Eddie 70

I just got back from vacation so I am out in the garage back at it again. So I want to clean up the exhaust tips before I install them. The insides are black from running a rich. The outsides look great. What I want to know is it okay to use steel wool on the insides of the tips. I know there some places that you can't use plain steel brushes when welding(stainless?) so it got me to thinking. Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks for any help.

Smokehouse69

On polished stainless steel, steel wool and abrasives of anykind are a no-no, as they will scratch it. I'd suggest a solvent based cleaner like break cleaner or carb cleaner and a tooth brush. If that doesn't get it done, then try some chrome polish. If it is still stained then you don't have much choice but to bring out the big guns, polishing powder. Bon Ami cleanser or Bar Tender's Friend are two of the mildest (finest abrasive powder) cleansers and polishers. Either one should do the job, but they will take some time to get the worst of the stains off, since the abrasive particles are so fine.
Good Luck!

Aflac

While at CI, I was talking to a few C5 guys that had their exhaust put on at last years fun fest. They were saying that the installer had a bottle of solvent that worked like a champ. They asked him and come to find out all it consisted of was 409.

Jughead

with Smoehouse. I used brake parts cleaner and a stiff brush. You don't want to use steel wool on such nice tips. I DO use steel wool to brighten up my exhaust PIPES though. But there the pipes have a rougher finish.

OHSIXX

Home Depot sells some very fine steel wool and it is labeled as a metal polisher.