Polished the Stainless side-pipes ~pics~

[CobraRed_96_GT]

If people would like i could make a how-to thread in tech about how to polish stainless - it isn't really the same process as polishing aluminum at all. I used wet sand grits and metal polish then poor boy's paste wax (to prevent rubber from sticking to pipe again) - but the proper way is emery and stainless compound on power tools, but this way works as well.

Having exit pipes by the tires and low to the ground make for a pretty abrasive environment.
Before:

While wet sanding, the tire side of the pipes were covered in old burnt rubber from the track and the like which was cemented onto the pipes. This was indeed hard to dislodge, it was like taking off cement from steel.

Ahh the simplicity of properly made side-pipes

My home made terrycloth/cotton buffer

Finished polishing after the last 3000 grit run through:

On the car, sorry for poor lighting:

just dust sitting on top of the pipe:

 

[EPIK]

Lookin good Chris

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Lookin good Chris

gracias

 

[mransr]

good job!

but when I read the title of the thread I wondered how (and why) somebody put something like these on their Mustang:
View attachment 325018

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

good job!

but when I read the title of the thread I wondered how (and why) somebody put something like these on their Mustang:
View attachment 325016

Side-exit-pipes have too many dashes

 

[BennyBlown2v]

Looks much better dude! I would recommend doing the entire setup, then using a high-temp clear coat, that way you can wax em

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Looks much better dude! I would recommend doing the entire setup, then using a high-temp clear coat, that way you can wax em

The pipes we bent are not stainless, cant really polish em. Thought about polishing the mufflers cuz it'd be easy. But there's really no point

 

[salstang]

Looks good. I like the Dewalt polisher

 

[BennyBlown2v]

The pipes we bent are not stainless, cant really polish em. Thought about polishing the mufflers cuz it'd be easy. But there's really no point

Word, word...paint them with some hi-temp black then, it'll keep them from rusting and getting generally dirty again (did it to my mid-pipe and collectors in the worst spots, heh).

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Word, word...paint them with some hi-temp black then, it'll keep them from rusting and getting generally dirty again (did it to my mid-pipe and collectors in the worst spots, heh).

It's not so much rust as it is just dirty, cuz the piping is aluminized. But that's a good idea, would look cool from the back of the car.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Looks good. I like the Dewalt polisher

Straight custom! Thanks, man

 

[Black'02]

Looks really good. I would definately read a how-to thread, including any products used. My tips look like crap due to winter driving and i would love to get them looking good again.

 

[mixedbreed02gt]

polished mine up 2 weeks ago.

get some soap and water, steel wool, and 1500 grit sandpaper, simple green, and bug and tar remover.

get some boiling hot water, put it in a bucket dip the tips in there, and let them soak for a few minutes get the stuff on there nice and warmed up. take your bug and tar remover and wet your 1500 grit and starting lightly sanding in one direction only. then take your simple green and spray them good, let em sit for about 5 minutes. now with the simple green still on the tips, take your steel wool and rub back and forth in the same direction as you did with the sandpaper. once that's done, rinse the tips off, and dry them really good. now take some blue magic metal polish (works on chrome, steel, aluminum) and apply generous coats to both tips...let it set for about 5 - 10 minutes. now take a damp (i stress damp, not wet) cloth and start buffing manually, and use some elbow grease. once you have the desired result, wipe 'em dry and you're done. now go reinstall them and show 'em off.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

yeah, polishing in the same direction is important on stainless, i uses blue magic too - but i thought you're supposed to use a dry cloth to buff off. They look good tho!

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

Looks really good. I would definately read a how-to thread, including any products used. My tips look like crap due to winter driving and i would love to get them looking good again.

I might just make a how-to, I'll see if there are any similar one's yet