How to keep aluminum bright on my engine?

[garner7555]

I just put aluminum heads on my 440.  I also have aluminum valve covers, intake, water pump and water pump housing.  How do you guys keep the aluminum from turning dull and dirty?  Is there a high temp clear I could spray on?  If so does it stick good and will it hold up on the heads around header flanges?   Thanks.

[garner7555]

In Bill44RT engine build thread he put a link to eastwood and some clear he used on his bare aluminum.  He said that the rattle can stuff is junk but it looks like they have quit selling the 8oz stuff for a spray gun like he used.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,52477.25.html




Eastwood also has this, which sounds awesome, but I'm a little skeptical of the claims.  2000 degrees doesn't seem like a realistic claim.      Anyone used this?

http://www.eastwood.com/exoarmour.html

[c00nhunterjoe]

My stuff is bare. Weekly wipe downs with any liquid aluminum polish.

[fy469rtse]

Or do what is new over ,
Hydroblast , high pressure water with what Evers added , shot peened finish,
Seems to resist stains and is much brighter in appearance ,
Recently did my heads and intake , water pump housing when tore into the engine
Reason I did it , for an engine that had only done several hundred miles,
I was surprised how dirty and grime look to it , no oil leaks or such ,
Alloy just seems to suck up the dirt

[Mike DC]

 
You could paint the aluminum parts with plain old cast-aluminum-colored engine paint. 

[68pplcharger]

I use an aluminum Polish/sealer.  Seems to work pretty well, haven't touched mine since I polished them since May of last year and they still look awesome.

[68X426]

My stuff is bare. Weekly wipe downs with any liquid aluminum polish.

Agreed.

Anyone have an opinion on Gord's?  http://www.gordsaluminumpolish.com/

They claim to clean, polish, and seal.

[440]

I still swear by good old Mothers polish, the protective wax in it seems to protect the shine for quite a while.

[myk]

What about master cylinder covers?  Same as above? 

[bill440rt]

In Bill44RT engine build thread he put a link to eastwood and some clear he used on his bare aluminum.  He said that the rattle can stuff is junk but it looks like they have quit selling the 8oz stuff for a spray gun like he used.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,52477.25.html




Eastwood also has this, which sounds awesome, but I'm a little skeptical of the claims.  2000 degrees doesn't seem like a realistic claim.      Anyone used this?

http://www.eastwood.com/exoarmour.html

I can say that after a few years the Eastwood product I used is living up to it's claim. The polished aluminum parts I used it on are still holding up a great shine, it has not peeled, yellowed, or cracked.  On the natural cast iron intake the coating is still invisible. Yes, the rattle can version of it was NOT the same stuff, and did not produce good results on polished parts.
Unfortunately, they don't carry it anymore.
Looks like that other product might be the replacement for the old version? Haven't used it so I can't say.

POR-15 also sells a similar product for bare polished metals.

On any bare polished parts I've been using Meguiar's Metal Finishing Polish. Great stuff!