jeffrored92

Anybody done it? I had a quick search but didn't come up with anything useful.

Haven't budgeted for a new cat-back in the near future. Stock will have to do for now but I'd like to spiff it up a bit.

When the car is washed and waxed, the dull exhaust is letting the team down.

tookwik

If its metal it can be polished. Tricky part is determining what type of polishes and grit paper to use. If your exhaust was coated black like i think all stockers where then I would highly recommend stripping the black coating off first by some means other than sandpaper. It will make your job a lot easier.

maxcooper

You can polish anything, but it won't necessarily turn out shiny. 304 stainless gets shiny, 409 does not, and neither does mild steel. Those are the common exhaust materials. I am sure the stock exhaust is not 304, so it isn't going to get shiny when you polish it.

-Max

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

The tips are chrome, they can be polished up nicely if they have dirt and tar on them.

Don't bother with the rest of the exhaust.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I'm with Jeff. Get some Turtle Wax chrome polish and go to work. The can itself isn't polishable - it's mild steel, and would just rust on you.

If you wanna put some elbow grease in, pull the stock exhaust off, use a Scotchbrite pad to get the crud and surface rust off the exhaust, clean with a rag and Prep-Sol, then spraypaint with high-temp black paint.

You can also use the Coke and aluminum foil trick on the tips. It actually works - pour Coke on the exhaust, then scrub with a wadded up piece of aluminum foil.

Dale

jeffrored92

Cheers Gents!

I'll start with the tips and see how I go.

SteveF

Hey,

I was just curious if anyone had pics of the stock exhaust painted. I am thinking about doing this and I've seen pictures of the muffler painted black before, but I'd like to see them again.

I'd like to see pics of black and silver/gray. Hopefully one of you guys ha some pics or can take some

Thanks,

Steve

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Here's what I use to clean and shine up the metal parts of the car:

http://www.autobarn.net/ch200.html

It's a little messy, but works great.

SteveF

I got impatient and I'm working on this right now. I'll post before/after and progress pics tonight or tomorrow for anyone that is interested.

Steve

jeffrored92

Pretty stupid post by me really, I should have just gone to the car store and had a look for metal polishes.

Anyway I bypassed the coke trick because for Aus $10 I found a nice bottle of metal polish, and I barely used any of it. That way I saved the coke for my bourbon

In the near future I will put in some hours and repaint the rest of the cat-back black, because it looks pretty shocking as it is right now. Thanks again boyz.

jeffrored92

Yep I'll be interested to see the results.

SteveF

Ok here we go. Here is what I used, along with before and after.

SteveF

and...

jeffrored92

Cheers big ears

Because you're VR and I'm VR, I'm thinking of doing the same but maybe using chrome/silver paint to show the other forum members the difference.

Then again, I think the coke I saved to use with the bourbon is causing me to have trouble typing so we shall just see what happens.

Looks good though champ

jeffrored92

Well I've pulled the cat back - those rubber things are a biatch but WD-40 sorted them right out.

I've sprayed half of the can with high temp black paint, should dry to touch in 15-30 mins so I can spray the other side. I've noticed some loose material rattling around in the CatBack though, it doesnt seem to want to fall out. I guess it might be time for a new one soon, although I haven't heard any rattling noise while driving yet, and I always have the windows down.

Can't post any pics because my ex has my camera