Appearance & Detailing - Detailed the engine *ADDED SOME CLOSE UP PICS*

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/eengine2.jpg" alt=" - " />


Well I have been working on the engine bay all winter and about a month from finishing up the engine bay.(or am I ?) It has taken a lot of work and attention to detail. I am a prfectionist I cant help it! There are so many little things that are not shown in this pic, I just have one pic so far I just bought my new sony digital and am learning how to use it, but will post more pics and close ups of all the tricks that I have up my sleve tommorow if I got time(and a few tricks taken from others on the forum). How did I do???????????????? I'll explain tommorow why it took me so long

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/wiremodk1.jpg" alt=" - " />

Here is one of the things that took some time and effort it is a old pic, but just before winter I rubbed all the fenders out to make them appear to painted just like the exterior of the car. I think it cvame out better than the outside of the car.

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n3.jpg" alt=" - " />

Here is the front clip that I wrapped with carbon fiber.

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n4.jpg" alt=" - " />

This is a close up of the custom polished PCM cover.

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n5.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n1.jpg" alt=" - " />

This does'nt look like much, but took some time to do I had to cut the chrome vinyl by hand with a creative way. Details,Details,Details

There are a couple more pics in here also

http://community.webshots.com/user/bernieblackbird

<small>[ March 04, 2003, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: bernieblackbird ]</small>

looks Bad Ass you did a great job. where did you get those fuel rail covers.

Damn!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> very very <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Nicely done!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

Very nice! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

I espeically like the fuel rail covers... <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Nice attention to detail!

very nice, very clean

LOL I don't think it could get any cleaner <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Very nice work! <img border="0" alt="[worship]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" />

Looks VERY good <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> -- I love it when I see some take the upscale approach and leave behind the stickers and colored convo tubing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

BTW.. MBA Product will soon be releasing billet ASR cover and Billet fusebox lids.. since you went the polished route these would go very nicely in your engine area..

Hopefully in a week or two I can start the LONG process of putting mine back together again..

Again, great job and we cant wait to see the close-ups and innovations <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Fantastic job Bernie..........

First and foremost, it looks awesome! <img border="0" alt="[worship]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" />

Did you chrome the hood struts?
Not that I'm in a position to give you engine bay advice, but...the red cap that covers the "alternate power source" post by the fuse boxes detracts from the high quality pieces you have. I'm not sure what to do with it. Is there a billet piece that can replace it? Maybe Steve2000SS can offer something up.

I see that you have red wires, a red oil dipstick piece, and red MAF ends. Is red your accent color?

Please don't get me wrong here. Your engine bay looks amazing. I think the red has to go though.

Sweet. Great job. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Tell us where you got that FRC from, please.

<small>[ February 23, 2003, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: SLOW SS ]</small>

Nice job!

Looking sharp and polishy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

good job!

Damn, that looks really good... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

as the evil old man in Mortal Kombat would say,

"EXCELLENT!"

<img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />

Thanks for all the compliments I added only 1 pic for now because I let someone borrow my new camera allready, but as soon as I get it back I will post more pics and detail to what I have done

SLOW SS- The FRC are carbon fiber from Fast Toys the covers are made by F-Body Concepts. The decals were custom made by a local shop. I sat down with the guy a went through all types of fonts and came up with the layout that you see

unit213 - I was kind of thinking the same thing you were I needed a little bit of color it just seemed so dark in there. Who knows I might change some of it to black. I think that I will change the alternate power source to black that does look bad I think. Allways room for improvement. Thanks for the suggestion <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Steve2000SS- I was never a huge fan of the color tubing either, but I have seen some that do look good. Just never seen the point of highlighting every wire under the hood. I was allready thinking of making my own billet ASR cover and Billet fusebox lids. I work at a machine shop and I made all of the alluminum caps on a CNC machine. I bought a piece of bar stock alluminum for 25.00 and made all the covers and then sanded and polished them myself. Did you notice the custom ECM cover I made that out of alluminum sheet. First I made a template out of cardboard to check for fit and then used that pattern to trace on to a sheet of alluminum bent it in a vice and welded it with a aluminum welder. To make the corners I used a round piece of bar stock with a rubber mallet a beat it in to form the corner. I did the same for the brake resivor. Then just sanded and polished them up. These Billet fusebox lids would be easy to make If you bought a sheet of alluminum youse a template to trace onto the alluminum cut it out with a jig saw sand and polish apply with some thin double sided tape. MBA may charge you like 40.00 a cover for somthing like this. Keep us posted on your engine going back together. I cant wait to see how it comes out.

badass 2002 z28- Actually it is tough to tell, but it is kind of dirty I have to clean all the allminum up its got my figerprints all over it.

I will post more pics as soon as I can

Wow that looks very nice. Can you do that to mine? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Bearnieblackbird, what do u mean by rubbing out your shock tower braces, how did u do that!!!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

What did you use to polish the fenders? I tried doing it in a couple spots under the hood and the paint was so thin I went right through it?

Bad 00 SS
Member # 5141 posted February 24, 2003 06:21 AM
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Bearnieblackbird, what do u mean by rubbing out your shock tower braces, how did u do that!!!


I polished the fender with 3M fine cut I had to rub for awhile because I was using a fine cut rather than a more abrasive one. Maybe this is why I dindn't right through the paint. I just removed a top layer that was like overspray. And followed up with some polish/wax.

JPWS6
Member # 2956 posted February 24, 2003 07:21 AM
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What did you use to polish the fenders? I tried doing it in a couple spots under the hood and the paint was so thin I went right through it?


What did you use????

Toxic Texan
Member # 179 posted February 24, 2003 02:17 AM
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Wow that looks very nice. Can you do that to mine?

Yeah mail just mail it to I'll take care of it for ya <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Steve2000SS
I rubbed out my inner fenders also but since its pewterish it changes when you rub it out.. the benefits of black

Did you youse a fine abrasive ?

I noticed your ECM cover.. funny since Rob (poltergeist) have been working on a billet cover for some time now (problem with our first mill shop being SLOW).. how does yours attach? Cant wait to see the closeups..

Your machining that out of a solid piece of alluminum. WOW!!!!!!!!!!
I used velcro on the top of the ECM and just pushed the cover down on it so the ECM is still accessible. I have pics befor I even put it on the car to show you how I made it, but I took those pics with a regular camera and have to send those out to be put on photo CD. I post those when I get them developed.


Well I dont need the new MBA stuff since my fuse covers and ASR cover is CF. Im jealous that you have an entire mill shop to work with. Im great at comming up with ideas but I dont have the machinery to execute it.. I have an idea for a way to hide the wire loom that lays on the frame of the car near the fuse boxes but I cant make the part.. frustrating.. maybe my wife will get me machine shop for xmas.. ya right

Yeah my problem is I cant stop making stuff I HAVE A DISEASE.I was thinking of a way to try and hide the wires to , but havn't come up with anything that I like yet.

also noticed that you dont have your heater hoses hooked up yet.. waiting for hose ends? You've done a great job so-far and I cant wait to see some close ups..

Man I dont how you seen that in that pic, but your exactly right.

minivette
Member # 3102 posted February 24, 2003 12:37 PM
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When ya'll refer to "rubbing out the inner fenders", what is the process you are referring to?

Look at the 2nd pic I rubbed the inner fenders with 3M fine cut to make it look like they were painted.

where do we get 3M fine cut?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by bernieblackbird:
<strong> Steve2000SS- I was never a huge fan of the color tubing either, but I have seen some that do look good. Just never seen the point of highlighting every wire under the hood. I was allready thinking of making my own billet ASR cover and Billet fusebox lids. I work at a machine shop and I made all of the alluminum caps on a CNC machine. I bought a piece of bar stock alluminum for 25.00 and made all the covers and then sanded and polished them myself. Did you notice the custom ECM cover I made that out of alluminum sheet. First I made a template out of cardboard to check for fit and then used that pattern to trace on to a sheet of alluminum bent it in a vice and welded it with a aluminum welder. To make the corners I used a round piece of bar stock with a rubber mallet a beat it in to form the corner. I did the same for the brake resivor. Then just sanded and polished them up. These Billet fusebox lids would be easy to make If you bought a sheet of alluminum youse a template to trace onto the alluminum cut it out with a jig saw sand and polish apply with some thin double sided tape. MBA may charge you like 40.00 a cover for somthing like this. Keep us posted on your engine going back together. I cant wait to see how it comes out.

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yea, on the convo tubing i tell people to go look at top of the line show cars and show me the wiring.. there is none. They go through great pains to hide something that colored convo trys to accentuate..

I rubbed out my inner fenders also but since its pewterish it changes when you rub it out.. the benefits of black <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

I noticed your ECM cover.. funny since Rob (poltergeist) have been working on a billet cover for some time now (problem with our first mill shop being SLOW).. how does yours attach? Cant wait to see the closeups.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Well I dont need the new MBA stuff since my fuse covers and ASR cover is CF. Im jealous that you have an entire mill shop to work with. Im great at comming up with ideas but I dont have the machinery to execute it.. I have an idea for a way to hide the wire loom that lays on the frame of the car near the fuse boxes but I cant make the part.. frustrating.. maybe my wife will get me machine shop for xmas.. ya right <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

I also noticed that you dont have your heater hoses hooked up yet.. waiting for hose ends? You've done a great job so-far and I cant wait to see some close ups.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

When ya'll refer to "rubbing out the inner fenders", what is the process you are referring to?

that looks friggen great! similar of what i wanted to do to my engine bay. very clean, looks great!

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n3.jpg" alt=" - " />

Here is the front clip that I wrapped with carbon fiber.

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n4.jpg" alt=" - " />

This is a close up of the custom polished PCM cover.

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n5.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/n1.jpg" alt=" - " />

This does'nt look like much, but took some time to do I had to cut the chrome vinyl by hand with a creative way. Details,Details,Details

There are a couple more pics in here also

http://community.webshots.com/user/bernieblackbird

<small>[ February 26, 2003, 10:26 PM: Message edited by: bernieblackbird ]</small>

Added some close up pics in original post

Looks awesome! Where did you get the PCM cover & how much did it cost? I'm hiding my wires soon & would like to add that as well.

Thanks.

Shay

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> Very sharp!

Very very nice.. great job on the detail!! Did you know that T/A's are allowed in the Super Chevy show? You should go since you deserve a jacket for that car! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

good work..

That looks great give me details on how to get the casting marks smooth before you started polishing and did you use white rouge or something else. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

That is <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" />

shane p; Thanks to get the casting marks smoothed I used a right angle die grinder with a 3M Rolec disc (kind of like scotch brite)and I also used a dremel tool wich is a must when trying to get into tight areas. I then used a buffing wheel with white rouge to make the nice finish.

Steve2000SS: Where tis the Super Chevy Show?????

98Mongoose: The PCM is one of a kind right now I made it my self, but trying to get them mass produced. They take a bit of time to make because the cover is made from a sheet of alluminum it has to be layed out, cut, bent , welded, smooth the welds and polished. BUT I AM TRYING

<img border="0" alt="[worship]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" /> Damn! My eyes just bugged out and my jaw hit the keyboard! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />


bernieblackbird, Awesome job! Regarding the fender wells. You used 3M fine cut. Is that sandpaper? What is the technique for doing this? Would this work on Pewter? Thanks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Thanks for the reply Bernie. Let me know when you get one ready for sale.

Shay

Wow, very nice!!! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

AWESOME! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Looks very sexy!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Damn not only is your engine bay beautiful but the exterior is very nice also! This is a perfect example of how a modded F Body should look. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Stoneface:
<strong> The best detailed engine I've seen on this forum. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You must not have seen Steve or Todd's engine bay yet then!

<img src="http://bernieblackbird.homestead.com/files/Dc1.jpg" alt=" - " />

Bionik: Thanks, and I still not satisfied yet I cant get rid of this stinken mod bug <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

WayneSS01: I bought 3m fine cut a while back from pep boys I dont know if they till carry it. If not you should be able to find it on the internet.

Your going to need about 4 hrs. to do this and some patience and a 6 pack Remember good things come slow

1. You need to apply 3m fine cut with some elbow grease. Bassically you have to rub the s#@* out of the fender. You may end up rubbing in the same 12x5 area for about 10 min. After extream rubbing you will start to see the area cleaning up ( you will notice dull spots and shiny spots). Continue in the areas that are still dull until shinny.

2. After you get all the area cleaned up you will need to bring the shine out and hide any swirls that may occur from the fine cut. I used hand glaze it can be any brand , but I like 3M. This will make the paint very deep and wet looking.

3. The last thing . You need to throw a coat of wax/ polish on it to make it last. I did'nt want to take the steps to use Ziano in here so I used some Meguiars gold wich I think worked great for this.

And thats it you will then have bling bling fenders and arm that is beat to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this answers your question

Stone face: So nice of you to say, but there sure are some other beautiful engine bays on the forum, but I can at least say they all are different.

The best detailed engine I've seen on this forum.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by unit213:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Stoneface:
<strong> The best detailed engine I've seen on this forum. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You must not have seen Steve or Todd's engine bay yet then! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes I've seen them and both are very nice, however I like the LOOK of Bernie's engine.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Stoneface:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by unit213:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Stoneface:
<strong> The best detailed engine I've seen on this forum. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You must not have seen Steve or Todd's engine bay yet then! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes I've seen them and both are very nice, however I like the LOOK of Bernie's engine. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aint nothing wrong with that! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> -- I really dont think mine is the "best" I do think I'm up there with the likes of Todd & Bernie so I'm in VERY good company. I think our engine bays reflect different approches with the same goal. There are things in Todds and Bernies bays that I would love to have in mine.. Just as Im sure there are things in mine that they want. thats the beauty of this hobby and fun of sharing the ideas amongst everyone.

Here's <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> to us all, we make this hobby possible <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />