Polish an Aftermarket Header
This article explains the best techniques for cleaning an aftermarket header.
Contents
Steps
- Start off by cleaning up the header as best as you can. Using the soapy water and a rag/cloth to wipe most of it clean. Then dip a toothbrush into the soapy water to get the hard to reach places like in-between the collectors.
- Know that after you're done cleaning the header, rinse of the header with water and proceed to dry it with the paper towel. If you want the nicest shine possible or your header is rusted this is where you grab the rust cleaner and repeat step one using the rust cleaner instead of the soapy water. Once finished with the rust cleaner repeat step one again with the soapy water solution.
- Find a place where you're going to start the labor intensive work or sanding down the header. Take your old newspaper and spread it out over your work area. After the finding your place to work put your gloves on. Then grab your brake cleaner and spray a clean rag/cloth or paper towels and wipe down the header. This should get all the parts you missed before with the soapy water solution clean.
- Grab your 800 grit sandpaper and rip it into four equal pieces. This makes handling the sandpaper a lot easier. Begin to work away at the rusted header. Once you start to see the sandpaper get clogged up, give it a quick rinse to clean it out. Repeat this step for the whole header until most of the difficult rust is gone.
- Spread the metal polish over the part of the header you'll be working on Make sure not to over apply the metal polish. grab your 1000 grit sandpaper and again rip the sandpaper into four equal pieces. Then use the sandpaper together with the metal polish to get your desired results quicker. This way is faster than just using sandpaper alone. Your sandpaper will get clogged up and the metal polish will turn a rusty brown color. Don't worry just rinse out your sandpaper or grab a new piece. Then wipe off the old metal polish with your paper towel and add some more metal polish to the header. Remember not to over apply the polish.
- Once you're done with the sanding/polishing of the header, clean it again with your soapy water and give it a good wipe down with your rag/cloth or paper towels.Then give it a good rinse with some water. Now if the header is looking good to your satisfaction, re-install it on your car and skip to step. If not grab your sandpaper and give the header another light scuffing.
- Grab another rag/cloth and get to work with the metal polish working it into the header until you get the shine you want. It will not shine like chrome so; do not get your hopes too high. Remove any excess polish with paper towel and wipe it down with paper towels and brake cleaner, so the oil on your hands will not heat up and ruin the finish again!
Tips
Warnings
- Do when the car is cooled down!
Things You'll Need
- metal polish
- 800 grit & 1000grit sandpaper
- Soapy water
- 2 rags/cloths
- Old Newspaper
- Roll of paper towel
- Brake Cleaner
