Polished UIM?

[achievasc92]

I wasn't sure where to post this so if it belongs in another section then feel free to move it.

I saw a picture of a polished UIM from either a 3100 or 3400 on this site. I picked up a UIM from the junkyard a few days ago and I'm in the middle of pilishing it up too. My question is, how did (whoever polished the intake) grind down the lines and "3100 SFI" of the top of the manifold? Thanks.

[bszopi]

It may take awhile, but I think those that have done it used either a Dremel, a die grinder, or an angle grinder. Obviously you have to be careful with the latter 2 because they can removed alot of metal in a short amount of time. Once you get it close to smooth, get away from the grinders and go with rough grit sandpaper. And then basically go from there....

Another way would have been just getting a van UIM which doesn't have the castings there to begin with.

[achievasc92]

Another way would have been just getting a van UIM which doesn't have the castings there to begin with.

ah ha, now there is an idea

too late to go to the hardware store so I filed away at them for maybe 30 minutes and I have about 2.5-3 inches of the lines filed closed to flush. I'm figuring on using 80-100-220-400-500-800-1000-1500-2000 wetsand and then some sort of polishing compound.
I know its going to take awhile but it should be a good little project I can work on.

Thanks for the help

[95BlackRoseZ26]

Make sure to put some sort of high temp clearcoat on after you polish things up. I didn't do this when I polished my 3100 upper intake and the thing just pitted and got kinda dull after a few months. I was afraid to use regular clear though because it would get to hot. Actually, I've been thinking of doing the same thing to my 3400 upper, anybody know of a good high temp clearcoat?

[geoffinbc]

On the swap I was involved it the manifold was just sent out. They did the polish then finished with an Electro Polish which is FAR better than you will ever achive at home. For the price it cost it was well worth the investment. Oh and they also coated it for us.

[achievasc92]

where'd you send it out too? and how much?

[geoffinbc]

It was just a local shop.