I had most of my parts polished at a local shop and they looked good but that was in 2002. Now they look like crap I guess I didn't keep up on cleaning them but my question is how to make them look good again. I was reading Rob Robinette's site on polishing and think I would just need to wet sand with 600 grit and polish. Is this right? thank you

 

FWIW I just recently purchased a small jar of MOTHER'S aluminum polish at ADVANCE AUTO for the first time. http://www.mothers.com/02_products/05100-05101.html
Used it on my UIM, 'Y' pipe and a few other underhood pieces. I also recall seeing some other brands...Mequiar's etc. too.
I was surprised on the results...not a 100% but almost as nice as they were right after the original (professional) polish job. Pretty easy to use and not a huge amount of work. The worst part is getting into all the little nooks and crannies.
About $5 for the small jar and a little goes along way.

 

Yup - Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish is incredible stuff.

 

+1 mother's aluminum polish + cotton rag. buff it and you'd be amazed

 

+2 mother's aluminum polish + if you want the best results possible, go to your local Hardware shop and get a polishing power tool - kinda looks like a drill thing - with a polish pad and a buffing pad - and get some polishing clay - this will set you back like $40 but will have that mirror shine

 

And if you want to keep that shine you have to spray a clear coat ( i reccomend semi gloss or gloss ) The reason your aluminum does not look as good as it did, is because aluminum forms an oxide layer over time due to being exposed to the elements. What you wanna do is protect it.

 

i wouldn't recommend clear coat for engine application. the heat would crack the coat over time and get real ugly. just re-apply Mother's when it gets dirty again

 

I have a bottle of mothers CHROME polish and ihave used it on my HKS RS intakes, my chrome UIM, my chrome strut bar but it doesnt seem to do good.

Will this aluminum polish work better?

 

I think it says not to use it on chrome on the label.

 

^Agreed.
Not only would clear-coating underhood components be expensive and a crap-load of work, it would likely yellow from heat over a relatively short period of time. Yes aluminum oxidizes, but a half-hour's work once a year or so to polish the bits under the hood isn't that tough.

 

thanks for the advice I'll give it a try and see how them come out

 

I'd look into Poorboys Wheel Sealer, it is a sealer wax that was specially made for high temps, and dirty tough environments, good stuff!!

Of course you have to get it polished back up first, I like power tools for polishing, too much work otherwise, but the megs stuff is pretty good.

 

I'm going to to use a mouse sander and steel wool to de-polish everything under my hood and take it back to raw alluminum look. Polishing is a pain in the ***, it's why I sold my Fikse's after a month. Polished the lips twice, and said "that's it".

P.S. wear a latex glove when you use mothers, or your finger tips will be black for a week.

 

It's probably not a bad idea to wear gloves more than I do. But I don't remember having that problem.

 

Bring them by me...i detail...have them looking better then new =]

 

After a repolish, use Zoop Seal to help preserve the shine. It works pretty good. I like Mothers too btw.

 

I've had good success with Mother's as well:

http://www.autogeek.net/motbilmetpol.html

 

simichrome polish is kick *** stuff.

 

O, so how would i re-shine polished parts of mine like my strut bar, uim, intake etc??

 

Mothers have a chrome polish too I think.

Polished is fine with the Mag polish (what it is intended for I think).

 

lol thats what im using and it doesnt work well.

Should i use a dremel with the polisher tip or thats too aggressive?

 

You could look at this (it is for wheels, but should apply to any aluminium):

http://www.s10forum.com/how_to_polish_aluminum_wheels

I have a vague memory of someone posting a polishing FAQ here at one point too.

 

mothers polish and toilet paper is the way i do it, and my stuff comes up like chrome. if that doesnt do it, wet sand it with 1500 then 2000 and wd-40 then use the mothers with toilet paper