Engine bay tart up

[Borris]

Hi all, so today I spent 5 hours on the exterior of my car and Borris is looking mighty fine. 
 

However, I pop the bonnet and things just aren’t up to scratch. Is there an engine bay dress up “how to” on here. Had a decent look but haven’t seen anything. I’ve got a week off work and would love to spend some serious time in there. 
 

Does anyone have product suggestions and previous experience I can leech from?

 

Thanks 😊 

[Payco]

You could polish it to death with your dremel and polishing wheel like I did to my 350Z 10 years ago. Or hydro dip it like i did later on. 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Payco

[Loadmaster]

I think that member @Willsy1980 here has done that sort of thing to his engine bay - Nut, bolt, fastener dress up. Give him a shout.

Edited August 17, 2022 by Loadmaster

[daveo132]

I've been doing some of this.  I've just been buying bolts and washers as and when from ebay.

I came across this list (i think buried on this forum) which contained a lot of sizes.

 

DE Engine

 

Plenum

9 m6x25mm

3 m6x40mm

4 m6x60mm

2 m6 nuts

6? m6x16mm

 

Headlights

(2) M6x1.00x20mm flat head allen bolts

(2) M6 countersunk washers

 

Strut Bar

(6) M10x1.25x25mm flanged hex bolts (use 30mm if you have a DE with a plenum spacer)

(2) M10x1.25 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(8) M10 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged bolts/nuts above)

 

Shock Towers

(6) M8 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(6) M8 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged nuts above)

 

Power Steering Bolts

(3) M6x1.00x25mm flat head allen bolts

(3) M6 countersunk washers

 

Radiator Support

(4) M8x1.25x16mm flat head allen bolts

(4) M8 countersunk washers

 

Hood

(4) M8 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(4) M8 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged nuts above)

 

Throttle Body

(4) m6x1.00x60mm metric allen bolts

(4) m6 flat washers (the smaller the outside diameter the better)

 

Fender

(6) M6x1.00x20mm flat head allen bolts

(6) M6 countersunk washers

(4) M8x1.25x16mm flat head allen bolts

(4) M8 countersunk washers

[Borris]

19 hours ago, Payco said:

You could polish it to death with your dremel and polishing wheel like I did to my 350Z 10 years ago. Or hydro dip it like i did later on. 

my gosh! this is just porn! very nice buddy.

[Borris]

1 hour ago, daveo132 said:

I've been doing some of this.  I've just been buying bolts and washers as and when from ebay.

I came across this list (i think buried on this forum) which contained a lot of sizes.

 

DE Engine

 

Plenum

9 m6x25mm

3 m6x40mm

4 m6x60mm

2 m6 nuts

6? m6x16mm

 

Headlights

(2) M6x1.00x20mm flat head allen bolts

(2) M6 countersunk washers

 

Strut Bar

(6) M10x1.25x25mm flanged hex bolts (use 30mm if you have a DE with a plenum spacer)

(2) M10x1.25 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(8) M10 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged bolts/nuts above)

 

Shock Towers

(6) M8 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(6) M8 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged nuts above)

 

Power Steering Bolts

(3) M6x1.00x25mm flat head allen bolts

(3) M6 countersunk washers

 

Radiator Support

(4) M8x1.25x16mm flat head allen bolts

(4) M8 countersunk washers

 

Hood

(4) M8 flanged nuts (normal hex nuts work too but require washers)

(4) M8 flat washers (these are only needed if you don't use flanged nuts above)

 

Throttle Body

(4) m6x1.00x60mm metric allen bolts

(4) m6 flat washers (the smaller the outside diameter the better)

 

Fender

(6) M6x1.00x20mm flat head allen bolts

(6) M6 countersunk washers

(4) M8x1.25x16mm flat head allen bolts

(4) M8 countersunk washers

Brilliant, thank you very much. I need to degrease everything fist. will get some before/after pics for you lot.

[Borris]

2 hours ago, Loadmaster said:

I think that member @Willsy1980 here has done that sort of thing to his engine bay - Nut, bolt, fastener dress up. Give him a shout.

Nice one. ill give him a holla soon

[ilogikal1]

For straight up cleaning;

 

Remove any parts you want to get under properly first (and clean those off the car to save your back!).

 

A steam cleaner is by far the easiest route if you have, or just want an excuse to get, one

 

Or, if you've got an abundance of energy to burn and you're a masochist, then a f**ktonne of elbow grease, eleventy billion cloths and some decent degreaser (Bilt Hamber Surfex HD). Followed up with a snow foam, agitate with a detailing brush and rinse (with the pressure washer if you're confident, open hose if you're not - avoid any sensitive bits like the battery and air intake), follow up with some APC if needed (any cheap supermarket brand will do the same thing as anything more expensive/branded).

 

Replace any removed parts if you haven't already.

 

To dress, AutoGlym Rubber and Vinyl Care (spray on everywhere, liberally, close the bonnet and walk away). Admire your efforts when it's dried naturally (don't try to force dry it) and job jobbed. Until the next time.

 

 

[Willsy1980]

On 17/08/2022 at 17:20, Borris said:

Nice one. ill give him a holla soon

 

Ive not gone to great lengths as such, I was doing it the hard way to be honest. Buying counter sunk M6 and Dome top M8 bolts in Stainless from Pro-Bolt, counter sunk washers in Red from Exo-sport. For things like Expansion tank cover, head lights, cam sensors, power steering tank. Im actually thinking of re-planning and replacing a lot of them, the anodised 'Red' is a little pink for my taste 

But the likes of Torqen do kits in a variety of colours (just didn't have red when I was doing mine) As yours is blue, there is a kit that matches yours quite well, certainly a good starting point for the swap out.

Feel free to DM me anytime can send you links to bits ive used 

[Borris]

On 21/08/2022 at 20:11, Willsy1980 said:

 

Ive not gone to great lengths as such, I was doing it the hard way to be honest. Buying counter sunk M6 and Dome top M8 bolts in Stainless from Pro-Bolt, counter sunk washers in Red from Exo-sport. For things like Expansion tank cover, head lights, cam sensors, power steering tank. Im actually thinking of re-planning and replacing a lot of them, the anodised 'Red' is a little pink for my taste 

But the likes of Torqen do kits in a variety of colours (just didn't have red when I was doing mine) As yours is blue, there is a kit that matches yours quite well, certainly a good starting point for the swap out.

Feel free to DM me anytime can send you links to bits ive used 

Thanks mate. I’ll have a look at the torqen kits! 

[Borris]

On 17/08/2022 at 19:37, ilogikal1 said:

For straight up cleaning;

 

Remove any parts you want to get under properly first (and clean those off the car to save your back!).

 

A steam cleaner is by far the easiest route if you have, or just want an excuse to get, one

 

Or, if you've got an abundance of energy to burn and you're a masochist, then a f**ktonne of elbow grease, eleventy billion cloths and some decent degreaser (Bilt Hamber Surfex HD). Followed up with a snow foam, agitate with a detailing brush and rinse (with the pressure washer if you're confident, open hose if you're not - avoid any sensitive bits like the battery and air intake), follow up with some APC if needed (any cheap supermarket brand will do the same thing as anything more expensive/branded).

 

Replace any removed parts if you haven't already.

 

To dress, AutoGlym Rubber and Vinyl Care (spray on everywhere, liberally, close the bonnet and walk away). Admire your efforts when it's dried naturally (don't try to force dry it) and job jobbed. Until the next time.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. As for the elbow grease, I’m super weird and like to do everything by hand. But not adverse to pressure washing an engine bay, I always do it haha. 
 

mill get her prepped before Go Japan and do before/after pics

[ilogikal1]

11 hours ago, Borris said:

Thanks for the advice. As for the elbow grease, I’m super weird and like to do everything by hand. But not adverse to pressure washing an engine bay, I always do it haha. 
 

mill get her prepped before Go Japan and do before/after pics

 

In that case, detailing brushes (such as these) and a lot of disposable (i.e. cheapest cloths you can find - Amazon ones are good for this job) microfibre cloths - and when I say a lot, buy as many as you think you'll need. Twice. Then add some more. Don't use your decent cloths, you'll ruin them - are an absolute must. I can't understate how many cloths you'll need in order to do it properly!

 

Bilt Hamber Surfex HD - diluted as needed (at least 5:1). Work in sections and don't let it dry, especially on plastics. Use the brushes/coths to loosen as much dirt and grease as possible before foaming.

 

Most importantly, don't forget to post the pictures!