keeping polished aluminium shiney

[KMinAF]

I just finished polishing the valve covers and they look great! How do I keep them looking shiney? Should I apply a clear coat?

I know I have read about this before but I can't find anything via search.

 

[shaeff]

No clear coat, as the heat from the engine bay will make it yellow and crispy. Then you have nasty looking yellow cam covers.

Not sure how to keep them shiny, so that's all I've got for you.

 

[selfinfliction]

you can use zoop, it'a about th eonly thing that will keep something from oxidizing, that gets hot.

on all the parts that don't get hot i use flitz, on hot parts zoop or clear coat, and not the aerosol canned clear, good stuff. zoop is expensive, that's why i only use it on hot parts.

here's a difference, the sprocket has zoop on it (cause they get hotter than hell) and the wheel has flitz. you can see a noticable difference in the shine

it is more noticable in person, the zoop has a brighter shine cause of the protectant layer on it, and flitz just leaves the deeper look, but only lasts 6 months compared to 2 years of zoop

 

[GrimJack]

Clear anodizing works.

 

[Dan_Gyoba]

Clear anodizing works.

+1. Expensive, but lasts basicaly forever.

Too rich for my blood though, which is why I don't polish engine parts.

 

[BorHor]

Clear powder coat works. It isn't as shiney as bare aluminium but it keeps it protected.

 

[Justin727]

just some good old wax, holds me off till I clean them up and take a buffing wheel to things again. every 4-5 months.

 

[WhtMa71]

Can this "Zoop" be bought at a car parts store?

 

[selfinfliction]

Can this "Zoop" be bought at a car parts store?

cheaper on ebay

 

[metaphysico]

Mothers polish lasts for 3 months or so with no polishing in between, but if the car just sits it wont last as long. Blue magic lasts for 6 months + but it leaves a film in not rubbed in enough but will hold up pretty well.

Of the 2 I usualy use mothers every 2 months or so, light coat on and off no buffing required if done often enough. Its a little hard to get under the intake though.

There is also stuff called 200 mile per hour polish used for plane props, From a guy I know its the best stuff, heat tolerant, durable, and you just wipe it on and off like polish and lasts for over a year on a plane prop.

 

[p5150]

I use Glisten PC by POR15. It is a catalyzed clear coat that wont yellow. It is specifically used for polished metal surfaces to include chrome.

 

[mista_sup]

so what if you already used the reg. clear coat and it turned yellow. how do you get it off. and where can i get glisten pc?

I use Glisten PC by POR15. It is a catalyzed clear coat that wont yellow. It is specifically used for polished metal surfaces to include chrome.

 

[p5150]

To get off the old clear you could probably just use some automotive paint solvent or aircraft paint stripper.

I would avoid physical means like sandblasting because you will have to polish it again.

I got the Glisten PC at the local auto paint store. Just call around.

www.por15.com/Data Sheets/glisten pc directions.pdf

 

[selfinfliction]

To get off the old clear you could probably just use some automotive paint solvent or aircraft paint stripper.

I would avoid physical means like sandblasting because you will have to polish it again.

+1 aircraft stripper is my mistress.

it'll take off just about anything but powder coating

 

[suprashy]

Mothers polish lasts for 3 months or so with no polishing in between, but if the car just sits it wont last as long. Blue magic lasts for 6 months + but it leaves a film in not rubbed in enough but will hold up pretty well.

Of the 2 I usualy use mothers every 2 months or so, light coat on and off no buffing required if done often enough. Its a little hard to get under the intake though.

There is also stuff called 200 mile per hour polish used for plane props, From a guy I know its the best stuff, heat tolerant, durable, and you just wipe it on and off like polish and lasts for over a year on a plane prop.

I had my valve covers and intake plenum polished. As long as she was garaged, all was well. But after storing her outside, now my parts have oxidized. I used mothers, and the 200 mph polish, but I guess mother nature is too strong. I'll have to try zoop.

 

[sethron71]

Zoop is damn good!

I will be getting some of my parts clear anodized after polishing as well since the shop next to ours has a connection at an anodizing place!

Self hang in there almost done!

P.S. We need to talk about a deal for polishing!

HTH,
Seth

 

[selfinfliction]

Zoop is damn good!

I will be getting some of my parts clear anodized after polishing as well since the shop next to ours has a connection at an anodizing place!

Self hang in there almost done!

P.S. We need to talk about a deal for polishing!

HTH,
Seth

yeah man, i'm definitely up for it.

 

[st2b]

Zoop seal is the best as far as I know, Not sure about the POR-15, but zoop has kept my parts shiny an unoxidized.

 

[KMinAF]

Maybe I should have them powder coated instead. Shiney sounds like it is labor intensive

 

[Justin727]

it is. So is powder coating. Ask me how I know