What do you do to make your engine look pretty? :)
Indeed it is. Here are some thoughts:
The engine cover looks quite nice. I still think there should be contrast between it and the UIM, but what the heck... it looks good.
I agree about the VMS cover. It's too prominent on the Max. Looks good on my G, though. Keep it for the next radiator.
I'm so p1ssed off that I didn't figure out how to separate the open-hood sensor from the bracket. Feel like an idiot. Good for you, ranmas. Mine needed better attention than I could give it... if I had known, I would have bought a new one and had the bracket powdercoated.
You, sir, need new strut nuts. Badly.
The adhesive residue... just buy some Goo Gone. Problem solved.
Get some metal polish and work on the main AC line on the passenger side, as well as the little AC return lines on the driver side. Oh, and the two side-by-side little PS lines on the passenger side. All you need is a shop rag, some light elbow grease, and some good metal polish.
The metal strap holding those two PS lines to the frame is rusted away. Remove it and paint, or buy a new one.
You seem to have a random use of blue fender washers. Get a plan, ranmasman.
You've got a blue fender washer plugging a hole on the drivers side strut tower. That looks dumb. C'mon, man, that's what hole plugs are for. You cover up holes, you don't plant a flag and say, "Look, a hole."
The engine cover looks quite nice. I still think there should be contrast between it and the UIM, but what the heck... it looks good.
I agree about the VMS cover. It's too prominent on the Max. Looks good on my G, though. Keep it for the next radiator.
I'm so p1ssed off that I didn't figure out how to separate the open-hood sensor from the bracket. Feel like an idiot. Good for you, ranmas. Mine needed better attention than I could give it... if I had known, I would have bought a new one and had the bracket powdercoated.
You, sir, need new strut nuts. Badly.
The adhesive residue... just buy some Goo Gone. Problem solved.
Get some metal polish and work on the main AC line on the passenger side, as well as the little AC return lines on the driver side. Oh, and the two side-by-side little PS lines on the passenger side. All you need is a shop rag, some light elbow grease, and some good metal polish.
The metal strap holding those two PS lines to the frame is rusted away. Remove it and paint, or buy a new one.
You seem to have a random use of blue fender washers. Get a plan, ranmasman.
You've got a blue fender washer plugging a hole on the drivers side strut tower. That looks dumb. C'mon, man, that's what hole plugs are for. You cover up holes, you don't plant a flag and say, "Look, a hole."
Last edited by Rochester; Mar 21, 2012 at 07:36 PM.
I painted a bunch of nuts today, strut nuts, and the nuts for the grille/bumper support bracket (next to headlight bolts) I didn't expect it to work, but it actually stuck good, just skuffed them with a 3m pad first.
Indeed it is. Here are some thoughts:
The engine cover looks quite nice. I still think there should be contrast between it and the UIM, but what the heck... it looks good.
I agree about the VMS cover. It's too prominent on the Max. Looks good on my G, though. Keep it for the next radiator.
I'm so p1ssed off that I didn't figure out how to separate the open-hood sensor from the bracket. Feel like an idiot. Good for you, ranmas. Mine needed better attention than I could give it... if I had known, I would have bought a new one and had the bracket powdercoated.
You, sir, need new strut nuts. Badly.
YES, I downloaded your excel spreadsheet on bolts and sizes and plan on getting titanium ones.
The adhesive residue... just buy some Goo Gone. Problem solved.
THANKS, will do.
Get some metal polish and work on the main AC line on the passenger side, as well as the little AC return lines on the driver side. Oh, and the two side-by-side little PS lines on the passenger side. All you need is a shop rag, some light elbow grease, and some good metal polish.
WILL DO, THANKS
The metal strap holding those two PS lines to the frame is rusted away. Remove it and paint, or buy a new one.
I'll Buy a new one and start fresh! Opportunity for more powdercoating!
You seem to have a random use of blue fender washers. Get a plan, ranmasman.
Yeh, they just placeholders now...LOL.
You've got a blue fender washer plugging a hole on the drivers side strut tower. That looks dumb. C'mon, man, that's what hole plugs are for. You cover up holes, you don't plant a flag and say, "Look, a hole."
I know you've told me before. Its all a work in progress. I don't have a garage so I cant just go out in the middle of the night and work on the car all night long under a light, unfortunately.
I'll get everything together by they summer. before this big NY maxima meet!
The engine cover looks quite nice. I still think there should be contrast between it and the UIM, but what the heck... it looks good.
I agree about the VMS cover. It's too prominent on the Max. Looks good on my G, though. Keep it for the next radiator.
I'm so p1ssed off that I didn't figure out how to separate the open-hood sensor from the bracket. Feel like an idiot. Good for you, ranmas. Mine needed better attention than I could give it... if I had known, I would have bought a new one and had the bracket powdercoated.
You, sir, need new strut nuts. Badly.
YES, I downloaded your excel spreadsheet on bolts and sizes and plan on getting titanium ones.
The adhesive residue... just buy some Goo Gone. Problem solved.
THANKS, will do.
Get some metal polish and work on the main AC line on the passenger side, as well as the little AC return lines on the driver side. Oh, and the two side-by-side little PS lines on the passenger side. All you need is a shop rag, some light elbow grease, and some good metal polish.
WILL DO, THANKS
The metal strap holding those two PS lines to the frame is rusted away. Remove it and paint, or buy a new one.
I'll Buy a new one and start fresh! Opportunity for more powdercoating!
You seem to have a random use of blue fender washers. Get a plan, ranmasman.
Yeh, they just placeholders now...LOL.
You've got a blue fender washer plugging a hole on the drivers side strut tower. That looks dumb. C'mon, man, that's what hole plugs are for. You cover up holes, you don't plant a flag and say, "Look, a hole."
I know you've told me before. Its all a work in progress. I don't have a garage so I cant just go out in the middle of the night and work on the car all night long under a light, unfortunately.
I'll get everything together by they summer. before this big NY maxima meet!Last edited by ranmas2004; Mar 21, 2012 at 08:20 PM.
They're only $50/each (approx). But be super careful about installing them... the little rubber O-rings can very easily rip when you insert the ends of the pipes, which you won't know it until you fill (and spill) coolant.
And coolant ain't cheap, don't you know.
That not unusual. I'm guessing those water pipes look like pooh on 99% of the 5th Gens still on the road.
They're only $50/each (approx). But be super careful about installing them... the little rubber O-rings can very easily rip when you insert the ends of the pipes, which you won't know it until you fill (and spill) coolant.
And coolant ain't cheap, don't you know.
They're only $50/each (approx). But be super careful about installing them... the little rubber O-rings can very easily rip when you insert the ends of the pipes, which you won't know it until you fill (and spill) coolant.
And coolant ain't cheap, don't you know.
makes me this: 
then proceed with this:
b/c ^that's hawt.
Oh, and not a TE. The car was/is a 2003 SE 6MT with zero options other than what comes with the 6MT. And the color was Sheer Silver.
. Still matches, you display superior color coordination that I often reference in my own color themes.
Rochester, please dont take this the wrong way, as I am NOW careful about what I post, but that color on your water pipes isnt black chrome....its actually Chrome Smoke. Black chrome is considerably darker and needs to be applied over actual chrome, argent silver, or reflective chrome for best results. Bike Week just pasted here in Florida, and since I powder coat on the side, I did quite a few parts for bikers in daytona, and the hottest color I did was Black Chrome. These are my water pipes, they are coated in Chrome Smoke. as far as the O rings tearing...you are 100% correct. If you however lightly coat them in coolant, they slide in easier. The other bypass pipes etc. were coated Wrinkle Black.
as far as the O rings tearing...you are 100% correct. If you however lightly coat them in coolant, they slide in easier. The other bypass pipes etc. were coated Wrinkle Black.Last edited by 4DRZ; Mar 22, 2012 at 11:42 AM.
Rochester, please dont take this the wrong way, as I am NOW careful about what I post, but that color on your water pipes isnt black chrome....its actually Chrome Smoke. Black chrome is considerably darker and needs to be applied over actual chrome, argent silver, or reflective chrome for best results. Bike Week just pasted here in Florida, and since I powder coat on the side, I did quite a few parts for bikers in daytona, and the hottest color I did was Black Chrome. These are my water pipes, they are coated in Chrome Smoke.
Don't mind me. I'm a harmless e-Bully.Black Chrome is the name of the color that the PowerCoater told me, is all. I've had a number of things coated by him in that color, and it's always the same. Maybe he's wrong, or uses a different supplier for the paint, or it's the lighting... IDK. It is what it is.
No its not you, its just here tempers flare a lil to easy on this forum. I have a few parts coming in soon that the customer requested to be coated Black Chrome. i will post pics when i am done. Black Chrome is the same color as the RC2 or w/e they were called, intakes that were on here not to long ago.
Ditto on the "very nice", and ditto on the "heat shield".
You want SS t-bolt clamps on your upper radiator hose. Yes you do.
They cost virtually nothing, and look fantastic. Search the thread for details.
Your washer fluid cap is the first thing I see out of place. Go maroon, black or silver, and it will stop drawing the eye.
Good job, Lowz.
You want SS t-bolt clamps on your upper radiator hose. Yes you do.
They cost virtually nothing, and look fantastic. Search the thread for details.Your washer fluid cap is the first thing I see out of place. Go maroon, black or silver, and it will stop drawing the eye.
Good job, Lowz.
Ditto on the "very nice", and ditto on the "heat shield".
You want SS t-bolt clamps on your upper radiator hose. Yes you do. They cost virtually nothing, and look fantastic. Search the thread for details.
Your washer fluid cap is the first thing I see out of place. Go maroon, black or silver, and it will stop drawing the eye.
Good job, Lowz.
You want SS t-bolt clamps on your upper radiator hose. Yes you do.
They cost virtually nothing, and look fantastic. Search the thread for details.Your washer fluid cap is the first thing I see out of place. Go maroon, black or silver, and it will stop drawing the eye.
Good job, Lowz.
I am trying to get my hands on another cap (dont want to paint it if i dont have to)
Before.....
Halfway there still got to put Engine Cover and RL FSTB got it Powdercoated Black and Paint Yellow Caps or buy those Colored Caps,and get the Maxima or Racingline Battery Tie Down.....
Halfway there still got to put Engine Cover and RL FSTB got it Powdercoated Black and Paint Yellow Caps or buy those Colored Caps,and get the Maxima or Racingline Battery Tie Down.....
Well, I finally got around to getting rid of these...
And installed new painted black ones. And installed the mishimoto 4th gen rad...
And the new Wrayth Engineering polymount inserts in gloss black mounts and bracket
And installed new painted black ones. And installed the mishimoto 4th gen rad...
And the new Wrayth Engineering polymount inserts in gloss black mounts and bracket
50 pages, I've made it to 18 but gotta call it quits, but not before:
^^came today, installing tomorrow ^^
Thinking of getting these as a quick dip into dress-up...what do you think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110753080003...torefresh=true
Also, going to wash the engine bay (with car running) and wd40 some hoses, maybe stop by the parts store and get new T-style hose clamps...
Would Plasti-Dip work for painting over the OEM yellow caps for washer fluid and what-not?
^^came today, installing tomorrow ^^
Thinking of getting these as a quick dip into dress-up...what do you think?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110753080003...torefresh=true
Also, going to wash the engine bay (with car running) and wd40 some hoses, maybe stop by the parts store and get new T-style hose clamps...
Would Plasti-Dip work for painting over the OEM yellow caps for washer fluid and what-not?
I used Plasti-dip for the same thing cause I had some lying around, but it is just alright. The edges are beginning to fray, and although I like the rubber texture I'm afraid it will rub off. Over the weekend I'm planning to repaint with flat black spray paint instead.