Cleaning Aluminum

**MosportGreen66** · #1 12-23-2006, 09:07 PM

I'm helping a friend freshen up his '58 Fulie Corvette before he sells it. The owner prior to my friend painted the fulie unit and intake base with an aluminum paint.

I've used brake cleaner and paint thinner with OK results. Is there anything I'm missing? I would love to take the intake base off and media blast it but thats not in the cards right now.

I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks!

(this is after cleaning with brake cleaner and paint thinner)

-Dan

**Salvatore** · #2 12-23-2006, 09:50 PM

Dan, You can use a tooth brush and maybe some aluminum polish. But really that is pretty close to the color it is suppose to be. Glass beading intakes and aluminum valve covers change the texture and color. JMO Sam

**John Brown** · #3 12-23-2006, 10:30 PM

Got a friend that used to work for Podell cleaning fuel injection manifolds. He said they used steel wool and alumaprep, not a polish. Be sure to wear rubber gloves !!

**MosportGreen66** · #4 12-23-2006, 11:47 PM

Sam and John... many thanks!
John, does your friend know where they sell Alumiprep?

**John Brown** · #5 12-24-2006, 12:59 AM

Dan,

Alumiprep is available from automotive paint stores. It's used on aluminum to etch it before painting.

Oh yeah, he said they also used tooth brushes too.

P.J. · #6 12-24-2006, 02:46 AM

try lemon sented oven cleaner and a brush. Leave it on for a while the rinse it off.
PJ

**kwhizz** · #7 12-24-2006, 03:59 AM

When I was doing the Engine in the Gold Nova, I tried a lot of different things to get the Aluminum Heads and Intake manifold to get that Factory look.....I ended up using Eagle One Etching Mag cleaner........Sprayed it on and let it soak for about 30 seconds then rinsed with water, I had to do it a couple of times to get the finish uniform, but it worked pretty good....Hope that "Helps"

Ken

ORIGLS6 · #8 12-24-2006, 06:18 PM

I've used Eagle 1 'Chrome and Wire Wheel Cleaner' on bare cast Aluminum with pretty good results. (Credit Chad Blomberg for the tip.)

Most recently used it on a pair of WCFBs and a vintage Dual Quad intake, and they look like new. As with Ken's experience with the Anodized Grille, I'd be careful since it's a corrosive formula. I sprayed it on, let it set a few minutes, then scrubbed it with a toothbrush before rinsing.
May be close to the same formula Ken recommended above.

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