---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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-- https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

try lemon scented oven cleaner It works great
suprss70

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

[ 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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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.

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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..

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/tongue.gif

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

[ 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 https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/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! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif

Steve

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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.......

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

Metal shot on aluminum? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif That doesn't sound safe.

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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.

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

"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!!!!!

Re: ---- How do i brighten up-----
 

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