Sealing Aluminum Polish

[6-bolt]

Just got done polishing my JM Fab intake manifold. Since aluminum dulls pretty easy, can I seal the shine in with a clear coat of some sort? Don't want buff it all the time. Plus almost done with the valve cover. I have attached a pic of the manifold below.

Darren
www.6bolt.com

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Myles Long]

Tremclad makes a clear top coat for that application.

 

[housegsx]

This is supposedly the sh!t!!! http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp
http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal_faq.asp
Expensive, but probably well worth it in the end.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

very nice job on the polish!

 

[6-bolt]

After doing some research I looked into sealing the Aluminum with a high temp clear coat. I pick up a bottle of Dupli-Color High Temp Clear (DE1636), and tried it out on the back of my intake manifold. For starters, here is what it looked like after buffering.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

I took off the wax, and got ready for the clear.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

After the clear coat.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

After three hours of curing.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

I will let it dry for the recommended 24 hours. It has some orange peel. I will sand and buff soon, but I will remove the wax after buffering. I am sure the heat from the intake and valve cover will melt the wax. I will post pics of the experiment when I am done. If this doesn't work, looks like I am going to try the Zoop Seal.

Darren
www.6bolt.com

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

What did you use to polish the IM? I just got my Greddy 24R and I want to polish the endtanks.

 

[99gst_racer]

This is supposedly the sh!t!!! http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp
http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal_faq.asp
Expensive, but probably well worth it in the end.

^^^ This stuff is awesome. I've been selling it for years to the muscle car crowd and they love it. They put it on everything from intake manifolds, to valve covers, to wheels. it is expensive, but they all tell me, "to get what you pay for with this stuff".

Once I get enough polished equipment under the hood, I plan to buy one of these kits and seal everything up.

 

[gixrman]

Eastwood also sells a aluminum sealer called Nylac(sp). I used it before with good results.

 

[6-bolt]

What did you use to polish the IM? I just got my Greddy 24R and I want to polish the endtanks.

Just got the kit from Harbor Freight for $20.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94962

Then I used my pneumatic drill with the attachments. Please note that I did a lot of sanding. From 400 grit to 2000 grit. An easy way to clean the metal before buffering, is to wet sand with 2000grit. It will clean the metal fast. Just used my sink and 2000 grit sand paper.

More details at:
http://www.6bolt.com/current_status/10_28_2007/default.htm

Darren

 

[GST with PSI]

After doing some research I looked into sealing the Aluminum with a high temp clear coat. I pick up a bottle of Dupli-Color High Temp Clear (DE1636), and tried it out on the back of my intake manifold. For starters, here is what it looked like after buffering. I will let it dry for the recommended 24 hours. It has some orange peel. I will sand and buff soon, but I will remove the wax after buffering. I am sure the heat from the intake and valve cover will melt the wax. I will post pics of the experiment when I am done. If this doesn't work, looks like I am going to try the Zoop Seal.


My experience with the above has been when the paint gets hot, it turns a amber brown color instead of clear. I would go with something else.

 

[6-bolt]

Well I tried the high temp clear coat and it didn't work. The clear coat was to cloudy, even after sanding an buffering. Tried so much, I broke through the coat. I putting in an order for Zoop Seal tonight. Thanks for the help. See pics below.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.