DIY Network

SRT-4 Engine Upgrade: Aluminum Finishing Plate Show-Car Engine Dress-Up, Part 3 of 4 From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-306

	The engine bay before the finishing plate is added. . .
	and after.

In this project, Andrew Totolos dresses up the engine on a Dodge SRT-4, bringing it up to show-quality status. In this third phase, the upgrades continue as Andrew creates a finishing plate that will polish up the area between the radiator and the front lip of the car.

Materials and tools needed for the third phase of the project:

standard shop tools
poster board
marker
scissors
utility knife
piece of scrap wood
tape
drill with bits
pliers
sanding sponge
sandpaper
steel wool
polishing paste
liquid polish

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Figure A

Note: You can use the following technique to cover many areas in the engine. Just take care when you cover any areas of your car. Take airflow and moving parts into consideration. Don't cover up anything that needs to breath. The plate fabricated for this project mounts in the area between the radiator and the front lip of the car.

• The finishing plate mount underneath the bumper cover, so you'll have to remove the cover bolts up top, along with a few screws and nuts in the fender well to access the radiator support.

• Next, carefully pull the bumper cover off (figure A) and lay it down in front of the car.

• Release the lights in the front by twisting them loose, and pull the cover out of the way.

• After the bumper cover is removed, unbolt and remove anything else that's mounted to the area you want to cover.
  

  	Figure B
  	Figure C

• Lay a piece of poster board in the desired location and trace around the contours from underneath (figure B).

• Mark around any bolt holes and inserts that need to be cut out, like the hood latch area.

• Use scissors to cut out the template, and remove the access holes using a utility knife (figure C). Use a piece of scrap wood to protect your work surface.

• After the first cuts are made, check the fit at the car and add any additional custom work before transferring the template to the aluminum.

• Tape the template securely to the aluminum sheet and trace around everything.
  

  	Figure D
  	Figure E

• Then use a utility knife to score around each mark (figure D).

• In the insets, score an "X" in the middle to create triangles that will be easier to pop out.

• Drill out the screw holes, and drill a starter hole in the center of the hood latch area to help you work the aluminum out.

• Once everything is scored, pop all of the scrap metal off of each edge by carefully bending it and pulling it apart.

• Use pliers for the insets and snap off one triangle at a time to get a clean edge (figure E).

• Then use a sanding sponge on the aluminum to smooth out all the edges.

• Take the finished plate to the car to make sure it all lines up.
  

• Polish up the finishing plate to give it a nice matte finish. The polishing process is simply to scratch the metal over and over with finer and finer grit sandpaper until all the scratches have become one uniform finish.

• 320-grit oxide sandpaper is used first to scratch up the surface completely. Then those scratches are replaced by rubbing 400-grit sandpaper on top.

• When the 400-grit has completely covered the previous finish, use even finer 600-grit paper to continue the process.

• Work the surface with a nylon scrub pad. This material is slightly abrasive and will get rid of any final surface abrasions.

• Before you complete the surface, prep with a triple-zero-grade steel wool. This treatment will leave a perfectly smooth matte surface that is ready to polish.

• For the next step, work a fine polishing paste onto the entire surface, and then wipe away the residue with another clean cloth.

• Seal the finish with liquid polish to protect if from the elements. Treat the finishing plate with this polish whenever you clean your engine and it will keep its shine for years to come.
  

  	Figure F
  	Figure G

Replace the bumper cover the same way it came off, and tighten everything down.

Important: Included in this summary are the steps in this automotive procedure as shown in the episode. These steps are general guidelines that are applicable to most vehicles. With any particular car or truck, there may be procedures, specifications, settings, tolerances, components, etc. that are specific to that vehicle. There are also variations according to the type and brand of upgrade-kit you select. Always consult your vehicle's service manual when undertaking significant automotive repairs, and read and follow the manufacturer's directions and precautions that come with your kit or replacement parts.

RESOURCES :

Racing Innovations, Inc.
We apologize no contact information is available.

Design Engineering
www.designengineering.com

Howell Automotive
www.howellautomotive.com

Vibrant Performance
www.vibrantperformance.com

Toucan Industries
www.toucanindustries.com

Lokar Motorsports
www.lokarmotorsports.com