Bodywork, Paint, Interior, Trim, & Wiring

discussions about bodywork, paint, interiors, trim, audio, electrical components, wiring, etc.

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crashbash
david bash
st. charles
(215 posts)

Registered:
01/28/2008 10:53AM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Rdst V8 project, 1968 MGC GT, 1969 MGB Rd olds 215

aluminum engine polish
Posted by: crashbash
Date: August 02, 2010 12:39PM

Has anyone polished their engine? I'm sure someone has, just wondered how much time it took or dollars to have it done. Who would you find that would be interested in doing this. I don't mean a mirrrow polish just a good clean up. It would really look good under hood I'm thinking.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: Moderator
Date: August 02, 2010 01:12PM

If you've ever read the fine print on "Purple Stuff" engine degreaser, you might have noticed that they say "don't use this product on aluminum or paint". Well, I use it on cast aluminum engine parts because I like the particular low luster shine it produces with no polishing effort at all. Squirt it on. Rinse with water. (It doesn't work so great on my aluminum sheetmetal firewall. For that, I use McQuire's Mag Polish, but I'd probably try Never Dull wadding if I ever run out... I used Mag Polish on the alternator mount, below.)

Example:
http://www.britishv8.org/MG/CurtisJacobson/CurtisJacobson-F.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2010 01:13PM by Moderator.


crashbash
david bash
st. charles
(215 posts)

Registered:
01/28/2008 10:53AM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Rdst V8 project, 1968 MGC GT, 1969 MGB Rd olds 215

Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: crashbash
Date: August 20, 2010 05:21PM

Nah I'm going to have to have a polished aluminum engine. It might be the dummy one I have that will wind up as a coffee table.

Ordered some new high tech alum cleaner (green?) that I need to try on T5 corrosion yet.

What kind of engine is that? A carburated Rover with crank sensor, or is the distributor just out? Odd mounts?


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: Moderator
Date: August 20, 2010 10:53PM

Buick 215. Buick/Olds 215's make categorically superior coffee tables compared to Rover engines because GM used hard tooling for exterior surfaces on blocks/heads whereas Rover just used sand. The distributor is just out. The mounts are home-made - they look a little odd because I slipped a piece of aluminum between the two halves of the rubber mount.


crashbash
david bash
st. charles
(215 posts)

Registered:
01/28/2008 10:53AM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Rdst V8 project, 1968 MGC GT, 1969 MGB Rd olds 215

Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: crashbash
Date: August 24, 2010 03:50PM

You know I'm starting to think buick/olds may be the better motor to build since these big rover blocks are having the liner shift phenomenon and god knows what else. British and quiality control are an oxymoron are'nt they?

Are these Rover block decks taller so the glass is not so far away when your sitting on the couch?

Shirley there is a place someone would like to make a few bucks cleaning up one of these aluminum blocks. Let me know please, and I know don't call you Shirley.................................


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: August 26, 2010 09:22AM

See, you buy yourself one or two of those porting/polishing kits and a die grinder and a couple cases of beer along with a new Pink Floyd album and a ready supply of your favorite smokables...

Seriously though, you've got nothing better to do with your time, right? It'll get rave reviews when it's done. Plus, you can use it for a wine rack if you're into that sort of thing.

Btw, since the BOP's were die cast they ought to be smoother to start with.

JB


Dan B
Dan Blackwood
South Charleston, WV
(1007 posts)

Registered:
11/06/2007 01:55PM

Main British Car:
1966 TR4A, 1980 TR7 Multiport EFI MegaSquirt on the TR4A. Lexus V8 pl

authors avatar
Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: Dan B
Date: August 26, 2010 03:48PM

The Lunatic is on the Grass.......



BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: August 26, 2010 10:19PM

Got to keep the Loonies on the Path!


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: aluminum engine polish, yes/no ?
Posted by: roverman
Date: January 02, 2011 12:38PM

Fellow clansmen, and ladies. I've seen very smooth die cast and very rough. Depends when in the run cycle, the casting was done. I suppose, at "some" point the dies got encrusted enough, and went through a descaling process ? For those willing to make leakproof plugs,(lots) "mandatory", the block and all other alum. parts can be vibratory/tumbler polished. The media will rust the liners(ferrite), and the little stones will make the motor a "ratler"! Trick is to find a machine big enough for block.Usually takes approx. 30 min.Relatively cheap,looks like "Endurashine" on an Edlebrock carb. Good Luck, roverman.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2011 12:39PM by roverman.


crashbash
david bash
st. charles
(215 posts)

Registered:
01/28/2008 10:53AM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Rdst V8 project, 1968 MGC GT, 1969 MGB Rd olds 215

Re: aluminum engine polish
Posted by: crashbash
Date: January 03, 2011 02:01PM

Thankyou Art
I'm sure most of the information you give us is valid. Just wondering if you stopped a concrete truck with the mixer running and asked him about tumble polishing the block.............No really do some shops have tumblers big enough? I can imagine there is an industrial app. thought about cleaning up the blocks roughest spots and having powder coated. Might look nice. I kind of like the Blackwoods boys idea, used to work that way not any more....


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