---- How do i brighten up-----

[ZL1.FUN]

What is the best way to brighten up aluminum heads ? they are off motor and completely disassembled
would blasting be a good idea, or is there a better way,
im looking for an original look -- Any help would be appreciated-- http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[P.J.]

try lemon scented oven cleaner It works great
suprss70

[acelr8]

Etching mag wheel cleaner.I use Eagle 1,works great.Jeff

[John Brown]

Scrub with a stiff brush, wear rubber gloves. Don't let it sit real long or they can turn black.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
try lemon scented oven cleaner It works great
suprss70

[/ QUOTE ]

Just a fast question. Have any of you guys used the
products you mentioned, then installed the aluminum
components and run them up to operating temperature?

I'm just wondering if there were any side effects not
forseen.

Steve

[Mr70]

I did use a lemon scented oven cleaner on my Al. intake once,and it did give off a lemon fresh smell for awhile.It was only noticeable immediately after start up in a cold garage,but did go away eventually once the block heated up with more routine driving.

[ZL1.FUN]

Well if the only side effect is driving around smelling like a citrus farm, that sounds pretty good to me

[SuperNovaSS]

I use a plastic media blaster. It removes contaminents without damaging the metal, chrome, glass, or plastic on the part being blasted. The plastic will also not damage mechanical parts if some gets left in the part. I also use NAPA aluminum brightener.


Jason

[Belair62]

Jason...thats what I use too...plastic won't remove the texture ...but it won't remove any bad stains either...it works great on old Z/28 valve covers...they come out excellent..intakes too..

[budnate]

oven cleaner is awsome stuff..spray on hose off usually gets it perfect or I take a water wet shop rag and scrubb it gently while it is foaming..no marks left that way and it usually brings stuff right back...hit your local dollar store and try it out..I seem to run through a case a month here http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
oven cleaner is awsome stuff..spray on hose off usually gets it perfect or I take a water wet shop rag and scrubb it gently while it is foaming..no marks left that way and it usually brings stuff right back...hit your local dollar store and try it out..I seem to run through a case a month here http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oven cleaner you say - huh! Well,I'll just have to give
this project to my wife, seeing as how she's the expert with
cleaning the oven - RIGHT! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

Steve

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Never had good luck with the oven cleaner, tried it on some tailight housings - just turned a chalky white http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[CamarosRus]

I found a local business that specializes in rebuilding mostly foreign cylinder heads......majority of which are aluminum. They run the clean, grease free bare heads through a conveyor belt type metal shot blaster. Heads look like new castings from the foundry.......

[nuch_ss396]

Metal shot on aluminum? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hmmm.gif That doesn't sound safe.

[GNT]

Depends on the look you want.When I do a motor and the intake,heads and valve covers are all aluminum,I degreace everything and then paint them with K line Alumi-New.It dries as a flat coloured aluminum.A lot of these parts no matter how well you blast/clean them come out different shades of aluminum.This way everything matches and has that new look.

[CamarosRus]

"Metal shot on aluminum? That doesn't sound safe."

Call around big cylinder head shops...ask people.....thats what Ive seen done and results look NEW.......maybe depends upon size of shot and air pressure...
Shot blasting is what is done to brand new castings at the foundry!!!!!

[firstgenaddict]

Metal shot in a vibratory bin is what Aluminum foundries use to remove casting sand from fresh castings