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
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.
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Moderator Curtis Jacobson Portland Oregon (4577 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: aluminum engine polish
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: 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
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 (4577 posts) Registered: 10/12/2007 02:16AM Main British Car: 71 MGBGT, Buick 215 |
Re: aluminum engine polish
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.
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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 |
Re: aluminum engine polish
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 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: aluminum engine polish
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 |
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BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6470 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: aluminum engine polish
Got to keep the Loonies on the Path!
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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 ?
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
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.... |