Engine bay makeover.

[J-jizzle]

Got bored today and decided to paint my valve cover and Hitachi "E" coil packs. Also polished the top of my intake mani.. Imo it looks alot better than a big piece of plastic. Here are some 2 megapixel cell pics.

[A4natomical]

kinda looks nice.
reminds me of the s4 coilpacks.

[jrau13]

How did you polish your intake mani and did you remove to do so?

[B6Lovin]

did you remove the valve cover to paint it? jw

[mike-2ptzero]

Looks good. Just missing a few things to finish it off.

[J-jizzle]

kinda looks nice.
reminds me of the s4 coilpacks.

thats what gave me the Idea.

How did you polish your intake mani and did you remove to do so?

You could remove it but its a pain to do so for one evening (also didn't have another new gasket). Since I only polished the top flat part I did not remove it. Just used a power sander, starting with 180 grit, then 320, then 1000, and finaly 1000 grit wet. Then polished with Mothers metel polish.

did you remove the valve cover to paint it? jw

Yes I did remove the valve cover. The coil packs however I painted while they where installed. (they where a final thought)

Looks good. Just missing a few things to finish it off.

Like a BAT

[absolutegtr]

Did you have to replace your valve cover gasket?

(I am debating if I should paint my valve cover black, or polish it up.....)

[mike-2ptzero]

Did you have to replace your valve cover gasket?

(I am debating if I should paint my valve cover black, or polish it up.....)

You shouldn't need to replace the gasket unless it is leaking or gets torn when pulling it off.

I pull my valve cover all the time and haven't had to replace my gasket.

[absolutegtr]

Well, I decided to pull off my valve cover today because when I replaced my gasket about 10K miles ago I never cleaned the sludge buildup underneath it. So i got that done tonight, and tomorrow morning I will polish it all up. i also polished up the intake mani tonight.

This is the first time I have "detailed" the engine bay since i bought the car, lol

[J-jizzle]

Well, I decided to pull off my valve cover today because when I replaced my gasket about 10K miles ago I never cleaned the sludge buildup underneath it. So i got that done tonight, and tomorrow morning I will polish it all up. i also polished up the intake mani tonight.

This is the first time I have "detailed" the engine bay since i bought the car, lol

What did you use to clean the valve cover with. I used Fast Orange hand wash degreaser and a tooth brush. It worked good for me.

[Doctor]

Hello there. I am thinking of painting the valve cover too.
Was it easy to take it off...?
I mean just the 10 bolts or so...? Or nuts, whatever they are...
I know about the gasket I will a get a new one and change it either way, just 10euros, I dont care...
Did u use a heat-protected colour...? if so, which one...?
Did you primer it...?

Thanks in advance

[D.C. Designs]

nothing is sexier then a polished manifold good job you guys

[heateris]

very nice work.

[doublezero30]

nice work. when im not lazy im going to do mine. dont know when that time will be.

for those wondering, i did my valve cover gasket on my old 2002 and it took about 1hr total. not too hard.

and no you dont HAVE to replace your gasket if its not ripped, but its a good idea. extra insurance to know everythings ok.

[articONE]

what do u guys think of a powder coated dark gunmetal V.C. mine is getting done early next week.

[J-jizzle]

Hello there. I am thinking of painting the valve cover too.
Was it easy to take it off...?
I mean just the 10 bolts or so...? Or nuts, whatever they are...
I know about the gasket I will a get a new one and change it either way, just 10euros, I dont care...
Did u use a heat-protected colour...? if so, which one...?
Did you primer it...?

Thanks in advance

yes it is easy to take off. I did not use primer, the paint was Engine Enamel from Auto Zone.

[boy412]

What's that shiny metal box to the right of the airbox? Heat shield or something? Engine bay looks nice!

[Doctor]

yes it is easy to take off. I did not use primer, the paint was Engine Enamel from Auto Zone.

So it would not be a good idea to do it with a common colour spray...
I should buy a special engine one instead...
However the colours there are limited...

But I am afraid that with a common colour spray it would boil or get nasty...

[Turbo1A4]

looks good im gonna have to do mine some day

[vinny.dtw]

That looks awesome.

[J-jizzle]

What's that shiny metal box to the right of the airbox? Heat shield or something? Engine bay looks nice!

Yes it is a heat shield that still utilizes the back half of the old air box.

[J-jizzle]

So it would not be a good idea to do it with a common colour spray...
I should buy a special engine one instead...
However the colours there are limited...

But I am afraid that with a common colour spray it would boil or get nasty...

Its hard to say. Some might work others might not.

[forevraudi]

just use high temp spray

[2001A6]

I polished mine when I did valve cover gaskets. Cant see it though, 2.8s are ugly with out the cover.
I like your black VC, looks nice. Polished manifold to. Nice Job!

[Doctor]

just use high temp spray

Will do. I held myself from taking it off tonight...
Must decide on the colour too...
Either black matte, or blue anodiosed-like, like D2 Calipers...



Suggestions are welcome

[Doctor]

Will do. I held myself from taking it off tonight...
Must decide on the colour too...
Either black matte, or blue anodiosed-like, like D2 Calipers...



Suggestions are welcome

Thanks to the op for the inspiration
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...12#post3216312

[boy412]

Yes it is a heat shield that still utilizes the back half of the old air box.

DIY or is this a commercial product?

Cheers...

[J-jizzle]

DIY or is this a commercial product?

Cheers...

It is the only thing I still use from my P.O.S. Afe Intake.

[Doctor]

I did mine too...Thanks for the help

[boy412]

I think that's the nicest looking engine bay I've yet seen! The contrast of the blue bolts is a nice touch, likewise with the silver/grey filler caps and the white (?) coil packs.

But whats up with the aluminum foil on those lines? And what the hell is that part anyway?

:)

Usually I don't like the look of bay without the engine cover, but this is making me think again. Is that a cover on the right hand side, or did you just paint the washer fluid reservoir?

Well done sir!

[D.C. Designs]

I did mine too...Thanks for the help

VERY NICE

[VAG_4ever]

powdercoating>polishing

[audikid66]

how long did it take to do the intake mani? and u werent worried bout metal particles around ur engine bay wen u were sanding? looks great man

[jursch2211]

I think that's the nicest looking engine bay I've yet seen!

Calling Lee!

[vinny.dtw]

powdercoating>polishing

DIY > shelling out money to do it.

[dougyfresh]

My engine is black. Black is stealth. Black is cool.

[Doctor]

Thank you all for your feedback.
Not to hijack the thread, just posted the pics to thank the op, for the inspiration and help through it....

To answer some questions asked, the colour of the coilpacks is the original of the "E" Hitachi Coilpacks, the bolts were painted by me, the aluminium tape is heat shield around the two hose lines for the catch tank, and the caps and everything else, including the black water fluid tank, were done by me :)

For more info, so as not to hijack the thread, search Track-Spec A4 B7 @ B7 A4 SubForum...

Cheers, from Greece

[mtbrider]

I just finished changing my valve cover gasket and while I had it off I used a high temp crinkle coat to paint my valve cover. I used red and it came out pretty good. My buddy has his off right now and is polishing it

[B6Lovin]

I just finished changing my valve cover gasket and while I had it off I used a high temp crinkle coat to paint my valve cover. I used red and it came out pretty good. My buddy has his off right now and is polishing it

PICTARZ NOW!

i love wrinkle red.... im such a jdm honda bitch

[chadb2434]

Looks great, doc