Engine bay parts off for refurbing! Before pics....

[UKDaveJ]

Having refurbished the cam-cover & airbox on my '84 car using a local specialist, I felt it was time to give the parts on my Highline the same black 'crackle-crinkle effect' powder-coated finish.

Pic of my '84 cam cover (& air-box) prior to all hoses being put back.


Glad I decided to press on with this job, one of the oil spray bar bolts was loose . Had I not taken the cam-cover off I wouldn't have spotted a potential disaster from biting my arse & pocket!

The rockers etc all look absolutely brand new, not with 190,000+ miles!

Also found a couple of hoses that were cracked & will order new ones from UK specialist 'Motormec' tomorrow, I found the same on my 84 car BTW. New air-filter also required shortly, so may as well do that at the same time!
How much is a K&N replacement filter element, anybody know?

Will post the finished pics when done. The worst part is having to polish the == BMW stripes 'out of' the powder-coated finish, but the end result will be worth it! At least on the 89 Highline I havn't got to pick out the BMW spinning prop etc, just BMW in large fat letters!

Cheers,
Dave

[UKDaveJ]

Dropped them off this morning, can't wait to see them finished!

IMHO it makes such a difference when one opens the bonnet & you see a nicely finished cam-cover & airbox, rather than a rusty airbox & grotty ally cam-cover, my 84' cam-cover was worse, now it just looks ace!

DAve

[german903]

how much dikd you spend on this project??????????'

[UKDaveJ]

how much dikd you spend on this project??????????'

About 35.00 Pounds Sterling (US keyboard, dont have a POUND sign, just $ sign) & then just a few hours (more than I care to mention ) polishing up the 'bars' & 'roundel' having picked all the paint off with a sharp blade.

Worth the effort IMHO!

Dave

[bfons]

The worst part is having to polish the == BMW stripes 'out of' the powder-coated finish, Cheers,
Dave

What method will you use to do this? I ask as I would like to spruce up my engine as well.

[UKDaveJ]

The worst part is having to polish the == BMW stripes 'out of' the powder-coated finish, Cheers,
Dave

What method will you use to do this? I ask as I would like to spruce up my engine as well.

Basically Brian, what I did last time (& guess I'll go much the same route this time) is to attack the job in three stages.

1) Carefully 'pick/scrape' the paint off that I want to remove with a razor blade. This is lengthy, fiddly, but having said that, unlike most jobs on your car, this is one you can do on your lap listening to music etc! :)

2) Once the paint is off I start to rub the exposed ally with wet n' dry paper, fine stuff! Then keep rubbing the surface until its good and smooth.
Again, time consuming but one to also do on ones' lap!

3) Ok, now with a smooth raised surface devoid of paint, use 'Autosol' metal polish & just keep working it until the level of gleam as is as you want.
I didn't lacquer the '84 cars' rocker cover & it still looks spot on now!

Defo worth it!

Dave

[ron]

Hi Dave, Was that price correct?? Unable to find anywhere local to do mine.The only place I could find was unable to blast the items and could only powdercoat.Any possibility that I could send you a box with the bits in and you could get them done for me? Regds.Ron.

[UKDaveJ]

Hi Dave, Was that price correct?? Unable to find anywhere local to do mine.The only place I could find was unable to blast the items and could only powdercoat.Any possibility that I could send you a box with the bits in and you could get them done for me? Regds.Ron.

ron, yes the price was correct at the time I had those items done earlier this year, in May to be more specific.

Dave who runs this particular Company told me the prices had gone up abit since then, so I'm expecting the cam cover to be about ?20 or so & the airbox (both halves) to come in at about ?15. On my '84 car I had an extra part which sits underneath the afm & the airbox also mounted to as I recall.

No problem to send bits to me ron, however, they don't run this black very often, basically when they've got enough bits n pieces together they'll do a run. When I go & collect mine I'll ask them to keep me informed.

My advice is to not send bits that you will need back quickly unless 'we' know they are doing a run. Alternatively I'll get Daves' number for you & then you could liase with him directly.
They do a great job & will be doing my cross-spokes as well when I'm ready!

Are you thinking of similar bits to me, or more etc?
Same finish, black 'wrinkle-crinkle-crackle'?

Cheers,

Dave

[sohlman]

Dave,

Good job once again.

I could not find the time to get the bits to you in time, but have found a local guy to me that can do the powder coating so i will get a price.

As for the K&N Filter that fits in the standard airbox, the cheapest supplier was German and Swedish and you can also get a 10% car club discount. I think mine cost around ?35 including vat. It significantly improved my fuel consumption, although don't exspect a power gain.

I take it when you are polishing the cover you will be listening to Hotel California

[UKDaveJ]

Dave,

Good job once again.

I could not find the time to get the bits to you in time, but have found a local guy to me that can do the powder coating so i will get a price.

But can he do the required shotblasting James?

As for the K&N Filter that fits in the standard airbox, the cheapest supplier was German and Swedish and you can also get a 10% car club discount. I think mine cost around ?35 including vat. It significantly improved my fuel consumption, although don't exspect a power gain.

How significant are you talking exactly then James?

I take it when you are polishing the cover you will be listening to Hotel California

Why of course, what else?!

Cheers,
Dave

[bfons]

1) Carefully 'pick/scrape' the paint off that I want to remove with a razor blade. This is lengthy, fiddly, but having said that, unlike most jobs on your car, this is one you can do on your lap listening to music etc! :)

2) Once the paint is off I start to rub the exposed ally with wet n' dry paper, fine stuff! Then keep rubbing the surface until its good and smooth.
Again, time consuming but one to also do on ones' lap!

3) Ok, now with a smooth raised surface devoid of paint, use 'Autosol' metal polish & just keep working it until the level of gleam as is as you want.
I didn't lacquer the '84 cars' rocker cover & it still looks spot on now!

Defo worth it!

Dave

Thanks Dave,

One more question to all. Has anybody taken the top off the AFM to get it chromed/polished/powdercoated? It seems like it would be easy to do but I never see it spruced up. Mine could use it that's for sure.

[UKDaveJ]

1) Carefully 'pick/scrape' the paint off that I want to remove with a razor blade. This is lengthy, fiddly, but having said that, unlike most jobs on your car, this is one you can do on your lap listening to music etc! :)

2) Once the paint is off I start to rub the exposed ally with wet n' dry paper, fine stuff! Then keep rubbing the surface until its good and smooth.
Again, time consuming but one to also do on ones' lap!

3) Ok, now with a smooth raised surface devoid of paint, use 'Autosol' metal polish & just keep working it until the level of gleam as is as you want.
I didn't lacquer the '84 cars' rocker cover & it still looks spot on now!

Defo worth it!

Dave

Thanks Dave,

One more question to all. Has anybody taken the top off the AFM to get it chromed/polished/powdercoated? It seems like it would be easy to do but I never see it spruced up. Mine could use it that's for sure.

Funnily enough Brian, I thought the same thing. Its on my list of things to look at. Mind you, if I can find one of those plastic black covers that sits on top of the AFM then thats what I'll do!

Cheers,
Dave

[josecoy]

this is mine..
before:

now:

is more nicely all black.
Always quite clean

[UKDaveJ]

Very good josecoy! :)

Is your inlet manifold power-coated or just normal paint?

Do you find your cone filter gives you any benefits over the standard air-box arrangement?

Cheers,

Dave

[sohlman]

But can he do the required shotblasting James?

Yes and acid bathing and chrome plating. Is a friend of a friend in this industry

As for the K&N Filter that fits in the standard airbox, the cheapest supplier was German and Swedish and you can also get a 10% car club discount. I think mine cost around ?35 including vat. It significantly improved my fuel consumption, although don't exspect a power gain.

How significant are you talking exactly then James?

About 3mpg better. Put it this way i achieved 31.6mpg on a motorway run driving at 80 - 90mph cruise. I reckon if i stuck to 56mph which i can't i would get 35mpg in current tune.

I take it when you are polishing the cover you will be listening to Hotel California

Why of course, what else?!

Please see my music for a six post. I have devised a top 10

Cheers,
Dave

[UKDaveJ]

James,

Interesting info there my friend!

3 mpg, thats not to be sniffed at, but am wondering whether on an auto you'd say anything like that kind of improvement?!

But, I'm willing to give it a go....

Where did you get your filter from then?

Cheers,

Dave

[josecoy]

Very good josecoy! :)

Is your inlet manifold power-coated or just normal paint?

Do you find your cone filter gives you any benefits over the standard air-box arrangement?

Cheers,

Dave

I remove the admission and the lid and let's paint everything the same color.The filter I put it because it is mas comfortably to remove the candlesticks(spark plugs) and other things. .

[UKDaveJ]

Homework, must learn spanish.... :)

josecoy - thank you, think I understand! :?

Dave

[UKDaveJ]

I'm one happy bunny! Again, great result as I'm sure you'll agree!

Am currently in two minds as to whether to pick n polish up the bars etc, kinda looks cool all in black! Besides, the airbox covers alot of the cam-cover anyway. What do you think?
Answers on a postcard......

Cheers,
Dave

[ron]

You are obviously going to eat your dinner off them now!!!!!

[UKDaveJ]

You are obviously going to eat your dinner off them now!!!!!

LOL, you guessed!

Yours' might well be done by the middle of next week ron!

Dave

[sohlman]

polish out the lines it will look better.

j

[UKDaveJ]

Well, I've got round to refitting the cam cover, airbox, afm bracket etc to my Highline.

I had been in two minds as to whether to pick & polish the BMW & =, but in the end decided to leave in 100% crackle black.

I think it looks the dogs bollocks & don't intend to change it at this point.

Dave

[bcadmin]

Funnily enough Brian, I thought the same thing. Its on my list of things to look at. Mind you, if I can find one of those plastic black covers that sits on top of the AFM then thats what I'll do!

Cheers,
Dave

Well, apparently the cover is plastic. I'm working on a plastic cover to replace the stock waffle cover (ugly). I hope to get this mass produced and make Billions on EBAY!!! Actually, I do want to make a few and sell them to my fellow Shark Nuts.

[sohlman]

Dave i have started stripping engine bits off the car. Spent 2 hours today cleaning and scrubbing and polishing the rocker cover. I will do the inlet manifold tomorow. I am taking your lead. May need to get some bits over to your guy to have them sand blasted and powder coated in a crackle finish.

Will keep you posted.