Cylinderhead cover - cleaning/polishing? ** DONE IT!!! **

[Ritz]

I need to clean up the cylinderhead cover on my 89 Sport. Looks well grubby, has that horrible factory wax caked all over and may be hard to get off.


Any tips on what products/cleaning devices I can use? I don't want to put scratches on the cover but just clean it and leave it silver.


Cheers,
Ritz

[leeparkes]

i just used wet & dry,came up a treat!

[B7]

Something tells me Ritz is after an original finish here Wet and dry will not give you that.

Truth of the matter is Ritzy that over time the cam cover finish ages at different rates due to the wax not being even. When you get all that wax off (I use copiois amounts of Cellulose Thinners) the cover will be patchy. You could then get it media blasted with the finest grade available to give you an even finish or Paint it as Barry and I have done.

If you want that 'as new' look though I doubt you'll get it with an old cam cover. They are still available new though

OR you can buy these from me :

[Ritz]

i just used wet & dry,came up a treat!

Alright Lee, nice to hear from another West Midland Zoner

I could try this method you mentioned, I'm guessing its not going to be easy.

[Ritz]

Something tells me Ritz is after an original finish here Wet and dry will not give you that.

Truth of the matter is Ritzy that over time the cam cover finish ages at different rates due to the wax not being even. When you get all that wax off (I use copiois amounts of Cellulose Thinners) the cover will be patchy. You could then get it media blasted with the finest grade available to give you an even finish or Paint it as Barry and I have done.

If you want that 'as new' look though I doubt you'll get it with an old cam cover. They are still available new though

OR you can buy these from me :

Alright Trevor, actually I did see your thread on that cam cover you did, looks fooking amazing mate
There was even a point where I thought "hmmmm, I'll have that" lol Guess you might be right about getting the wax off, I will still need to finish it somehow and that will involve paint.

Decisions decisions........

[bss325i]

The closest you will get to an "as new finish without buying new is to paint it silver. Me and the painter who did it played around with different tinters until we came up with something close to the bare alluminum finish. My inlet manifold didn't have alot of wax on it and hadn't corroded or changed colour so what we got paint wis was a very very close match.

[town325i]

ive got a very clean and very original looking rocker cover and inlet manifold you can have a look at to see if you want it for the sum of £35

[m4xos]

Something tells me Ritz is after an original finish here Wet and dry will not give you that.

Truth of the matter is Ritzy that over time the cam cover finish ages at different rates due to the wax not being even. When you get all that wax off (I use copiois amounts of Cellulose Thinners) the cover will be patchy. You could then get it media blasted with the finest grade available to give you an even finish or Paint it as Barry and I have done.

If you want that 'as new' look though I doubt you'll get it with an old cam cover. They are still available new though

OR you can buy these from me :

how much you want for them??

[B7]

[
how much you want for them??

Looking for £100 for both.

[m4xos]

is that the best yo can do? lol

[town325i]

is that the best yo can do? lol

whats wrong dont your eyes work properly look at the finish on those parts they are amazing and your haggling

[m4xos]

lol, gotta try, i know how much time and effort went into them!
if you still have them at the end of the week (payday) will defo have them off ya hands!!

[B7]

lol, gotta try, i know how much time and effort went into them!
if you still have them at the end of the week (payday) will defo have them off ya hands!!

Still here. Drop me a PM if your interested.

[cliffybabe]

Polish them get the under ur bay

[hubble]

Polish them get the under ur bay

That's some serious chromin' you've got going there Cliffy.

[cliffybabe]

That's some serious chromin' you've got going there Cliffy.

Cheers dude

Thats higly polished not chrome

[hubble]

That's some serious chromin' you've got going there Cliffy.

Cheers dude

Thats higly polished not chrome

I stand corrected! Highly polished it is

[cliffybabe]

That's some serious chromin' you've got going there Cliffy.

Cheers dude

Thats higly polished not chrome

I stand corrected! Highly polished it is

[robbo86]

That's some serious chromin' you've got going there Cliffy.

Cheers dude

Thats higly polished not chrome

Neil is actually a hyper intelligent magpie!!!

[Ritz]

After some elbow grease this weekend (and sniffing toooo much tinner)

[The_Diddler]

Very, nice Ritz, nice indeed!!!!!

I was lazy and just bought the rocker cover and manifold B7 was selling, just waiting for it to arrive .

Once you had cleaned it up, how did you prepare, i.e what primer did you use, etc etc.......

[Ritz]

Very, nice Ritz, nice indeed!!!!!

I was lazy and just bought the rocker cover and manifold B7 was selling, just waiting for it to arrive .

Once you had cleaned it up, how did you prepare, i.e what primer did you use, etc etc.......

Hi Paul. Yeah I saw B7's wicked rocker and manifold cover (was tempted myself).

My technique? Well, I used plenty of thinner, wirebrush and some gunk at the end to degrease again. I actually didnt use any primer since the paint I used didn't require it - Halfords high temp paint, about 3 coats. I might add lacquer though, I think it could do with some top layer protection aswell to bring out shine.

[The_Diddler]

Yeah, a nice lacquer would bring out the shine, impressive results already.

PS, OT, but i'm trying to organise a midlands zone meet, you up for that?

[mattsbmw]

Looks a very good finish, when i did mine, i just used standard paint and some laquer, still going strong 9 months later

[Ritz]

Yeah, a nice lacquer would bring out the shine, impressive results already.

PS, OT, but i'm trying to organise a midlands zone meet, you up for that?

My Sport is currently SORN in mates garage across the road but hoping to bring the car out next few months.

I would be up for a meet, all depends on when I can get the old Beast out and whenever you were planning it?

[Ritz]

Looks a very good finish, when i did mine, i just used standard paint and some laquer, still going strong 9 months later

Yeah mate I figured the lacquer would protect it (to the touch its ok but put a tool or something else hard on it and it will mark easily)

[lowey]

PS, OT, but i'm trying to organise a midlands zone meet, you up for that?[/quote]

Yeah, I'd be up for that too - already run it past "Ritz" and "Hubble".

Riten - that's a top job, and good on ya for doing it yourself. looking forward, or rather I NEED to see your car!!!

[Ritz]

PS, OT, but i'm trying to organise a midlands zone meet, you up for that?

Yeah, I'd be up for that too - already run it past "Ritz" and "Hubble".

Riten - that's a top job, and good on ya for doing it yourself. looking forward, or rather I NEED to see your car!!!

Cool Steve, make sure you come. I think Paul (Diddler) has just bought your evil twin (4 door version lol)

Im impressed with the results of my hard work over the weekend, think it looks good.

[B7]

Very, nice Ritz, nice indeed!!!!!

I was lazy and just bought the rocker cover and manifold B7 was selling, just waiting for it to arrive .

Once you had cleaned it up, how did you prepare, i.e what primer did you use, etc etc.......

Paul

It should be with you tomorrow matey. I sent it Friday afternoon. Hope you like it.

I'm thinking of knocking a few out on an exchange basis. I still have enough paint to do 3 or 4 in the same colour as the ones you've just had, then basically it'll be any colour you like as long as I like it!!!

[The_Diddler]

Very, nice Ritz, nice indeed!!!!!

I was lazy and just bought the rocker cover and manifold B7 was selling, just waiting for it to arrive .

Once you had cleaned it up, how did you prepare, i.e what primer did you use, etc etc.......

Paul

It should be with you tomorrow matey. I sent it Friday afternoon. Hope you like it.

I'm thinking of knocking a few out on an exchange basis. I still have enough paint to do 3 or 4 in the same colour as the ones you've just had, then basically it'll be any colour you like as long as I like it!!!

Looking forward to the postman arriving.........

Yeah, great idea about knocking out some more , only don't use the same paint as you used on the one i bought.

I wants it to be unique like, i wants to be special

[B7]

Very, nice Ritz, nice indeed!!!!!

I was lazy and just bought the rocker cover and manifold B7 was selling, just waiting for it to arrive .

Once you had cleaned it up, how did you prepare, i.e what primer did you use, etc etc.......

Paul

It should be with you tomorrow matey. I sent it Friday afternoon. Hope you like it.

I'm thinking of knocking a few out on an exchange basis. I still have enough paint to do 3 or 4 in the same colour as the ones you've just had, then basically it'll be any colour you like as long as I like it!!!

Looking forward to the postman arriving.........

Yeah, great idea about knocking out some more , only don't use the same paint as you used on the one i bought.

I wants it to be unique like, i wants to be special

your wish is my command. I'll darken it down quite a bit so your's remains the only one. It really did look the b0ll0cks on mine.
I'm not sure I like the dark grey for my c2 engine but thats what it should have, being a genuine lump, so thats what it'll wear. I've just done a set for Simons C2 touring and they came out really nice. Not laquered on that though as the alpinas had a satin finish.

[scootlife]

Im planning on doing my one in red but Alpina style. Anyone done one like that before?

[B7]

Im planning on doing my one in red but Alpina style. Anyone done one like that before?

Yes. Neil macdonald (e30 registrar in the BMWCC) did one (powder coated) and a guy on here with a calypso car has his done in Calypso.