aluminum cleaner - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

yenko427 · 11-20-2007, 06:14 PM

I got a set of vintage eledrbrock ellite valve cover but they are really tarnish. What is the best thing to use and how to clean them. Please let me know our is there a place to refinish them. Thanks for the help from the nest site on the net.

69swbman · 11-20-2007, 06:20 PM

if their aluminum take them to blue beacon truck washes they have this stuff their called brightner its used to take stains and other stuff off of alumimum it may turn them white or a milky color but thats the best time to have them polished i know this cus im a superviser at one of them

72BLUZ · 11-20-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69swbman

if their aluminum take them to blue beacon truck washes they have this stuff their called brightner its used to take stains and other stuff off of alumimum it may turn them white or a milky color but thats the best time to have them polished i know this cus im a superviser at one of them

and i know this as well, because i used to be a customer!!!! it will clean aluminum and then it will be easy to polish to a mirror shine. around most truck stops you can find somebody that polishes aluminum for a living. i bet it wouldnt cost over 20 bucks to have it polished.
you can also use purple dragon which as acid in it. it will clean and brighten aluminum. it can be bought at auto parts stores

yenko427 · 11-20-2007, 07:57 PM

I found some stuf at napa auto parts that is called alumia brite is this about the same

Longhorn Man · 11-20-2007, 08:05 PM

I don't know the name, but I got some stuff at NAPA in a white and blue pump spray bottle that worked pretty good on my truck tool box.

grady5 · 11-20-2007, 08:35 PM

i used to polish my alum rims with extreme metal polish. it always worked for me. it looks like pink cotton candy. but dont eat it

afoshie · 11-20-2007, 11:22 PM

Stuff called metal wax you can see it online at www.metalwax.com it comes with a greene water type liqud that you use first and let dry and then a polish. this is the best that i have found and it lasts along time before it tarnishes again. Pics on the web would surprise you but they are true.

Wootdog · 11-21-2007, 07:47 AM

Flitz is the best polish I have ever seen. Kinda pricey but it can make your aluminum look like chrome.
Kerry

race-n-jason · 11-21-2007, 09:30 AM

i was very impressed with Mother's Aluminum Polish, along with the Mini Power Ball.

Took very little work to completely change the look of my raw aluminum wheels.

shifty · 11-21-2007, 11:04 AM

In one of the most recent truck magazines I got in the mail, they showed how to refinish aluminum trim very easily: Shoot oven cleaner on it. Rinse after the recommended clean time on the can. Take a Flitz ball (or similar) to it. Wax or clearcoat after.

70 longbed · 11-21-2007, 11:30 AM

If you go out to the edelbrock site, I think they have a cleaner they recommend. It is not there product and can only be purchased on line. I will look and see if I can find it again.

Mudder · 11-21-2007, 02:37 PM

If you look in the detail forum there are a couple threads on this subject.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-21-2007, 02:47 PM

Sorry for the jack, but would the stuff y'all are mentioning above fix the wheel on my silverado? I apologize for the crappy pics, but this is the best I could get it to show up. It's much much worse looking in person.

They look like sploches? It's only on one of my rims, but on 3 of the spokes and is very visible from 5 feet away. The rims are some sort of alloy, right? So will aluminum cleaner work?

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 11-21-2007, 02:50 PM

Hey mudder what is the polish you use ? You recomended it to pont and it worked wonders for him....

shifty · 11-21-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Sorry for the jack, but would the stuff y'all are mentioning above fix the wheel on my silverado? I apologize for the crappy pics, but this is the best I could get it to show up. It's much much worse looking in person.

They look like sploches? It's only on one of my rims, but on 3 of the spokes and is very visible from 5 feet away. The rims are some sort of alloy, right? So will aluminum cleaner work?

I'd go to the store and drop $8 on some Mothers Mag & Wheel polish for it, see if that fixes your issue.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-21-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty

I'd go to the store and drop $8 on some Mothers Mag & Wheel polish for it, see if that fixes your issue.

Do I need to get one of those powerball thingys for a drill too?

yenko427 · 11-21-2007, 10:34 PM

Thanks everyone for the help. I bought some alumabrite from napa and it took some of the hard tarnish off but not all of it. Im gonna try some aluminum polish with a power ball and see what happens. If don't work I thinking about painting them a high gloss black and then buffing the ribs and the edelbrock emblem. I will post some picks of the before and after when i get them done. Here is a pic of the cover when they are brand new.

Mudder · 11-22-2007, 12:32 PM

I use and recomend California Customs Purple. They have a step 1 which is a weak acid that works wonders for wheels that are oxidized really bad to use before the purple. You have to get it online and I will say that as far a easy to use it will blow Mothers away. Has a very good shine too.

Mudder · 11-22-2007, 12:36 PM

I have used the powerball and find it to be rather messy. Those new Chevy wheels are probably clearcoated and anything abrasive will probably just make them worse. Treat clear coat like you would paint.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-22-2007, 12:40 PM

Thanks Mudder. I really don't know much about the rims, other than a BUNCH of weird splotches just showed up that won't come off, and they don't look like something ON the rims, more like putting citric acid on paint kinda thing.

I'll post over on GM-Trucks.com, maybe they'll know more?

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 11-22-2007, 02:12 PM

Thanks mudder that is what pont was useing very good stuff and yes it blows mothers outta the water..

my67chevytruck · 11-22-2007, 03:41 PM

Redneck those are water spots that got under the clearcoat from what i can tell. I would clean the rims real good with a stiff brush and a clearcoat safe cleaner. then wax them good. IF it bothers you that bad have a body shop give you an estimate to re-clear or get a estimate to have them CPC'd (clear powder-coated). Good luck.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-22-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my67chevytruck

Redneck those are water spots that got under the clearcoat from what i can tell. I would clean the rims real good with a stiff brush and a clearcoat safe cleaner. then wax them good. IF it bothers you that bad have a body shop give you an estimate to re-clear or get a estimate to have them CPC'd (clear powder-coated). Good luck.

Well, that blows

shifty · 11-22-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Do I need to get one of those powerball thingys for a drill too?

this stuff is usually applied by hand, but you could just buy the powerball kit and go that route, i think it comes with some compound.

72BLUZ · 11-22-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Sorry for the jack, but would the stuff y'all are mentioning above fix the wheel on my silverado? I apologize for the crappy pics, but this is the best I could get it to show up. It's much much worse looking in person.

They look like sploches? It's only on one of my rims, but on 3 of the spokes and is very visible from 5 feet away. The rims are some sort of alloy, right? So will aluminum cleaner work?

YOURS MAY HAVE A CLEAR COAT ON THEM, AND MAY NEED STRIPPED. IF YOU CAN GET THE CLEAR OFF THEM THEN THEY WOULD CLEAN UP NICE!

11-20-2007, 06:14 PM	#1
yenko427 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sweeny,Texas Posts: 96	aluminum cleaner I got a set of vintage eledrbrock ellite valve cover but they are really tarnish. What is the best thing to use and how to clean them. Please let me know our is there a place to refinish them. Thanks for the help from the nest site on the net.

11-20-2007, 06:20 PM	#2
69swbman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: peaster,tx Posts: 59	Re: aluminum cleaner if their aluminum take them to blue beacon truck washes they have this stuff their called brightner its used to take stains and other stuff off of alumimum it may turn them white or a milky color but thats the best time to have them polished i know this cus im a superviser at one of them

11-20-2007, 07:57 PM	#4
yenko427 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sweeny,Texas Posts: 96	Re: aluminum cleaner I found some stuf at napa auto parts that is called alumia brite is this about the same

11-20-2007, 08:05 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: aluminum cleaner I don't know the name, but I got some stuff at NAPA in a white and blue pump spray bottle that worked pretty good on my truck tool box.

11-20-2007, 08:35 PM	#6
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	Re: aluminum cleaner i used to polish my alum rims with extreme metal polish. it always worked for me. it looks like pink cotton candy. but dont eat it

11-20-2007, 11:22 PM	#7
afoshie Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greeneville, TN Posts: 65	Re: aluminum cleaner Stuff called metal wax you can see it online at www.metalwax.com it comes with a greene water type liqud that you use first and let dry and then a polish. this is the best that i have found and it lasts along time before it tarnishes again. Pics on the web would surprise you but they are true.

11-21-2007, 07:47 AM	#8
Wootdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va, USA Posts: 1,676	Re: aluminum cleaner Flitz is the best polish I have ever seen. Kinda pricey but it can make your aluminum look like chrome. Kerry __________________ 1969 Chevelle 1990 IROC Z Convertible 2002 Silverado LT

11-21-2007, 09:30 AM	#9
race-n-jason -Praise the Lowered- Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Garland, Tx, USA Posts: 280	Re: aluminum cleaner i was very impressed with Mother's Aluminum Polish, along with the Mini Power Ball. Took very little work to completely change the look of my raw aluminum wheels. Attached Images __________________ Race-N-Jason ('71 Chevy C-10 LWB 454/TH350) ('07 Dodge Ram 2500, 5.9 Cummins/6-speed Manual)

11-21-2007, 11:04 AM	#10
shifty Questionable Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 13,376	Re: aluminum cleaner In one of the most recent truck magazines I got in the mail, they showed how to refinish aluminum trim very easily: Shoot oven cleaner on it. Rinse after the recommended clean time on the can. Take a Flitz ball (or similar) to it. Wax or clearcoat after. __________________ If I've got anything up for grabs, it'll be here: 7-hole gauge cluster for a 67-72 p/u FREE (link) I can't check the forum daily. If I don't reply to you within 24 hours, drop me a PM! I'm (hopefully) still alive and will reply faster to a PM.

11-21-2007, 11:30 AM	#11
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Re: aluminum cleaner If you go out to the edelbrock site, I think they have a cleaner they recommend. It is not there product and can only be purchased on line. I will look and see if I can find it again. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

11-21-2007, 02:37 PM	#12
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: aluminum cleaner If you look in the detail forum there are a couple threads on this subject.

11-21-2007, 02:47 PM	#13
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: aluminum cleaner Sorry for the jack, but would the stuff y'all are mentioning above fix the wheel on my silverado? I apologize for the crappy pics, but this is the best I could get it to show up. It's much much worse looking in person. They look like sploches? It's only on one of my rims, but on 3 of the spokes and is very visible from 5 feet away. The rims are some sort of alloy, right? So will aluminum cleaner work? Attached Images __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 11-21-2007 at 02:49 PM.

11-21-2007, 02:50 PM	#14
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,602	Re: aluminum cleaner Hey mudder what is the polish you use ? You recomended it to pont and it worked wonders for him.... __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

11-21-2007, 10:34 PM	#17
yenko427 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sweeny,Texas Posts: 96	Re: aluminum cleaner Thanks everyone for the help. I bought some alumabrite from napa and it took some of the hard tarnish off but not all of it. Im gonna try some aluminum polish with a power ball and see what happens. If don't work I thinking about painting them a high gloss black and then buffing the ribs and the edelbrock emblem. I will post some picks of the before and after when i get them done. Here is a pic of the cover when they are brand new. Attached Images

11-22-2007, 12:32 PM	#18
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: aluminum cleaner I use and recomend California Customs Purple. They have a step 1 which is a weak acid that works wonders for wheels that are oxidized really bad to use before the purple. You have to get it online and I will say that as far a easy to use it will blow Mothers away. Has a very good shine too. Attached Images



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11-22-2007, 12:36 PM	#19
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: aluminum cleaner I have used the powerball and find it to be rather messy. Those new Chevy wheels are probably clearcoated and anything abrasive will probably just make them worse. Treat clear coat like you would paint.

11-22-2007, 12:40 PM	#20
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: aluminum cleaner Thanks Mudder. I really don't know much about the rims, other than a BUNCH of weird splotches just showed up that won't come off, and they don't look like something ON the rims, more like putting citric acid on paint kinda thing. I'll post over on GM-Trucks.com, maybe they'll know more? __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

11-22-2007, 02:12 PM	#21
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,602	Re: aluminum cleaner Thanks mudder that is what pont was useing very good stuff and yes it blows mothers outta the water.. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

11-22-2007, 03:41 PM	#22
my67chevytruck Under Construction Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Midlothian,TX (DFW) Posts: 4,555	Re: aluminum cleaner Redneck those are water spots that got under the clearcoat from what i can tell. I would clean the rims real good with a stiff brush and a clearcoat safe cleaner. then wax them good. IF it bothers you that bad have a body shop give you an estimate to re-clear or get a estimate to have them CPC'd (clear powder-coated). Good luck. __________________ Heath subscribe to the board here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=157669 FAQ how to's 1956 Chevy Apache 1967 C10 SWB FleetSide (under construction) 1969 K10 SWB FleetSide (Future Build) 1972 C10 SWB Stepside (Future Build) 56 chevy truck : http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2955823/1 67 truck build: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=281357/1 69 k10: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=389470

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