Some engine painting/polishing

[Boomin5POINT9]

Did a little engine cleanup, polishing and painting, its amazing how shiny you can get that dull aluminum with a little polish.

BEFORE: I did start to polish some of the A/C lines before this pictures
http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/bmpnkota/226906.jpg

AFTER:

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/bmpnkota/226907.jpg

Still have a lot of engine to do, but i think this is a good start.

What do you think, is the yellow too ricey, or does it look alright?

[justme84]

I'd say the yellow looks arite with the polish job, in my opinion its only ricey if you go and buy it, its always better when you do it youself. Just my $0.02 worth.

[360 xrt]

man that looks killer , how did you do that (steps) and what product did you use,please.

[realdeal7369]

damn!! now im going to polish my stuff too...looks great, what did you use?

[ROGAN]

got my vote that looks sharp

[Boomin5POINT9]

I started by removing EVERYTHING, I couldnt take the A/C pump all the way off cuz to remove the hoses I would have had to recharge it, but i pulled it out onto the radiator support to work on it easier, then removed the alternator, and some of the pulleys, i left the power steering pump on but thats about it.

I cleaned the whole thing with brake caliper cleaner because it has a lot of power and cleans most everything off under its own power without scrubbing, plus it evaporates almost instantly.

I painted the yellow with the same ceramic paint i used on the brake calipers (Wal-mart special) but it works really good. It took about 8 coats over everything. Make sure you mask off stuff you dont want painted like bolt heads and surrounding things, its really easy to get sloppy with the paint.

To polish I just used Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish. Just rubbed it on by hand and worked it in till a lot of black residue forms then clean it off. I had to do it many many times to get it to shine.

On the alternator I had to use a small wire wheel and a dremel because the metal was in bad shape, so i went over the whole thing lightly with that then polished it up.

And that's about it. I still have a LOT more to do, just figuring out colors and parts I need. I was gonna clean the intake up and paint it gloss black, but I might get an M-1 instead, then maybe paint that black. Not sure on the color scheme quite yet.

[DAKSPORT1PA]

That looks really good. I think it gives it an old muscle car look not a ricey look.

[WicKed R/T]

I'd like to see how long it will stay like that...looks sweet though :biggthump

[slvdak]

looks good man, I gotta get on the engine bay soon.
Keep the pics coming on the progress
:mullet:

[fastdak]

looking good!! i polished my engine right after i bought it and everything was still new. love the way it looks. had a guy at a car show ask me if the chrome makes it faster. i told him it was hand polished not chrome.

[JethroStyles]

Holly Crap! That looks GREAT! Very Very impressive!

I got bored one day and polished the AC Lines on my Cummins since the stock paint was all crappy and comming off... Definatly NOT worth the effort! It was my 4x4 that I went mudding in. Oddly enough, 1 mud hole, and I now has silver lines instead of chrome ones... Ugh! Oh well maybe someday I'll learn! If I get an M1 I think I am going to polish it up, and get a clear powdercoat on it, so that I don't have to polish it again and again and again. I like things that are shiney, don't get me wrong, but UGH constantly polishing things SUCKS!

[DAKSPORT1PA]

I hate when people have to say that stuff. "Does the chrome make it go faster" Yeah it makes it go faster dillhole. If they don't like it don't look at it. If you like the way it looks thats all that matters. I think it looks very nice.
I used to get that crap when I had my Eclipse all the time. I had it all done up. It looked good enough to get it stolen. :dammit: R.I.P.

[realdeal7369]

I hate when people have to say that stuff. "Does the chrome make it go faster" Yeah it makes it go faster dillhole. If they don't like it don't look at it. If you like the way it looks thats all that matters. I think it looks very nice.
I used to get that crap when I had my Eclipse all the time. I had it all done up. It looked good enough to get it stolen. :dammit: R.I.P.

cant have nothing nice can we? its getting so that we have to keep the armed bit bull with aids on board in the truck nowadays dont we...?

:rant:

[GOON'S D]

Wow, nice job! I am not sure if I have the patience for that. I will give it a shot if my new house ever does not need something to fixed or improved!

[DAKSPORT1PA]

cant have nothing nice can we? its getting so that we have to keep the armed bit bull with aids on board in the truck nowadays dont we...?

:rant:
Yeah it sucks. People always think if its nice and its not theirs lets wreck it or take it. Bastards :cussing:

[Five9Dak]

Nice job, a few months ago id did my ac lines. I want to do teh alternator and AC. I figure I can take off the AC compressor and run a short belt. but its soo damn hot around here. And I cant really live without the alternator lol.

The stuff I did with mothers a few months ago is still holding up. And for everyone who hasnt done this yet, be prepared for many blisters on ur hands. It is well worth it, mothers is awsome.

[amberfire r/t]

looks awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wish i had a good colour that would go with amberfire. keep up the great work :biggthump :banana2:

[BlackDak]

I have to say, this is probably the best bang for the buck mod you can do. All it takes is a little time and elbow grease, and the results are phenominal. I am starting this project TOMORROW!

[suffolk_mopar]

the yellow on the engine looks hot, good work and a thumbs up.

[fastdak]

it takes a ton of elbow grease and more than a few hours but it's worth the effort.

[FSTDANGO3]

Dont I know the feeling!

[V8 Dragon]

looking good!! i polished my engine right after i bought it and everything was still new. love the way it looks. had a guy at a car show ask me if the chrome makes it faster. i told him it was hand polished not chrome.

I always got comments like that with my Eclipse. While I personally like to have my vehicles to be both performance and good looks, not everyone HAS to have a fast vehicle. What's wrong with something just looking super hot without being super fast. I've found more people will be attracted to and flock around a good looking vehicle in a parking lot or show than a fast stock looking vehicle. Speed is only noticeable when the vehicle is moving and that makes it difficult for people to take pictures. Anyway, thats my too sense.
Keep up the good work.

[DEMONiAM]

Boominkota318,

Did you have to fully remove your engine to paint it? I am new to Dakota owning and pretty new to truck modding. I can do the basic maintenance stuff and such. Is this a newbie-to-intermediate project, or should I leave that to a pro?

[Boomin5POINT9]

I removed the alternator and took the a/c compressor off, didnt unhook the lines, but pulled it out so i could get all the way around it and paint the bracket easier. I also took a few pullys off, but thats it

[DurRT]

New question to this thread. Does your alternator come apart so you can powdercoat it? What about the A/C pump and everything else that you cant pwdercoat as is.

[dakotaR/T2003]

Looks very good

[00RedRT]

Look into a nice bench buffer like this 6" one from Craftsman....

http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00922625000?hei=250&wid=250&op_sharpen=1

It makes quick work of polishing metals, especially cast aluminum parts....

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Darren%20005.jpg

[DurRT]

Was that done with just a polishing wheel only or did you have to sand/grind it down first then use a polishing compound?

[dakotapimpc]

I Took my alrternator apart and got it coated it looks really good plus u will never have to polish it or worry about fade