I am rebuilding a TPI motor, and I will be painting the block and the heads gloss black. My question is, what do you guys do to clean all of the aluminum stuff on your engine. I don't want to polish it, just make it look new. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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1984 Camaro Sport Coupe - 73K Miles
5.0 Carbed LG4
COMPLETELY stock except for a K&N Air Filter
F41 Suspension Package
700R4 Tranny
3.08 Rear End
New Paint
Best 1/4 Mile Run:
16.760 @ 80.74 MPH

Coming Soon:
350 TPI
Complete 3" Exhaust System
Aluminum Drive Shaft
3.27 Disc Brake Posi Rear

 

Have them glass bead blasted. Just make sure that you tape off any machined surfaces. After that you can clear-coat them if you feel the need.

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1993 C1500 Indy 500 Edition
1992 TA TPI setup
Stock motor, new one being built now.
www.geocities.com/wsleigh

 

Have it powder coated!...you can even powder coat it Aluminum Colour if you like. It will never chip and will look good virtually for ever. Fuel and chip resistant! I do powder coating up here in Toronto.
For a TPI unit (plenum and runners) I charge $100CDN to blast, prep and coat.

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89 GTA G92
305 TPI WC 5spd w/3.45
Accel Cap & 8mm Taylor's
Custom 4" Cold Air Induction
Jet Airfoil
K&N Airfilter
160 deg stat/fan switch TB Bypass - Steel Rad
Cat back 3" Exhaust w/Terminator Muff.
HiGh FlOw Dynomax Cat
Spohn LCA's - KYB GR-2's
Autometer Vac+Oil Temp

 

Bead blasting is nice. I had an edelbrock 3701; had it bead blasted before I sold it; came out very nice.

I'm having the tpi runners, base, 'stat housing, and plenum all b.blasted this week; install starting next sunday. I plan on hitting them w/ some high temp clear (I want a stock look)

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jmd
L69 / T5