Next project - time to polish some aluminum

[janschutz]

Since I have finished all the fixes, I have a couple old alternators that I thought I would try polishing the housings then rebuilding them.

So far so good. Got the rough casting off but still have to get some of the pits out. The picture came out blury due to the flash reflection, I will try again.

 

[Horseplay]

Given the condition of the unit pictured wouldn't it be more cost effective and likely yield better results to buy a re-manufactured unit and polish it up?

 

[janschutz]

Given the condition of the unit pictured wouldn't it be more cost effective and likely yield better results to buy a re-manufactured unit and polish it up?

The 2 units you see in my first picture are just cores I will be using to polish. The following picture shows my progress and the re-manufactured unit that the polish piece will be mounted to.

 

[cmayna]

Nice work

 

[janschutz]

All sanded with 100 grit

Sanded with 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000 grit, then polished with white compound.

Installed on the re-manufactured unit. Next time, I will not take the time on the center piece since it does not show. That area took over an hour to do.

Sunday, started polishing some old valve covers I had. The one on the right has been done.

All done, time to install the alternator now and put the valve covers on ebay.

 

[tarafied1]

wow!!!
what are you using to "polish"? i have troubles keeping my valve covers polished or just clean.

 

[janschutz]

wow!!!
what are you using to "polish"? i have troubles keeping my valve covers polished or just clean.

I used my white buffing compound and my fluted buffing wheels. I keep them clean with diluted simple green, followed up with Mother's Aluminum polish.

Once a year, I take them off and give them a good going over with the buffing wheel and white compound.

 

[Ponyman66]

Looks good John. Isn't buffing "fun"? NOT!!! The results are great, but gettin' there can be a bear!! I made some stainless plates for an 18 wheeler my brother used to own. They were for all of his fuel tax stickers on the cab. I polished them out.....a bear, but they were like mirrors. Several years back I started to do an aluminum diamond tread tool box. Notice I said, "started". There was so much area and those treads were a total :cens. You have my respect..especially the alternator. I know it's aluminum, but since you started with the rough cast aluminum, I know it took some doing to even START to get it where you could begin polishing. Kudos!! :thum


p.s. Wanna do the trim for my coupe?! LOL J/K

 

[janschutz]

Got the alternator installed. I most likely will polish the one I took off just to have ready in case it ever fails. Looks like my valve cover got dirty during the HRPT and need to be cleaned and polished.

 

[opentrackerSteve]

How come you didn't polish the aft cover?

 

[janschutz]

How come you didn't polish the aft cover?

Last time I took the back cover off, I broke some of the wires. Also the rear bearing is not a sealed hearing.

 

[janschutz]

Polished another alternator. Painted the back section black. I like this better.

Guess I will paint the back of the alternator that I just took out. Maybe even put it on ebay!