Since I get so many PM's and questions about this, I figured I would make a thread to help anyone who wants to try this on their own or just see how it's done.
Items needed for this job:
1) Wet Sand Paper of varoius grits. 100, 220, 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000
2) 150 Grit Flapper Wheel (Optional)
3) Drill
4) Spray Bottle of Water (Add 1 drop of dish washing liquid to full bottle. ie. Dawn)
5) Cotton Buffing Wheel (Mothers Power Ball will not work nearly as well)
6) Mothers Mag Aluminum Polish
7) Towels to wipe off the polish with
8) And last but not least, a strong arm and shoulder muscles (You'll need it! LOL.....)
The exhaust I am doing is a Borla system, but as long as it is stainless steel it should come out the same. (Aluminized pipes, such as MAC and Flowmaster or some Bassani's, will NOT come out like this but you can clean it up a little by sanding it.)
Here are the pipes as they come from Borla. (These are a from new Stinger System)
Here you can see the dull "Brushed" finish that most cat backs come with. You can see the marks from the mandrel bender as well.
To help get out some of the marks from the mandrel tubing bender I chose to use a "150 Grit Flapper Wheel" attachment for my drill. This is optional but it may save some of your arm strength for the sanding to come.
This kit came with 2 wheels. I used the 150 grit wheel.
Attached to drill.
After sanding with the wheel you will come up with something like this.
I started out with 100 grit sand paper by hand. I used some heavy duty rubber gloves I bought at Home Depot to help save my fingers. (Use gloves if you want to keep your finger tips!)
This is what it will come out like after the 100.
The paper broke down with the 100 so I went right to the 320 grit then 400. Here's what the pipe will look like after 400. (Ignore the bend that used for testing which was already about done.)
Next to the stock pipe with the 400.
Next up was the 600 grit. You can see it starting to shine just a little bit.
Next to the stock pipe with the 600.
From there I moved on to 1000 grit. Here's what you should end up with.
Next to the stock pipe with the 1000.
Next up was the 1500 grit.
Next to the stock pipe with the 1500 grit.
And finally the 2000 grit. It almost looks polished at this point.
Next to the stock pipe with the 2000 grit.
For the final step I used a cotton buffing wheel on my drill along with some Mothers Mag Aluminum Polish. This is where the "Magic" really happens!
Here are the results of all your hard work!
Polished pipe VS Stock.
And here's what they will look like on the car! You can see the reflection of the ground and now you can blind people from behind you at night. LOL...
Great writeup Kevin! This thread is going to lead to a lot of sore shoulders and forearms over the next few weekends! To all you guys getting ready to do this be prepared to set aside about 5-6 hours just for the sanding and polishing alone, but the end result is well worth it!
____________________________________ Black 2003 Cobra
Posi Ported Blower, Dragon TB/Plenum, RR 2.65/Metco 4lb, Bassani Headers, Mac Prochamber, Borla Stingers, JLT RAI w/ 12" Filter, Compucar Wet Kit, SCT PRP.
New numbers one day.......
6.9 @102 Eaton
11.00 @ 127 Eaton
6.88 @ 104 Best 1/8...Ported Eaton/50 shot N2O
10.71 @ 133 Best 1/4...Ported Eaton/50 shot N2O
Posi Ported Eaton pushed this car into the 9's with no Nitrous! Current 1/4 mile Record Holder with a 9.94 @ 135mph and only Eaton in the 9's without Nitrous! Ever. http://www.svtperformance.com/forums...only-baby.html
just finished 1 side of my exhaust following your steps from your old post, turned out great, what a cheap mod, but makes the world of difference, thanks for a great write-up..
On a side not, what do yall use to just lube up the rubber exhaust hangers to get the catback exhaust hangers lips through the hole?...mine are startin' to dry rot... (man that sounds perverted, lol)
Last edited by Jomo1994z71; 02-08-2009 at 03:32 PM.
You guys waxing those when finished? I'm just curious also of how often you have to touch them back up also?
Looks great and perfect write-up.
Brian as often as you drive your car you might only need to touch it up once a year or so. Seriously though after polishing it with a buffing wheel/powerball and some good metal polish there really isn't much maintenance. I just used some Mother polish by hand to touch mine up today, the last time I polished them was about two months ago when I put the new tips on. I might wipe them down every other week when I clean the car and polish by hand every 3 months or so to keep them looking like a mirror.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jomo1994z71
On a side not, what do yall use to just lube up the rubber exhaust hangers to get the catback exhaust hangers lips through the hole?...mine are startin' to dry rot... (man that sounds perverted, lol)
Great writeup Kevin! This thread is going to lead to a lot of sore shoulders and forearms over the next few weekends! To all you guys getting ready to do this be prepared to set aside about 5-6 hours just for the sanding and polishing alone, but the end result is well worth it!
LOL... Thanks. The great thing is that you only have to do this once!
Quote:
Originally Posted by suaveflooder
WOW. Great job,and great write up!!!
Thanks man.
Quote:
Originally Posted by posi
You guys waxing those when finished? I'm just curious also of how often you have to touch them back up also?
Looks great and perfect write-up.
I only ever use the Mothers Mag Aluminum Polish. It polishes and protects. You only have to touch it up when you feel it's necessary. (I do mine about 3 times a year.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 864svt
just finished 1 side of my exhaust following your steps from your old post, turned out great, what a cheap mod, but makes the world of difference, thanks for a great write-up..
No problem. I think it makes a world od difference as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jomo1994z71
On a side not, what do yall use to just lube up the rubber exhaust hangers to get the catback exhaust hangers lips through the hole?...mine are startin' to dry rot... (man that sounds perverted, lol)
WD-40 is what I use like these guys mentioned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 96stanggt
Brian as often as you drive your car you might only need to touch it up once a year or so. Seriously though after polishing it with a buffing wheel/powerball and some good metal polish there really isn't much maintenance. I just used some Mother polish by hand to touch mine up today, the last time I polished them was about two months ago when I put the new tips on. I might wipe them down every other week when I clean the car and polish by hand every 3 months or so to keep them looking like a mirror.
I just used WD-40.
Looks great! I'm going to do this to my SS Mac catback. You should get some Stainless straps for your tank too jmo.
____________________________________
Mac Longtubes, Mac o/r prochamber, SS and polished Mac catback, JLT RAI, LFP heat exchanger, Billetflow 2.76 blower pulley with Billetflow idlers, NGX TR7ix, UPR K-member kit with coilovers and caster camber plates, H&R race in the rear, MM FLSFC, Irs brace, MGW shifter, Speedhut temp and boost gauge mounted in a speed of sound gauge pillar, Baer decela rotors, Hawk pads, Black FR500's Nitto DR's, SCT Tunned.
Looks great. I can not wait to get my stingers and do that. It makes the car look expensive haha.
____________________________________
Its just a cobra...
2.76 installed. No times on pulley.
2.76 dyno numbers unknown.
Stock Times
ET 12.36@116.75mph On Bfg Dr's
ET 12.52@118.91mph On Sumihomos
03 Redfire Cobra
mods
o/r h-pipe,JLT short rai,MGW shifter,Flowmaster catback, 2.76 pulley, BF Idlers, Findaza 4.3 clutch, Whipple belt tenshioner. Tuned by JJ at Woodbine Motosports
SCT XCal2 -Tune By JJ@Woodbine Motorsports.
WOW what a difference great job and write up too. The exhaust on this IRS are just too visible and doing this really sets the car apart. Worth the effort IMO
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainman
Looks great! I'm going to do this to my SS Mac catback. You should get some Stainless straps for your tank too jmo.
WOW what a difference great job and write up too. The exhaust on this IRS are just too visible and doing this really sets the car apart. Worth the effort IMO
Where can we get stainless straps ??
I'm sure you can find someone who will trade you if you really wanted to. 
Redfire COBRA 489hp and 501Trq
^
Seriously though after polishing it with a buffing wheel/powerball and some good metal polish there really isn't much maintenance. I just used some Mother polish by hand to touch mine up today, the last time I polished them was about two months ago when I put the new tips on. I might wipe them down every other week when I clean the car and polish by hand every 3 months or so to keep them looking like a mirror. 
Linear Mode
