after countless hours, ive finally finished the top portion of my plenum, and i have got to say is looks pretty darn good. now its professional quality because theres still a couple of blemishes here and there. i think its from the intake not being perfectly flat and even. no biggie, its not that bad. it still has a mirror like shine to it. i honestly thought that i wouldnt be able to get it this good because im not that patient. now i think im gonna tackle the sides of it. i dont know if im gonna do the bottom of the plenum because, no one sees it, and im not really planning on polishing the manifold. i dunno we'll see. i mostly did the plenum to see if i can do it and to see what it takes. heres a few pics.

 

i think im gonna paint the grooves a dark red, because my car is a maroon color. thinking that might look better than just black.

 

Looks good.....are you doing the runners also....

 

i dont know about the runners. because i am planning on getting some slp runners after i build up my 350. i really dont see the point of polishing stock runners when im gonna put different runners on. i still have to polish the sides of the plenum but i have to get some bits for my dremel. ill prolly start that this weekend. but when i do get some slp runners ill polish them up to.

 

polish the runners to and afterward just sell them. Even stock polished runners sell quikly.

 

that is a good idea. i didnt think about that. does anybody have any tips on polishing the runners. when i did the plenum, i used my palmsander for the rough sanding. then when i went to the finer grit paper, i used a wood block. im thinking i might be able to use my dremel tool since the runners arent flat.

 

the runners aside from the mounting bases are easy to do by hand just do the actual runners with 180/320/400/600wet then emery and they should shine up great I did that to a stock set and they shined up great just get all dents out first is all.

 

I agree. Matching your car's body color would look hot!

 

I used to have your name as the license plate on my 84 t/a

 

when i did the plenum i went all the way up to 1500 grit. i didnt use emery. dindt know anything about emery till now.

about the paint, should i use high temp spray paint. and whats the best way to paint the grooves. i was thinking of taping everything off with the painter blue tape, and then laying down a few layers with spray paint. any better ideas?

 

nah dont go to 1500 lol emery can remove 400 marks easily. stop at 600wet I've heard if you go to fine then it clouds anyways.

 

the plenum didnt cloud up. although i do have some blemishes here and there. but thats because the plenum had some low spots here and there. i tried to get them out.

 

what grit did you start with

 

i think i started with, 60 or 80, and i used my palm sander till i got 400 grit, and when i went to 600+ grit i wet sanded.

 

did mine with 100grit and when the coarse surface started smoothing ot switched to 180.

Hit the top with emery that that will help ease the time it takes sanding do it after 600grit and it should shine right up.

 

thanks, ill do with runners, and if i do the manifold.

 

i need a lil help. what is emery? i went to the auto store yesterday and they didnt have anything by that name and the people behind the counter werent much help. the one guy says it was never-dull. if someone could explain to me what emery is that would be great. thanks