Polishing aluminum

[blueovalfanatic]

Well, this is basically a test to see how the new pic downsizer thing works, but I thought a few might like to see the manifold (if I can post a pic now). I basically have the water pump and intake manifold done, except for a few areas that need a little touching up- or a little more attention. On the intake, I first used a body grinder to grind off the "Performer RPM", but left the word "Edelbrock" on there.

The polishing kit from Eastwood was a good investment, and overall, saved alot of time, as I basically have as much time into polishing my timing chain cover as I do the intake- or pretty close anyway.

Anyway, I hope the pic works.

Greg

[byron w]

Looks good Greg,

Byron

[RedBarchetta]

Nice work. So how black are your hands now and have you ingested enough lint to gag on?

-Dean

[Tinker51]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Nice work. So how black are your hands now and have you ingested enough lint to gag on?

-Dean

I see someone has done some polishing before.

More importantly, how pissed off was the wife when you cleaned up after and the shower looked like you threw an ink bottle on the floor.

[blueovalfanatic]

LMAO...The first couple nights I worked on it, my hands and fingernails were black. I have a few job interviews scheduled, so I ended up wearing rubber gloves. It of course keeps the black stuff away, but also helps you keep from sanding the skin off your fingertips. After hours of sanding with wetpaper, it can really make the fingers sore. As for the lint stuff, after waking up the next morning with black lint stuff in my nose, I got smart and wore a respirator. Yes, it is a dirty job. I also spent about three hours afterwards, scrubbing my work bench off, and wiping the dust off of everything in the general vicinity. I have a bench set up outside, but it's just been too cold. Any remaining work will be performed outside.

Im anxious to see the block painted dark Ford blue with the polished and buffed intake, water pump, timing chain cover, and distributor. It's alot of work, but it should look good when it's all put together.

Thanks for the compliments,
Greg

[Tinker51]

I know exactly what you are talking about Greg.
I lend a hand restoring warbirds.
Take a look at these pages, if it is polished I did it.
I have the black hands, dirty shower floor and black snot to prove it.
Sam.

Airplanes parts that shine

[Ron61]

Greg,

That is looking great. Hope that you won't mind if I put a larger picture in this post.



Ron

[trularin]

That looks great.

Now, did you use the Eastwood kit on the waterpump or the intake?

[aldersonjames20]

There is a guy that owns a performance oriented auto shop around me that has already got 150 hours of polishing into a project he is working on...and all of that time he was only poliishing the block. He has an aluminum block (not sure which one actually) for a 351W that he is putting into a show Pantera and figured if he was going to be crazy, be really crazy.... obviously, he is not married or have kids.

James

[blueovalfanatic]

Sam, those pics are absolutely awesome. I can look at aviation stuff all day long. Very nice work too, I might add. Ron- No, I don't mind at all. I would have put a bigger pic in there, but I finally actually posted a pic...I just didnt want to press my luck. LOL Trularin- I used the kit on the intake. I didnt have it when doing the water pump, but theres a few areas on the water pump where I intend to use the tapered sanding things. Anderson- That sounds crazy. The block is obviously not aluminum, but back when the 390 was being rebuilt to go into the 32 Ford (original plans), my dad spent something like 24 hours or something like that just grinding the block smooth. He did it because in a 32', everything is out there in the open and can easily be seen. Now a 351W is in the 32, and I talked him out of the 390 for the Cobra.

Greg

[olddog]

Nice looking intake. I could never deal with the dust. My hat's off to ya.

[FUNFER2]

I also polished my intake, water pump ect. I bought a commercial polisher and stand. I had NO idea just how dirty polishing is ! Everything in the garage was black, including me. I did sand smooth the engine block too. That was actually the worst,...iron red dust was everywhere. The only part I don't have done yet is the top of the valve covers. I plan on welding a bung into each cover for breathers and removing the spark plug wire mounts.

[Tinker51]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

I see you have the proper garage equipment behind the oilpan.

[FUNFER2]

It's a necessity !

[blueovalfanatic]

Funfer2- That looks awesome, and was surely alot of work. As for the necessity, I would have to agree on that as well. BTW, where did you get your water pump pulley? I need one of those, and an alternator pulley, but cant find any for an FE.

Greg

[FUNFER2]

Got mine off ebay but, try Gessfords. I'll think of more places later, gotta go work on the sprint car.

[2KWIK4U]

Greg.
Ditto on the Eastwood kit. Works well. I recommend some Zoopseal, keeps er looking that way. I had March pulleys on my FE originally. Changed to the Concept One serpentine last year. I have the March WP, crank, alt pulleys with a stainless steel alt bracket collecting dust if anyones interested.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...0&ppuser=19502
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...0&ppuser=19502
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/s...0&ppuser=19502

The pulleys are in photo one.

Brad W.

[blueovalfanatic]

2kwik- I sent you a PM.

Thanks,
Greg

[FUNFER2]

Brad-good looking engine.
How much for the pulley set ?

[lovehamr]

Has anyone tried this; http://www.metalwax.com/
Some guys on the Boss302 site had mentioned it. I looked it up and it's getting good reviews. When I saw this thread I figured I'd ask you guys if any of you had any experience with it.

Steve