I have an 84 with Side Exhaust and originally the Side Pipes were painted But I have Sanded off the paint to the bare metal and I'm curious if there is a way to the Bare Steel so that It will shine and not rust. I know they make a lot of Aluminum/Bronze/Chrome/Stainless Steel polishes but is there a good way to polish bare/normal steel.

 

Well, you didnt say how long that exhaust setup has been on the car but im guessing a while since its a 84'. Its usually just impossible to polish out steel, especially steel thats already been painted and sanded off. Because of the high temperatures the pipes reach whatever decent looking finish you could possibly achieve after hours of elbow grease would probably tarnish and burn out. I believe your BEST bet is to purchase (I know you just sanded it clean) some High Temp Paint. Maybe get a silver and clear coat it. Either way it needs to be coated to prevent rust. Unless you can shell out for ceramic coating

 

Hmmm, I wonder how a set of Silver Side Exhaust would look compared to that of the usual Chrome side exhaust..

 

Personally, I would paint them. Chrome doesnt really fit our cars well because they had NONE from factory. Most bare metal finishes that look good on our cars are brushed, polished, or satin. Having said that, to each his own, but personally, I would just paint em. If your going for a sleeper look you could paint em black.

 

I just recently Sanded them with finer and finer paper, and then simply Used a metal polishing compound on my Wool Buffing Wheel instead of the usual rubbing compound and put the wheel to the exhaust. It turned out pretty dang nice. A lot shinier than paint could ever get it But who knows how long it will stay looking like that. Ill post a pic later.

 

make a cover for them and polish the cover

 

I'd just spray some of that Flameproof super high temp paitn on it. They'll be flat black, but they wont rust. I dont think that polish will last at all. But we'll see.

 

Here is a few pics of what it looks like right after I polished them with my wheel.
I also just finished painting the entire car as well and I like the looks of the shiny exhaust with the dark blue.

 

Holy 70's sidepipes batman. Personally I think exhaust should be heard not seen, and if it was my car they would be first thing to go.

They did shine up nice though. I bet that took a ton of elbow greese....hopefully the shine lasts.

 

that was alot of work, i think side pipes look good on maros w/o ground effects.....

 

Agreed, wouldn't look right on one w/ Ground effects especially since i don't think you could even make them fit.
What I like about the no ground effects + side exhaust is it makes the car appear to be a fair amount older and more classic.

 

i totaly agree the lack of GFX on a 3rd makes it look older that what it really is and therefor the side pipes look alot better, one with GFX looks to sleek to have side pipes IMO