ok, so you want to polish out your engine to look like a mirror. This is what i have done and would reccomend:

1) remove plastic cover (nissan v6 lid)on the valve cover
2) - sponge with a scrubby side to it
- bottle of palmolive (green one)

*** make sure engine is cold and too cover up the ignition coils with towels to prevent water contacting them***

3) wash down the entire valve cover with small amounts of water and palmolive soap with the scrubby sponge. Palmolive is a degreaser and will remove any contaminents on the valve cover itself.
4) If needed get a brillo pad and rinse out all of the soap in it. Use the palmolive soap again and scrub the $hit out of the valve cover, till somewhat clean.
5) Dry completely
6) get out your aluminum polish
- Mothers: mag/aluminum polish (small can $5)
- Meguiars: rim/aluminum polish (small can $8)
7) use a cotton towel and apply a fair amount of the polish to the valve cover, kinda like your waxing your car
8) let sit for 2min then buff off vigorously!!
9) repeat these steps until a briliant shine appears

***for anyone else who wants a MIRROR LIKE SHINE ***

1) buy wet sand paper (Black) at any hardware store
a) 400 gritt
b) 600 gritt
c) 800 gritt
d) 1000 gritt
e) 1500 gritt
2) use a spray bottle and mist the valve cover in small sections at a time.
3) start off with the 400 gritt paper. go over the area in long-wide strokes, while pressing fairly hard
4) repeat step3 with the 4 other sheets of sand paper goin in order from 400-1500
5) dry off engine
**once dried it will look all scratched up, this will go away once you buff out the cover with polish**
6) use your aluminum polish and polish the crap out of the valve cover again
7) repeat step7 enough times till you see a mirror appear!

POLISHING OUT OTHERS just with the polish itself:
a) radiator cap
b) A/C lines running along side engine
c) coolant lines near the belts and behind engine by throttle body
d) any bolts/brackets that are metal will polish out after time to look like chrome
e) throw out black oil cap and buy a chrome or aluminum one to match your new engine

Once all of this is done make sure to try and keep the engine polished atleast once every two weeks, or else all your work will slowly fade away. I go over mine once a week to keep it lookin new. Good luck!
NY96MAXSE@AOL.COM
Anthony