Topic: Cleaning cast casing for 60's C6

[Oz390]

Rebuilding a C6, have it completely disassembled and am trying to clean the case and tailshaft. 

Suggestions for a way to refresh the look of the aluminum/alloy casing?

Caustic soda soak, degreaser, scrub brush, pressure washer and its still kinda grubby.  Would prefer not to paint with Alumi-Blast or similar, but unless it can come up way better than it is now may head that route..

[Bob Gaines]

Rebuilding a C6, have it completely disassembled and am trying to clean the case and tailshaft. 

Suggestions for a way to refresh the look of the aluminum/alloy casing?

Caustic soda soak, degreaser, scrub brush, pressure washer and its still kinda grubby.  Would prefer not to paint with Alumi-Blast or similar, but unless it can come up way better than it is now may head that route..

you might experiment with a mild acid wash. I use a product called eagle one wire wheel cleaner.

[ruppstang]

+1 on the Eagle one wheel cleaner.
Here is a C4 that I used it on.

[Anghelrestorations]

For the bare housings I usually take them to a local transmission shop here in town.  They have an industrial parts washer that uses heat and soap and the case looks like new when it comes back out.  Really nice.  They use that machine for all their cases and rebuilds.  If you have someone like that in town they may only charge a few dollars (US or Australian) and save you some time and effort.

[jwc66k]

I've used a friends pressure washer to clean transmission cases, both aluminum and iron. It's quick and easy and he has a Mustang too, which helps. Scrape or chisel off the big chunks first. For iron cases, I've had good luck with TSP, Tri-Sodium Phosphate, which is a grease remover but seems to leave a temporary protective coat.
Jim

[JKWilson]

I'd have to add a vote for the Eagle One cleaner, having used it many times (successfully!), in the past for cleaning aluminum castings. One word of advice; make sure you completely rinse it off. I'd add to give it a final scrub with a water/baking soda solution and final clean water rinse. This insures completely neutralizing the acid.

The second time I ever used it I thought I had a good final rinse, but unfortunately didn't. I got a powdery coating of aluminum oxide all over the piece within a day or so. After that I've always finished with a neutralizing rinse.

[KevinK]

For smaller aluminum parts, I have had good luck using Cream of Tarter and Lemon juice in my ultrasonic bath.  I found this with a quick internet search. It should work for larger parts too.

[J_Speegle]

Some related threads on the same or similar subject

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=229.0

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=16135.msg101009#msg101009

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=229.msg1049#msg1049