Anybody got a good method? I've pretty well got it degreased with a combination of gunk, panel wipe and pressure washing, but the aluminium surface is still grimy. Some American videos are showing how to clean cast aluminum parts with products not obtainable here. I'm not after a mirror finish.
From what I've read they had some sort of corrosion inhibiting surface finish. The way I see it you need to have it bead blasted... Then you've exposed it to the atmosphere, and TBH it still might not look "all that" so waddya do? Powder coat. Doesn't have to be this blinding. I had the fan blasted too, it looked like new. No coating on that. I had everything blasted and powder coated, tin, brackets, every thing attached to the engine and a fair few interior parts. I'm sure anyone doing it all themselves appreciates the leg up this gives you.
That is a work of art, but I do like the gun metal grey appearance of the original metal, if I can even it up a bit.
I media blasted mine, then painted with smooth grey Hammerite. It still looks good 12 years later but I’m not really that bothered, I see it when I check the oil but nobody else sees it with the lid closed. Incidentally, the inside is smoother than the outside.
Media blasted and powder coated everything I could like Zed says, well worth it and saves a lot of messing about.
Looks like I should up my game with the bling. Second thoughts, nah. The bits inside are more important to me.
Good spot. Yes previous owner had a carb spring attached to it. I forgot to remove it before sending to the powder coater. I'll think of something to put on it one day.
Brass wire wheel on a drill works quite good on ally, then clearcoat if you like the finish. Hard work though but satisfying
[mention]1973daisey [/mention] not sure what si did to his but it looks really good. Maybe just powdercoated
The guy in the unit next to mine does this. It's lovely to get bits back that are just clean and ready to go (these were for the baja):
