Winter Punchlist moving along.

[NY Twin Turbo]

Some of you may know that I do most of the work on my Buick under the most wretched working conditions. In a rented garage with no lift, no heat, no space, no electricity, no compressor and blacktop that's nothing more than packed gravel. To make it worse, I can't make much noise or the gig is up.

But I'm not going to let a little snow stop me this time. Every year I make up my punchlist throughout the driving season and save it up for the winter. I have already begun to cross items of this list. I have to stay on schedule or I won't take the car out until the last week of June (like last year). Today I dug the crappy beater out of the snow and used it to bring the parts to the office garage.

I needed to give my two downpipes their annual TLC. If you don't keep up with this stuff it can get away from you fast. Check it out.

 

[fastblackracing]

Nice....what do like like to use on the stainless to shine it up Joey?

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

The first time I did it, years ago, I started with sand paper. After taking down all the nicks and scratches, I worked the whole pipe down in stages to 2000 grit with water. It was complete torture. I used all the damned tools I had and still had to rub it out by hand. Stainless is hard! Then finally I used the grinder with a cotton buffing pad and grey rouge. It took days. Mainly because I didn't have a formula. I just kept going until I was satisfied. I got it to look like frigging chrome!

Today, things are easier. I just have to maintain. So I skip it all and go to the final stage. I don't have time to pay attention to all the little scratches. Though, from time to time, I get a deep scratch or a big heat pitting and out comes the sandpaper again. Either way, I'm always covered in black residue and after I clean up, I still look like I was wearing mascara the day before.

They turn goldish almost imediatley after starting the car. But they wont go to dark gold for the entire season. The trick is to never start the car if the downpipes are dirty! Make sure they are not wet and have no finger prints on them. No oil, nothing. Otherwise the stains will burn right into the stainless steel!

 

[achalmersman]

Ugh. Love seeing pictures of your engine bay. But man you make me feel lazy. I wouldn't even consider spending that much time polishing pipes lol

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

Ugh. Love seeing pictures of your engine bay. But man you make me feel lazy. I wouldn't even consider spending that much time polishing pipes lol

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

Well, we just had a blizzard. If I don't keep going, I'll climb the walls!

In order to work on my car, I have to push it out of the garage. Can't do this in a blizzard. So I polished my pipes.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

Still moving along.

Today, I got on my Wilwood replacement calipers. I didn't get a chance to bleed the brakes yet. Probably won't do that until next week. I can't seem to find someone to give me a hand with that. My better half is taking weekend classes. The reason for the new calipers was discussed with a few of you in other threads. Hope it will be a part of solving my little annoying brake problem. We'll see.

Also, I got my headers back from Jet-Hot on Thursday night. I was some-what disappointed. But this was not unexpected and it's not Jet-Hot's fault. Years ago they coated the headers with their high-luster bright chrome-like finish. They told me it wouldn't hold up to a TR's EGT. I wanted it anyway and they were right. But, I was happy. Because they were flat out, frigging GORGEOUS! It still lasted about 5 years! After that, I had them done local. The guy did a good job. But no one is as good as Jet-Hot. You get what you pay for.

This time, I asked Jet-Hot for the same coating they used the first time. I figured 5 years was good enough. The sales rep said there was no way they would do it and that it wouldn't last even a single day! Apparently, the high-luster finish they have now still looks as good as before, but today it lacks a key ingredient it had back then. The EPA regulated it's use or something.

So instead I got the 2500 degree stuff. Yea, it's strong and heat resistant, but it's not beautiful. Just flat dark grey with a very slight metallic. BORING!

Tomorrow I may put them on.

In my engine compartment, I've also completed electrical work for my-hot wire connections to Injectors, ignition, and XFI. I won't finish this work for a week or 2. I need to remove my front seat for all electrical work under the dash. Pain in the ass!!!

Also, I sent my Aeromotive Pro-Pump back for a re freshening. I got that back last week. I installed it already with new pre and post filter elements.

New Drag radials (Mickey Thompson ET Street R p325/50r15) went on 2 weeks ago. Even though they are the same size I've used in the past, they look ridiculous! They bulge out different then the old standard ET Streets. Now I need new rear rims and a notch job for sure! But this isn't on the winter punchlist. So this will have to wait until summer or next year.

 

[larry33kc]

What is the temp spec on that coating?

I do Cerakote coatings.
https://www.facebook.com/LM-Coatings-470233369809223/

I have been mainly doing firearms but I will be doing some automotive stuff in the future.
I am curious about their color called Chromex, for hood hinges and brackets ect. Maybe the headers? But don't know if it will hold up. It has a 1800 deg rating.
One thing with that color they say it is polish able. They have well over 100 colors total.

It won't let me upload the pic of the Chromex but I could text it to you

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

What is the temp spec on that coating?

I think it's like 800 max. My car almost idles at that temp!
But back when I got it the first time, it was like 1200. Still not good enough, but it looked good for quite a while. Now, I guess I don't have to worry about it anymore. Because now the headers are rated to 2500 degrees. I wasn't too interested in shopping around though. I was happy with Jet-Hots service the first time so I just went with them again.

Text it anyway. I'd like to see it. 914-272-5473 (work mobile phone)

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

I'll post some pics later tonight.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

The brakes..................

The headers...................

The tires...................

 

[toofastforyou]

The tires...................

Joey…aren't these the new Mickey Thompson "RADIAL PRO"s ? If "yes", you're going to like them. At Bowling Green last October, a lot of the "TSO" cars had them. They seem to hook as much if not better than slicks! When my slicks will be worn out, I might get a set… Looks like they now have some 315-60-15's (almost 30" high!)…see pic below


See 'ya,

Claude.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

Joey…aren't these the new Mickey Thompson "RADIAL PRO"s ? If "yes", you're going to like them. At Bowling Green last October, a lot of the "TSO" cars had them. They seem to hook as much if not better than slicks! When my slicks will be worn out, I might get a set… Looks like they now have some 315-60-15's (almost 30" high!)…see pic below
View attachment 273085

See 'ya,

Claude.

No, they are not. They are the ET Street R's. They are available in more sizes (wider). I believe they will soon replace the standard ET Street tires in Mickey Thompson's line up. Still, they have the R2 compound. I wanted them last spring. But just didn't get around to it. Now they're on! Brian mounted them up for me a few weeks ago.

 

[NY Twin Turbo]

Nothing on the Buick will be done this weekend.

It's ZERO degrees outside and I have to work !!!!!