Engine bay and engine detailing

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

I am quite happy with the way my car looks out side at the moment and the interior is mint and i can live with the checked seats and pannels.

To be honest my engine looks like crap apart from my induction kit, which is chromed, it is pritty kack.

Yesterday I sprayed my air box silver, which was made a huge improvement over that black, which looked a bit cheap and naff. I am planning to do the ECU case and box that is located on the right side of the engine bay. I am gonna get a new rocker cover as mine is all chipped and a water bottle from k-tec. The nice chrome metal one. I want to change all the, now nackered piping/leads.

Is changing leads/pipes hard? Worth getting a mechanic to do it?

It's my first car and I want to improve the engine bay, but I have know idea how or which pipes to remove.

Any help would be great

Thanks

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the paints just gonna chip off an look even cacker mate. Just get it cleaned thoroughly.

Deal with any rust.

Best way to get it cleaned is to get it steam cleaned, ask a private taxi man wherte he gets his done, they have to have it done apparently.

Ht leads are easy to do, swap them 1 at a time.

Hoses are more involved as you will be draining coolant etc out at the same time.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

cud get some of the parts polished by my mate (see pics and vids)

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

I know what you mean, but I am only spraying things that don't get hot and wont chip. I am currently getting all the rust sorted, but some of it is a bit hard cause I can't get down underneath the radiator.

When I have sprayed the ECU case and fuse box (i think?!?!?!) I will take a photo and show you.

I bought a good induction kit last night. A green one, which does a better job and looks better.

Cheers

Level 3 User Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

Actually...I know Jonny boyÂ´s mate too and he does a real top notch job.

HeÂ´s such a perfectionist...you could have eaten your bubble and squeek out of the engine bay on his golf gti.

Well worth the investment.

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

I'm gettin a rocker and inlet manifold done by him. I also have the hill power ECU, coil and strut top covers. Blue silicone hoses, alloy header tank and a few other bits and pieces

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Ooh nice Chet. Got a pic of ur engine bay? Oh yeah, while I'm here.....have always wondered about that alloy header tank from k-tec........HOW do you know what ur level is? Cuz to my knowledge u cannot see through alloy lol. Are the min / max marks on the inside of it or something?

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

I wondered that I am going to fill my plastic one and tip it into the new one when I get it. Plugging the holes in it, just incase someone thinks about telling me it will leak Wink

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

that wont do u much good will it...u need to fill the whole engine system...one bottle ful wont do it...

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

http://www.wellcheap.com/gallery/r19t16

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

No,

What i will do is clamp them shut so they don't leak

or is this not gonna work?

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

oh i see what u mean now...u mean ur not even gunna drain the system....just look thru the hole in the top...most coolant bottles ive seen are so brown and opaque u cant see thru them anyway...

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

Yup thats what ye have to do. Or use the dipstick god provided you with...thts yous finger btw

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

So hill power sell an ally header tank with no sight glass?

Ford, VX, VW, Nissan and so on all have alloy header tanks available and they all have sight glasses.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

i dont see the big deal, as i said most of them u canbt see thru anyway.

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

It's just looks alot better IMO.

Well it'l be 2 weeks before i get it. I am currently so skint i have to ask mates to pay me petrol money if they wanna go somewhere.

It's inbarasing going into Sainsbury's with Â£3.60 worth of 5p's and saying "pump 2 please".

O well.

Sad

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

no mate i meant the big deal about havin a window on it to see the level