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Yakima, WA

Jun 9, 2009

#11

• Jun 9, 2009

• #11

ImportSlayer347 said:

This stuff?
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/28600/28540.JPG

Thanks for the help.

Click to expand...

Eagle One and Mothers also make the metal polish wadding. They come in a short round can. Use some Nitrile or similar gloves unless you want your hands all black.

 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

9,391

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Jun 10, 2009

#12

• Jun 10, 2009

• #12

nisreo said:

Alot of time and effort. I polished this set of valve covers and it took me roughly 6 hours. And these are pretty easy pieces to work with considering all the flat surfaces.

before

after


And I didnt even polish to a complete mirror finish, kind of in the middle of brushed aluminum and mirror.

Click to expand...

Ohhhhhh! Thoes look killer!

 

93 LX

Founding Member

Jun 2, 2000

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Norwalk, CA.

Jun 10, 2009

#13

• Jun 10, 2009

• #13

how did you do the paint?

 

nisreo

New Member

Jul 22, 2006

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Jun 10, 2009

#14

• Jun 10, 2009

• #14

Well I taped off the sides of the valve cover so only the top is showing, taped off the filler nech and shot it with black. let it dry then took a scotch brite to it to get the paint off the high surfaces. Then I just polished it like i did to the sides.