How to shine up aluminum parts??

[Circus Midget]

I've got my sled all tore down for an engine rebuild and I want to clean it up. What's the best way to clean and brighten aluminum parts that are a couple years old and starting to dull? I'd like to clean the clutch up since it's got some oxidation and the crank and cylinder have some oil/belt dust build up.

Also, anyone know of a good place to buy head and cylinder bolts for a Doo?
Checked today and they told me $8 a piece for the cylinder bolts.

 

[milehighassassin]

Buy your bolts at ACE.

Do you want to SHINE/Polish your aluminum parts or clean them up?

To clean them up I just use brake clean.

To shine, I start with sandpaper working my way up to finer sandpaper and then finally use a good aluminum polish. I just picked up some Mothers that worked good.

 

[02hmk]

For the engine parts and clutch we use easy off oven cleaner and a preasure washer, to polish, mothers wax, and some multipurpose cooking flower. my.02$

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Ditto on the Mother's! Lot's of time and elbow grease, it's not an easy task!

 

[pumpnlead]

I use mother's, 3-M, or Turtle Wax. Since you are asking for suggestions, if you have a good cordless drill, get the mother's Powerball. It is nice in a lot of areas and cuts down on a lot of time making circles.

 

[2007Dragon]

I used a polish called white diamond aluminum polish and that has worked the best for me. I also used the mother's powerball with it and together it's a little messy, but the shine is well worth it! Mother's is good as well.

 

[Vern]

if you want to just clean them real well and brighten the aluminum back to a bright whitish color, theres stuff like what we use at work called "Alumabright" you might be able to find something similar to this near if there is any semi-truck washes around your area. it cleans aluminum great but its an acid so you gotta be a bit careful with it it will eat clothes and can cause some skin irritation so i would recomend gloves if you try it.

 

[Trashy]

clean -up

On cast aluminum parts like jugs and cases I use a product called Alumi-blast from a company called Seymore... It makes stained or corroded cast aluminum look like new, and stays that way!