Maintaining aluminium looks?

[S.hafsmo]

How do you all keep the suspension parts so neat and shiny?
Wheel wax?

[randy ransome]

I use 0000 steel wool and mean green aluminum polish.
I've never tried sealer, didn't know about it, but this stays shiny bright for months without oxidizing.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by randy ransome

I use 0000 steel wool and mean green aluminum polish.
I've never tried sealer, didn't know about it, but this stays shiny bright for months without oxidizing.

That is extremely nice.......how long did it take and how did you accomplish the original polish?

I assume with all components polished on the bench?

[randy ransome]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

That is extremely nice.......how long did it take and how did you accomplish the original polish?

I assume with all components polished on the bench?

Fortunately I wasn't the one that initially polished everything. The former owner had the Pleasure of doing that. As I remember he said he had somewhere around 100 hours in the process and yes it was apart when he polished it. He clear coated it all after polishing but it had Yellowed over time. Time and heat aren't kind to the old, clear paint. I stripped the clear coat off everything and re-polished it. I didn't consider re-clearing it after all the work stripping it.

[Kevin]

mothers mag and aluminum polish then sealed it

[S.hafsmo]

Wouldn't the polished aluminum oxidize quite rapidly if left untreated?

Edit: Didn't see your post, Kevin. What do you use to seal after the polish?

[Ozruss90]

Putting metal polish on alloy is the same as putting polish on your paintwork. It puts a protective film on there. Won't last forever just just like the polish on the body.
Still love that car of yours Randy.
Cheers
Russell

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Ozruss90

Putting metal polish on alloy is the same as putting polish on your paintwork. It puts a protective film on there. Won't last forever just just like the polish on the body.
Still love that car of yours Randy.
Cheers
Russell

polish doesn't have any protective properties. Unless there's a nomenclature difference we're dealing with here

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by S.hafsmo

Wouldn't the polished aluminum oxidize quite rapidly if left untreated?

Edit: Didn't see your post, Kevin. What do you use to seal after the polish?

I use opti-seal. I also used the polish to do the inside of my wheels which had some really nasty build up after years of neglect. I sealed those with opti-seal too. Should be a bit easier to clean up now...I hope.

[S.hafsmo]

I was really just looking for product preferences and/or experiences. Would be nice to know how long such a polishing venture would last between re-polishing or re-sealing.

Randy, those pics ad massive weight to your words. Don't think I've ever seen such an immaculate engine bay! And the shine on the suspension parts looks great!
Oh, the jealousy one must endure on this forum.