Upgrading to an S8 backbox
 

Hi,

I've always been amazed that our (D2) cars never came with chrome exhaust tips aside from the S8 and have felt that the standard 'black' tips don't look all that exciting.

I saw that the guys at A8parts had a spare S8 exhaust that i thought i'd try and get my hands on as i really like keeping with the OEM look (Thanks Ian, Dave & Dave...it arrived super quick!)...it's been sat in my house for over a month as i haven't found the time to take a first stab at it but finally started it today...

I haven't finished it yet as it's been a bit harder to clean that i first thought but we're going in the right direction. :D

This is how it looked when it arrived:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/...f013ddb092.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/...1df5ea138f.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...c9ca071b9a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/...843c88762f.jpg

As you can see...it needs a bit of TLC :ROFL:

I started with a basic kit of tools...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/...7a18fa3a4f.jpg

and after about 1 1/2 hrs of blood, sweet and tears I had the following (mediocre) result:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/...c72a847936.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/...62ece9bb75.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/...932281b063.jpg

The results i'm aiming for is this:

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8...ailpipenj4.jpg

I have now left it to soak up with some serious grime remover and have unconventionally used 'Oven Pride' which worked really well on all my kitchen wear...it's a little harsh but I think it may require another 2 hrs of scrubbing at this rate.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/...cc20939a65.jpg

I'll hopefully show what the result is of it tomorrow but if anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to share them ... :)

-Oli

Slowly getting there...the brilliant polish works really well!

There is still quite a bit of it on the inside area of the tips ... thinking of ordering a dremel to tackle this potentially but at least there is progress...

Testing Brilliant Polish on right tip: :)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/...a2aa2b3cdc.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/...b296607b1f.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/...8fb3b5a772.jpg

Putting it in more 'oven pride ' to see if we can breakdown more of the dirt in the tips...
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/...fccaed16e7.jpg

-Oli

LOL Your oven must be either spotless. . . or really bad as youve used all the oven pride on your exhaust! Excellent work Oli! :D

haha...thanks Neil!

Well, as the gf wasn't around this weekend, i thought i'd persevere with this little project...

So i took some advice from the guys on detailingworld and also got myself some wire wool and autosol.

I must admit that despite a lot of effort, it only improved it marginally and the grime on the inner tips just wouldn't come off.

I also tried using 1000, 800 and 400 grit....It's really taken me by surprise how stuborn exhaust gunk can be when left untouched for years.

In the end, i bough a very light sandstone head to slowly grind away at the areas i wasn't able to clean. Even with this, it still took me 2 hrs to get the finish i have now and there are still some areas that I haven't been able to get off.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/...dcf74b6e56.jpg

I just totalled the hrs that i've spent on this so far and it's looking like almost 6 hrs so I'm going to leave it there....i pretty pleased but was hoping the inner tips would come up a bit better. I may give it another go in the summer when it's not so frickin' cold! :ROFL:

All i gotta do now is fit it...if it would only stop snowing! lol! :)

-Oli

PS - apologies for out of focus pics...crummy iphone camera tends to focus on the background.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...c9ca071b9a.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/...7a86af8e33.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/...843c88762f.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/...e9e0fbbcb4.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/...1df5ea138f.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/...4d2095eb60.jpg

The bit i'm less pleased with...but I can live with :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/...c9ca071b9a.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/...715b84deaf.jpg

:respekt:


Mate, that is a lot of commitment.

I think that puts you neck and neck with Mike in the 'Who's got the most OCD' competition. :D

Steve

WHAT!!!! Right I'm off to polish the inside of my rocker covers! :P

Oli,

I reckon what you are looking at on the inside of those tips is actually where the exhaust gases and liquid has corroded the steel. Get a flap wheel and give it a good bash then use a milder wheel and go on to polish it up.

Hey Mike!

what's a 'flap wheel' :Confused:

Whatever it is...what a brilliant name! :ROFL:

-Oli

Go to B&Q and look in the tool corral. It'll be under the drill accessories.

Imagine it like a pole with sandpaper flaps coming off it like spokes.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.js...&isSearch=true

Just like that one^^^.

Crazy Dutch!
;)

well done you..seems a lot of work though just for the end tips...when i was up at MIJ performance exhaust to have my back box replaced with a sport one they have a cabinet full of twin exhaust tips,,,£20-£25 and there are loads to choose from
Just a thought,,,,you must have spent that on the back box and the polishing kit,,,,,does look good though