Need help cleaning serpentine brackets
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
From: Hillsville VA
Need help cleaning serpentine brackets
I bought a serpentine setup local junkyard yesterday. I got both brackets, new/reman alt, ps pump, all pulleys and bolts. Now I would like to get the cast aluminum brackets cleaned and looking new. What would be the best way to do this. Thanks
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
I have degreased them in the past and then bead blasted them. Will look like new. If there is any polished surfaces you want to keep then bead blasting would not be my first choice. Supposedly blasting with walnut shells will polish aluminum. I have never tried it so I can not say.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,161
Likes: 17
From: coffee
I bought a set from DurangoBoy here on the forum (good seller), and I know that he has done several conversions in the past, with some of them looking like brand new. Maybe this bump will grab his attention.
I'm planning on painting mine black, so I don't really care myself.
I'm planning on painting mine black, so I don't really care myself.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Pearlington Mississippi
I too bought some from DB. I degreased then hit with wire brush,then painted.
SerpintineBracket2.jpg[/IMG]
IMG]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/steve228_photo/Serpintinebracket1.jpg[/IMG]
before:IMG]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/steve228_photo/CIMG0233.jpg[/IMG]
SerpintineBracket2.jpg[/IMG]
IMG]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/steve228_photo/Serpintinebracket1.jpg[/IMG]
before:IMG]http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg304/steve228_photo/CIMG0233.jpg[/IMG]
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Thanks guys. Honestly all I have done to clean them up is I get all the large gunk out with a probing tool like an awl or a screw driver, and I run them through the dish washer on both sides.
They come out looking pretty good but I will follow by using a small tiny tipped plastic bristled brush and get down in all the nooks and crannies. I can get almost all the dirt out, and then I wash them again in the washing machine.
Finally, and they will never look like they were f5resh cast without blasting, I just spray them with Alumablast, which is a very good aluminum paint that has actual aluminum in it for a very realistic color and texture.
They come out looking pretty good but I will follow by using a small tiny tipped plastic bristled brush and get down in all the nooks and crannies. I can get almost all the dirt out, and then I wash them again in the washing machine.
Finally, and they will never look like they were f5resh cast without blasting, I just spray them with Alumablast, which is a very good aluminum paint that has actual aluminum in it for a very realistic color and texture.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
From: Hillsville VA
thanks for bumping this. I have been working on them a little here and there. The best thing I have got to work is naval jelly. I've tried it all on these things. Then jelly and a plastic brush takes all the old, rough oxidation off and leaves clean aluminum. If you put on a second coat and only leave it for about 1 min tops. they look close to original, just a little darker.
Also, thanks Durango_boy. Where did you get the Alumablast? I have thought about going over them with "aluminum" engine paint. Didn know how it would stick though.
My friend (Vettedebt79) just added a set of GMPP brackets to his FB385 and I need to keep up with him.
Also, thanks Durango_boy. Where did you get the Alumablast? I have thought about going over them with "aluminum" engine paint. Didn know how it would stick though.
My friend (Vettedebt79) just added a set of GMPP brackets to his FB385 and I need to keep up with him.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Well so far it has held up great. The really great part is there is no protective coating to strip off later, you can simply touch up any blemishes and you're done.
The pulleys were a combination of flat black powder coating and flat black engine enamel.
Obviously the chrome pulley were chrome plated.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
From: Hillsville VA
[QUOTE=Finally, and they will never look like they were f5resh cast without blasting, I just spray them with Alumablast, which is a very good aluminum paint that has actual aluminum in it for a very realistic color and texture.[/QUOTE]
One more question. Did you spray the Alumablast into all the small areas or did you brush it on.
One more question. Did you spray the Alumablast into all the small areas or did you brush it on.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
potscrubber cycle with some extra detergent does wonders.
