Aluminum cleaning ?

I've got a pair of vintage die cast finned valve covers I want to use on my 327 Chevy. I don't want to polish them but would like to "whiten" them so they are a closer to the appearance of my newer intake manifold. Any ideas?

 

Bead blast them....

 

Glass-beading ruins a LOT of aluminum parts. Once they've been blasted the casting is never the same as it was before. Soak them in Berryman's.

 

I use very worn out sand from the cabinet blaster. It's almost like dust, won't hurt the part.

 

Napa Aluminum Wheel cleaner. All you need is a hose, a scrub brush, and whatever part you are cleaning. Comes out very natural aluminum. I use it on all my alum parts.

-Matt

 

Try using a S.O.S. pad.

 

I used Eagle One aluminum "ETCHING MAG WHEEL" cleaner on my old fenton intake and it worked great. Just spray it on let it set and hose it off. You can brush them if they are really dirty, but I didn't hafta.

 

With die cast stuff you might want to experiment with the strength of whatever "potion" you use, so it doesn't discolor.

 

try blasting with baking soda.

http://www.garagenight.tv/diy-soda-blasting-build-your-own-rig-cheap/

I tried it on some gunked up Dellorto carbs and it worked out nicely.

 

This

 

I would try this. Just to say that I did it. Certainly won't hurt any thing and it might be a life changeing experience.

Or not.

 

The Eagle One stuff is good.I used it on a set of Western turbine wheels and they cleaned up good,no dang scrubbing at all.

 

Carb cleaner, red scotch pad and elbow grease.

 

Depending on how clean you want it, there is a cleaner at your local heat and a/c supply house for cleaning a/c coils. Works fast and really cleans them to a "white condition" with no effort. Put it on and spray it with a hose.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I'll try the wheel cleaner first. Hope it works out OK. Can't hurt, right?

 

from my experience, any of these would work... but i just had to clean up an old '56 panhead piece and Mothers aluminum polish with a nice soft rag always blows my mind. I would post photos but fear that it might be off topic.

 

The eagle one stuff is great.

Its muriatic acid, reduced to some percentage, not sure what.