Well, I was cleaning under my hood today and some items that bothered me when I first got my car finally came back after ignoring them.

For one, does anyone really dislike how our radiator fluid reservoirs end end up after years of being exposed to nasty crap? I've seen some pretty nasty looking reservoirs and turn back from the monitor in disgust. Does anyone know of any fluids that will clean them right up if we let them soak in it overnight?


Mine isn't even that bad compared to others and it still bothers me.


Secondly. When I first removed my stock air intake piping, I couldn't figure out how to remove the air duct that is under the fuse box. I think it's an eye-sore, IMO. I've seen some IC pipe routing that goes through this outlet on some 420A turbo setups, so it must be removeable... by some means. Have any of ya'll removed this? And how did you go about doing so?

These are just some pictures I took out of boredom. I like to look at other people's engine bay photos for ideas; so here is mine. I'm going to redue the valvecover to match the factory silver paint outside. I'll also be polishing the intake manifold one of these days when I receive an extra.

Just degrease it and paint it. I painted mine with duplicolor wheel paint and it looks pretty nice!

I painted mine as well. Do it, Do it.

What color did you paint them?
Can ya'll still see through to check the fluid level?

I have a lower and upper intake manifold sitting in my closet that I wanted to get port and polished but I dont really have the time or money right now. Its in pretty good condition as far as I can see. You can PM me if you want it.

Originally posted by BANME!TuNeR
I dont really have the money right now.

Fixed for my benefit.
I'll let you know when I come across some cash if you still have the IM.

Originally posted by saikou

Originally posted by BANME!TuNeR I dont really have the money right now.

Fixed for my benefit. I'll let you know when I come across some cash if you still have the IM.

Just let me know. It'll still probably be in my closet. Almost forgot I had it in there. It will probably be around 45 bux shipped.

For the air duct:

Unbolt the bracket with the giant hole in it, and remove all of the bolts for the fuse box and ECU. The black piece can be pulled out, and you can move the other stuff out of the way... Pull.

I took mine off and washed it out (after 11 years it become pretty nasty with build up inside) i cleaned off the sensor with brake cleaner and used sand paper and a nice oven cleaner to get it close to clear again

Originally posted by talon749
I took mine off and washed it out (after 11 years it become pretty nasty with build up inside) i cleaned off the sensor with brake cleaner and used sand paper and a nice oven cleaner to get it close to clear again

Ah, I completely forgot about even using sandpaper to clear it up; just like wetsanding headlights. Thanks for refreshing my memory.

no problem! your bay will look pretty sweet when ur done...here are a few suggestions that helped make mine stand out....

1, that metal header hose above the exhaust manifold needs sanded and painted badly!!

2, my brackets for the brake and clutch flid resivors rusted out bad looked really shitty....take those off the paint them

3, take off the stickers and clean up the the debris left from them on the radiator fans

4,take good sanding to the outside of the intake manifold...it cleans up really easy and can look great

5, your DOCH on your valve cover looks kinda greasy..again sand paper helps here lol

6, as for where your stock intake piping was just yank it out..I had to use a knife and channel locks, but i got it haha


your car looks great and i hope this can help to make it ever better

Originally posted by talon749
1, that metal header hose above the exhaust manifold needs sanded and painted badly!!

If you were turbo'd (and for all others that are), I'd tell you to put a DEI Heat Shield Hose Cover on it. I forget the diameter, probably the 1" (I can measure), but it fits very tight... nice as a glove. Not only does it greatly help on NOT heating the coolant from the exhaust manifold, but it looks great (was unexpected)!

P.S.
Don't paint your brake resevoir lid, I've seen to many with cracked paint from when you check/refill the next time.

- J

Originally posted by J
P.S. Don't paint your brake resevoir lid, I've seen to many with cracked paint from when you check/refill the next time. - J

Yup, totally agree with you... kind of shitty if you ask me. Mine have sat in bleach for 2 hours; they're pure white.

if you paint a container tape off a small stripe on it so you can see the fluid level, like on the detergent bottles:)

The intake snorkel can be removed by unbolting the bracket the fuse box is held to.