Project: Mavro Gato - 99 Turbo'd 3L

[FastCougar]

Well, I should have the engine/trans in the car by now, but this UIM has me bogged down. However, if I don't finish this now, I just don't see myself giving 2 ****s enough down the line to pull it off and finishing it. I can't begin to tell you how time consuming polishing these are! I'm about 1/2 way done, but getting the insides of the runners, where they are next to each other and down into the creases is going to SUCK!

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have wasted my time and would have merely painted the damn thing. I have to keep reminding myself how great they look when polished to a mirror finish

Just for clarification, this wasn't a last minute decision to start polishing this UIM. I bought the thing in 2003 and promptly took a 60 grit sanding disk on an angle grinder to it. I removed roughly 80% of the casting texture with that back then. I then sent it to Extrude Hone when the original group buy was held for the "Max Hone" process. It's been sitting ever since. I really should have done this long ago and had it ready ... hindsight is always 20/20

Anyways, on to the pictures of the progress:



Note the lack of the casting "bumps" where the runners meet the main chambers ... this took a long time to do (did it back when I first got the UIM)






The "channels" between the joined runners need to be worked out due to heavy scoring by the head porting sanding rolls


very small pit marks are found here and there ... these still need to be worked out.


Ahhh ... finally ... starting to come together ...


Overview of tonight's progress.

[Shagmonkey]

Hang in there bud. Looking real good. I want to do mine but without the proper tools like you have, it would never be possible.

Just keep looking at these pictures and telling yourself why you are doing it.

[bensenvill]

Originally Posted by Shagmonkey

Hang in there bud. Looking real good. I want to do mine but without the proper tools like you have, it would never be possible.

you can do it all with a dremel... but its quite time consuming.... mines looking VERY similar

[Shagmonkey]

My Dremel is cordless and thus sucks balls as you guys would say !!

[wadespencer99]

Originally Posted by Shagmonkey

My Dremel is cordless and thus sucks balls as you guys would say !!

I had a cordless one and they do, in fact, suck balls.

[FastCougar]

Well, my angle die grinder (seen in the pictures) is brand new and it was blowing water all night long ... note the last picture where it's upside down ... I poured oil into her after using. The problem is my compressor is only 26 gallons and after only 30 seconds of use, she turns on (automatic pressure switch: on at 95 psi, off at 125 psi). The new grinder flows so much air that once the compressor kicks on, it's working non stop unless I take break for 1-2 minutes. I definitely need more capacity ... a 60-80 gallon stand up would be nice! So, she starts running non-stop and the air travels through a 50 hose ... the water condenses and I get tons of water out the hose/device I'm using.

I need to run some hard line around the garage with water traps and shut-off valves before each "station". Each station will have a water seperator followed by an air "conditioner" (oiler) so that I don't have to oil my tools at night and they are constantly oiled during use. Each "Station" will then have "coiled" lines.

Once I have a diagram of the layout, I will post pictures. I see myself doing this sooner rather than later. Perhaps I will use my birthday/Christmas money on a new compressor and sell this one

[docfeelgood111]

Geez...you guys just gotta put these pics up don't you! Makes me want to polish mine instead of just getting powdercoating. I had already talked myself outta doing it too till I see these pics...lol. Looking good Btw!

[bensenvill]

Originally Posted by docfeelgood111

Geez...you guys just gotta put these pics up don't you! Makes me want to polish mine instead of just getting powdercoating. I had already talked myself outta doing it too till I see these pics...lol. Looking good Btw!

trust me, go with the powder coating. I've been polishing mine for ohhhh a YEAR now [spending a fair amount of time every week].

heres what it looked like in june [and doesnt look much different now], eitherway, the major difference between mine and fastcougs is that I have the inner ports rounded off for inproved signlines [you dont even want to know how long that took]. its a tease angle, it doesnt show you nearly how much metal was removed to do this.

[FastCougar]

Originally Posted by bensenvill

the major difference between mine and fastcougs is that I have the inner ports rounded off for inproved signlines

huh

Here are some angle shots showing the major modifications to the UIM vs. stock.

Stock.


Removed the "ridge" along the front surface and also removed the nubs between the runners where they meet the front main chamber. Also removed the casting "seam" that runs the entire perimeter of the UIM.


Stock


Same removal all "nubs" and again, the ridge on the rear.

[jaged]

terrys just being a tease, its smoother lighter and thinner than any uim ive ever sceen. it all goes to his anal attention to detail. im thinking of polishing an aluminum intake for my 3L