I recently acquired an M2 valve cover (chrome) and even though it was NOS it did have minor pitting but with some chrome polish I was able to bring back its glory but I could not stop there eventually everything i owned that was metal and not painted got polished.
Attachment 19503
The air-box can use a little more love but I need a more abrasive compound.
But I was so happy to clean up the mazdaspeed exhaust because I plan to put it back on. There's a super small hole in one of the welds but I can fix it no problem.
Here is what it looked like before i put it on the wire wheel:
Attachment 19504
After:
Attachment 19505
I hit the flanges really good with the wire wheel they had surface rust but that came off no problem. I want to send the mid-pipe out and get coated and painted most likely silver.
And for a 20 year old exhaust this one is super clean practically no flaws considering its age and was on the car its whole life.
Attachment 19506
Attachment 19507