MX-5 OC Forum

Hi,

I want to clean up my cam cover, inlet manifold etc. I don't want them shiny, just really clean.

Any ideas as to best way forward? I tried a small patch with Autglym Metal Polish and it look better, but not like new.

baftacat:

I want to clean up my cam cover, inlet manifold etc. I don't want them shiny, just really clean.

 There is a liquid specifically for cleaning aluminium castings that is extremely good when used with a STAINLESS STEEL wire brush. I can't remember what it is called but will find out tomorrow and let you know. Do not use an ordinary steel wire brush.

pollyana:

There is a liquid specifically for cleaning aluminium castings that is extremely good when used with a STAINLESS STEEL wire brush. I can't remember what it is called but will find out tomorrow and let you know. Do not use an ordinary steel wire brush

Sorry baftacat, I have been so busy cleaning and polishing my car today I completley forgot about the cleaner. I will try and find out tomorrow, have made a note for myself.

 i started doing mine with wet and dry to take dirty surface off then wire drill piece and then autosol looked good until i seen another one that had been taken off and polished so then i went to town fuel rail off new gasket and inlet manifold seals new coolant oil change while inlet manifold was off cleaned injecters new fuel hoses ect now it looks good photo dosent do it justise but still you can see it looks shiny

<a href="http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww41/redmazda_2009/?action=view&current=DSC00192-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww41/redmazda_2009/DSC00192-1.jpg" border="0" alt="inlet camcover airflow polished"></a>

 Brass-wire brush followed by grey 3M Scotch pad; cleans off aluminium oxide, but not so harsh as to scratch the metal (preserves original grained finish).

 Those green pan scourers you get in tesco for about 40p

 paint it with silver smoothrite.

and you can do other parts whilst your there as well

Alan

 On another forum someone suggested using Coca Cola. Might be worth a try as it's supposed to bring copper pennies up like new.

pollyana:

Sorry baftacat, I have been so busy cleaning and polishing my car today I completley forgot about the cleaner. I will try and find out tomorrow, have made a note for myself

The stuff I borrowed was called Alo Cure, but can't find out where to buy it from.

 Sorry bafcat I gave you some duff info, it is called Alu Cure and is found on here.  It's the De-oxidiser that you need    http://www.lb-restoration.co.uk/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=VALETING&keywords=AluCleanersandPolishes&cart_id=1140601450.1725

I will get some alu-cure. Thanks for the pointer.

I did try coca-cola. I drunk 6 cans of it and the engine looks no better!! (should I add barcardi?!).

Thanks for your help everybody. Great advice as usual.

I used WD40 and a pan scouring sponge. Came up very nicely and was degreased well for painting.

 Meguiars now do a engine de-greaser this will clean the engine and the bay to a good standard, without polishing and without requiring much effort.

see www.meguiars.co.uk for more info and prices. hope this helps. james.

Unfortunatly there is only one way to do this and it's hard work but worth it - take the cover off and on a solid bench or good work surface remove all the rough casting surface with wet and dry ,start with coarse grit and work down to really fine ,then you must buy two polishing mops and polishing wax - the black stuff  (one is abrasive and the other shines the surface ) the surface must be really smooth ,once polished then and only then finish it off with solvol autsol - fill the indented lettering with red heatproof paint and you're done ,that is until you do the inlet as well !I learnt how to this with British Aerospace when we had an aircraft industry - we polished all the interior cabin fittings and they looked like chrome ! it looks great but is really hard work ,took me a week of evenings i(n the winter) but well worth it ,I'll send you photos if you want them 

Ron Hardie:

Unfortunatly there is only one way to do this and it's hard work but worth it - take the cover off and on a solid bench or good work surface remove all the rough casting surface with wet and dry ,start with coarse grit and work down to really fine ,then you must buy two polishing mops and polishing wax - the black stuff  (one is abrasive and the other shines the surface ) the surface must be really smooth ,once polished then and only then finish it off with solvol autsol - fill the indented lettering with red heatproof paint and you're done ,that is until you do the inlet as well !I learnt how to this with British Aerospace when we had an aircraft industry - we polished all the interior cabin fittings and they looked like chrome ! it looks great but is really hard work ,took me a week of evenings i(n the winter) but well worth it ,I'll send you photos if you want them 

 This is what he said...".I want to clean up my cam cover, inlet manifold etc. I don't want them shiny, just really clean"