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Anyone have a polished alternator? -How is it holding up?

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Old 04-23-08, 06:55 AM
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Anyone have a polished alternator? -How is it holding up?

I understand it is made out of a magnesium alloy mix. Magnesium oxidizes almost immediately when it is left exposed. Someone I know said a few shops will polish them. Has anyone tried this?
Old 04-23-08, 07:52 AM
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It can be polisched but will lose it's shine quickly.
Spray on some clearcoat and will stay nice a lot longer.
Old 04-23-08, 08:12 AM
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I've heard that they can spontaneously combust, leading to large fireballs shooting out of your hood. Proceed with caution.
Old 04-23-08, 11:51 AM
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If you get it polished, you can always paint or powdercoat a clearcoat over it to preserve the finish and keep from having to repolish it later. Of course I just powdercoat mine to make them look polished, and all I have to do is use soap and water to get the dust off periodically.
Old 04-23-08, 12:15 PM
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So far mine is still holding up, even stored it in the garage that was like 5 degrees in there throughout the winter..
Old 04-23-08, 12:40 PM
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RTS3GEN ran one for years and it was always shiny (as well as everything else in his engine bay). It doesn't take much to keep it looking nice. If you use a good polish on it like Mother's, then you only need to do a quick buff on it every now and then.

Here's an old shot of his engine (from back aroun 2003 at Heartland Park):
http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/ho...0/DSC00004.JPG

I haven't had one nearly as long as he ran his, but it's not as much upkeep as you might think.
Old 04-23-08, 01:09 PM
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Great. Thanks for the feedback guys.
Old 04-23-08, 10:11 PM
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Mine looked great for 2-3yrs but the car was stored inside.
Bling, bling!
http://image28.webshots.com/28/2/34/...9KTuPkY_fs.jpg

If a car is stored outside and not driven water will condense on the metal parts, over time, especially polished ones, and they will start corroding. I don't think it is made from Mag, it is Aluminum.
Old 04-23-08, 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by turbojeff
Mine looked great for 2-3yrs but the car was stored inside.
Bling, bling!
http://image28.webshots.com/28/2/34/...9KTuPkY_fs.jpg

If a car is stored outside and not driven water will condense on the metal parts, over time, especially polished ones, and they will start corroding. I don't think it is made from Mag, it is Aluminum.
Link no workey
Old 04-23-08, 10:40 PM
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http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1277...34192742KTuPkY

2nd try.




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