Aluminum head shine

4eighteener · Mar 25, 2025

More of a cosmetic question, but has anyone found a product that can bring the shine back to the outside machined portions of aluminum cylinder heads?
I have some TF 190's that are dingy for just being under the hood that I would like to be shiny again.
Currently trying blue magic, which is better than nothing, but definitely doesn't look close to new.

pntastar69 · Mar 25, 2025

Paint em

340six · Mar 25, 2025

Speedy All Metal Polish
It was also made for many private labels
Best known was Green Dragon

Or if you have no other use get the smallest tube of Red Wenol at a H-D bike place. Go over the metal with #600 wet on a paint paddle to get any major stuff off 1st

4eighteener · Mar 25, 2025

Maybe next time I will try painting them, or try the Speedy All Metal Polish.
I took the no money approach today and tried some Acti-Brite aluminum coil cleaner I had in the garage. It worked pretty well. Not the mirror finish of a new head, but it now looks like clean unpolished aluminum. Better results than the Blue Magic polish I tried earlier today

mopardude318 · Wednesday at 12:28 AM

If you’re anal, use Wenol.

https://www.amazon.com/Wenol-Metal-Polish-100ml/dp/B00JWCRRDA/?tag=fabo03-20

340six · Wednesday at 12:40 AM

A Polish is going to work by chemical or abrasives and some are a combination of both.
Be careful as some have to much abrasives and put scratches in that require use of Compound or Sanding.
You are better off sanding like I mentioned and then polish.
Major corrosion will require sanding, black emery, gray emery, white rouge. And a clean up final with Wenol or Speedy
Good emery has great abrasive suspended in a grease that really last and works for you. Not yiu working it.
Last batch was from Infinish

340six · Wednesday at 12:46 AM

Keep in mind i have over 45 years restoring Stainless trim, aluim trim, custom polishing wheels, intakes, heads, anything, grilles. My work is on cars all over the world