Engine bay

Had a bit of time today, so I made a start on the engine bay. Still plenty of work to do, but I'm quite pleased for now :D

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...pslokiumx9.jpg

Particularly pleased with the scuttle panel, I tried a new product (to me) Car Pro DLux. The panel looked awful before, very faded, but a good scrub down, and just one coat of DLux got it looking like this (I reckon another coat will have it looking like new):

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psmqkrd4r6.jpg

Like I said, plenty more to do, a few stone chips to fix, then a machine polish etc, should hopefully be looking good for the summer!

Looks really good!
Need to do mine too.:-)
A clean engine bay gives you less problems I think.

What have you done with your headlights? I can see the flexible led strip which I bought myself but they didn't iluminate enough but you seem to have changed the high beam light? Is it twin low beam or are they still high beam? Better light?

Looking very good, Ian!
Word of caution to anyway tackling a dirty engine and engine bay (bitter experience for me): DON'T hand it over to anyone else to do. I had the crank oil-seal fail on a V6 which left the whole engine-bay covered in filth and oil. Had it "professionally" cleaned, the result of which, a few weeks later, was a failed alternator and ABS module. Two years later I'm still getting electrical problems tracing back to connectors in the engine-bay. Aggressive solvent and pressure cleaning I guess.

David

On the subject of detailing, what advice does anyone have about removing the white oxidation from aluminium/alloy engine bits? Lack of cleaning and 200k miles (previous owner!) have left a lot of bits around the front cover, throttle-body etc. particularly looking pretty terrible, even when degreased and washed. It would take me months with the biker's friend Solvol Autosol !

Edit: I've heard about something called aluminium jelly (??) but no one in this neck of the woods knows what I'm talking about; neither do I!
Some know of Naval jelly (Loctite??) but that's for rust on iron/steel parts.

David

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by peterv8

What have you done with your headlights?

---

It's a full four beam hi/lo bi-xenon set up. I swapped out the original 3" projector for a bi-xenon unit, then added an aftermarket bi-xenon main.

It gives me four dip and four main beams, and yes, it's very bright! The dip beams are brilliant, with a really sharp cut-off, the MOT man was very happy with them.

At the moment I've got LED bulbs in the "main beam", as they don't draw as much current as xenons, and are also instant start, so flash works fine.

It took a fair bit of head scratching to get the wiring and relay spot on, but all seems good so far. I've also got LED side lights in, which are hidden by the projector unit, but give a lovely white glow when switched on.

The flexible LED DRLs are OKish, but not really bright enough, maybe back to the drawing board on that, I've got a few ideas....

I'l get some pics/video when it gets dark :D

Here's the lights in all their glory..

DRLs

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psxe90vksv.jpg

Side lights

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psykvue6rg.jpg

Dip beam

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psadbcctje.jpg

Dip beam cut off

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psaukq18jh.jpg

Main beam

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...psdlch7ak6.jpg

Main beam pattern

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/...pshruxocsr.jpg

Should give an impression of what they're like, I will get a video of them on a dark lane at another time, it's just started raining....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David

I've heard about something called aluminium jelly (??) but no one in this neck of the woods knows what I'm talking about; neither do I!

---

I've never used it, but is this what you mean?

http://tldrify.com/m9j

Looks a good idea, anything has to be better than elbow grease and polish!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian

I've never used it, but is this what you mean?

http://tldrify.com/m9j

Looks a good idea, anything has to be better than elbow grease and polish!

---

Thanks for that tip, Ian. That looks like the stuff I was talking about.
I'll get onto them and see if I can get it in Europe or direct from them in the US.
If not, I'll have to try Amazon.com or some such.

Thanks again.

David

I like the four beam idea, as you say it should give you really good lighting and on the picture I have never seen so sharp cut off!
I wish the flexi led was as bright for real as on the photo.:-)

Let us know how it goes!

Anyone tried this aluminium cleaner, great reviews? http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/car-care-...ngine-cleaner/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MIKE ZT-T

Anyone tried this aluminium cleaner, great reviews? http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/car-care-...ngine-cleaner/

---

That sounds like it should do the job. Reviews on US sites of the jelly weren't too good anyway. Quit a few other products of interest on that site by the look of it. JetLaq for protecting alloy during over-winter 'lay-up's, for example. Interesting. Thank you, Mike.

Edit: See they have some wax there at 425 quid for a 300ml jar. Must be good stuff !!

David