Products to Refresh under body components?

[timboogeyman]

Hey everyone,
Wanted to see if anyone had experience using anti-corrosive gels or had any other techniques for cleaning up non-finished aluminum components in the engine bay and under the car. Really my goal is to create a "nicer" and "newer" surface finish on cast aluminum components. Usually there is the ugly pitting and corrosion on the transmission, housings, brake calipers, etc.

This has been sort of the inspiration for looking into this option:
https://mercedessource.com/store/ant...m-and-aluminum

I understand that the super OCD way to do this would be to remove/drop these components and media blast. However, I just don't have the space to leave a disassembled car in my garage at the moment.

Would like everyone's thoughts...

[UsernaM3]

Dry ice blasting to start is probably the best I’ve seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4QMIxhMKdw

It’s $$ though.

[Braymond141]

Dry ice blasting to start is probably the best I’ve seen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4QMIxhMKdw

It’s $$ though.

Dry ice blasting has very little abrasive quality to it. You will not be restoring the aluminum finish.

The only way to properly restore E36 aluminum is to wet blast with a Vaporhone cabinet. It's possible that gel you linked to will help prolong the results in moist environments, but it may also ruin the look. His whole scotch pad approach is major cringe.

This is what you get when using a vaporhone setup.

[sirhodjibob]

Do want.

[Braymond141]

More.

[Braymond141]

[UsernaM3]

looks like I’m spending money on a new toy.

[Braymond141]

looks like I’m spending money on a new toy.

$3200 shipped for the Weekend Warrior from Vaporhone Technologies.

You better have a 25cfm+ compressor to go with it. My 18cfm @ 90psi 5hp setup is pathetically underpowered to run this. Trying to justify dropping another 3-5k on a scroll compressor.

[timboogeyman]

Thanks for sharing. Looks so good. Referencing your Alpine Sedan build on MForum did you use the same process for the transmission?

[Braymond141]

Thanks for sharing. Looks so good. Referencing your Alpine Sedan build on MForum did you use the same process for the transmission?

That was a steam cleaner and it was the cosmoline that preserved the alu finish. The picture doesn't really show how poor it is.

Cleaning is ideal if that's all it takes to "restore" your parts. Depending on the corrosion, you may need an abrasive approach to make it like new.

[golgo13]

That's great, Brett! Wish I had the space for something like that, but it really does make the aluminum look like new again.