Cleaning Aluminum Valve Covers/Intake Manifold

Glenn F. · Dec 17, 2014

My son & I are detailing the 350 engine in his '66 Chevy pickup. How does a person get aluminum intake manifold and valve covers clean/looking like new? They are clean, but grungy looking.

Thanks,
Glenn F.

Bob · Dec 17, 2014

Blast 'em with walnut shell media.

huntingreen2day2 · Dec 17, 2014

Try some aluminum wheel cleaner.

Earl-IL · Dec 17, 2014

Take it to a shop with a ultra-sonic cleaner. It will look like new.

big fred · Dec 17, 2014

I'm with Bob, glass beading will work, too.

504 · Dec 17, 2014

get a wheel polisher for your drill at any chain auto parts store,(red) even walmart has them

MSM · Dec 18, 2014

have them glass beaded then clear coated.

Dusty MI · Dec 18, 2014

Try some vinegar.

showcrop · Dec 18, 2014

My truck had aluminum wheels and fuel tank. I kept them clean and shiny the old fashioned way. Any chemical or abrasive cleaner including vinegar is quick and easy but very temporary. The surface is made slightly rougher so it will oxidize much faster unless as MSM says, you clear coat them. As 504 says you can get a polishing wheel for your drill, and use Dupont polishing compound or Noxon. The result will be a smoother surface which will resist oxidation much longer without clear coating. There is nothing wrong with clear coating if you are confident that it will not get scratched or nicked, it is just not blindingly bright.

dr sportster · Dec 18, 2014

Bead blast. Polishing is a whole different ball game. Polishing you need abrasives and once you start there is no turning back. It takes about 40 hrs to polish a Harley crankcase. Once you flatten down the cast surface you still have alot of work cut out for you. But a die cast valve cover could be put on a buffing wheel if the sides are flat and not cast. The wheel could bring out a nice shine in that without crazy labor.If a surface is too cruddy or will require too much work to polish then I get out the VHT black wrinkle paint.

Mike Groom · Dec 18, 2014

Go to your Harley Davidson dealer,they have a spray on engine cleaner,I can't remember if it's called SP-100,something like that works really good on aluminum parts and grunge.

loko17 · Dec 18, 2014

Haven't tried on auto parts but there is an aluminum cleaner that is sold to clean aluminum pontoons on pontoon boats that works well on the pontoons. It may work on aluminum valve covers, etc. Overton's is one place that sells it.

Eldo case · Dec 18, 2014

Get some air conditioner coil cleaner. Good stuff!

dr sportster · Dec 18, 2014

S-100 . ,It says you are not to use that on aluminum . But I have and what it does is sort of acid etch the whole surface like a welding prep. I have another industrial soap that will actually eat the aluminum But if used and rinsed off quickly it leaves it spotless. {That one also says not for aluminum.]

showcrop · Dec 18, 2014

(quoted from post at 09:53:42 12/18/14) Get some air conditioner coil cleaner. Good stuff!

The coil cleaner that my company makes can be a little aggressive and should be rinsed off pretty quickly. In fact pretty much any aggressive cleaner has a good potential of etching the aluminum.

GordoSD · Dec 18, 2014

If you want them to look like OEM valve covers from the Corvettes of the 60's walnut shell blasting.

Cleaning Aluminum Valve Covers/Intake Manifold

Glenn F.

Member

Bob

Well-known Member

huntingreen2day2

Member

Earl-IL

Well-known Member

big fred

Well-known Member

504

Well-known Member

MSM

Well-known Member

Dusty MI

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

dr sportster

Well-known Member

Mike Groom

Well-known Member

loko17

Member

Eldo case

Member

dr sportster

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

GordoSD

Well-known Member

Similar threads