Engine detailing - Part 1

[mikcanavan]

I just thought I'd share my winter project... Engine detailing, starting with the Cylinder Head Cover.

I wanted to go for either a wrinkle finish red, or a smooth red enamel - and decided upon the smooth finish for easy maintenance in the future.

This is why I decided to tidy things up a bit... (besides - it will compliment the DASC which I am just about to buy!)



First step was to completely remove all the grease, oil and protective wax which was on the head cover. Next I gave it a blast with brake cleaner and dried it completely... Then came the spraying. Lots of thin layers!

And this is my progress so far... a nice shiney Metalic Red enamel cover!!!



I should have it back on tomorrow night - and I will put up some more pics as I go a long...

Michael
_____________________________________________________________

[bmw318tiChic]

Looks nice... I really need to clean up my ti's engine.

[ZeroG]

Originally Posted by mikcanavan

I just thought I'd share my winter project... Engine detailing, starting with the Cylinder Head Cover.

I wanted to go for either a wrinkle finish red, or a smooth red enamel - and decided upon the smooth finish for easy maintenance in the future.

This is why I decided to tidy things up a bit... (besides - it will compliment the DASC which I am just about to buy!)



First step was to completely remove all the grease, oil and protective wax which was on the head cover. Next I gave it a blast with brake cleaner and dried it completely... Then came the spraying. Lots of thin layers!

And this is my progress so far... a nice shiney Metalic Red enamel cover!!!



I should have it back on tomorrow night - and I will put up some more pics as I go a long...

Michael
_____________________________________________________________

What did you use to remove the yellow protective enamel?

[mikcanavan]

I used a very thin layer of Nitromose (paint stripper) which I then blasted off with the brake cleaner...

Nitromose does like to eat away at Aluminium, so only use a small amount, and don't leave it on for more than a minute - and you won't even touch the alloy, it will just remove the wax.

[demeegod]

How does one take off that cover? I know you unscrew the ones around the BMW sign to change the spark plugs but is it safe to take that cover off?? I just dont want to have to have to get a torque wrench to put it back on without braking stuff.

[mikcanavan]

I didn't use a torque wrench, just a ratchet.

They aren't torque loaded bolts, and it was fairly easy to take it off, but slightly harder to put back !

[demeegod]

I wish you would have taken a picture of what the compartment looked like without the cover. I'd love to know what Im exposing before I made an attempt to remove the cover.

[ClubSport]

I put up some pictures of what's under the valve cover in my photo gallery. This is on my M42, so your's will be a little different if you have a 96+ car. Those bolts that hold it on DO have a torque spec, and it's very small. You have to be careful not to overtorque them or you'll strip the threads in your cylinder head. I would not do it without an in-lbs torque wrench.

http://www.318ti.org/gallery/showgal...500&ppuser=582