[DeTomaso] cleaning engine bay metal question, polished ZF won't polish easily

Sun Apr 19 19:25:47 EDT 2009

Clay,
I used the Rub n Buff product years ago. Still looks good. I removed a lot
of the stains using Peek and Simi Chrome polish.
http://www.tripeek.com/productsusa.html (the 1000ml is a good price.
Indefinite shelf life. 

Simi chrome can be found at a very reasonable cost at Harley Davidson shops.

Like you, I wanted to put power behind the polishing. I was told not to use
steel or brass brushes but to use stainless steel. I bought about 3
stainless round brushes with a shank to use in a drill. I think they are
called cap brushes. Not expensive, maybe about $5 each. I bought 3/4 & 1"
length wire brushes. Cover the engine compartment because the polish will
splatter. Alternating and sometimes combing the polish removed most of the
stains.

After the polish use the Rub n Buff. Links about it are below.
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums?a=search&reqWords=rub+n+buff

http://list.realbig.com/cgi-bin/wg2/webglimpse.cgi?ID=4&nonascii=off&maxfile
s=50&maxlines=20&maxchars=1000&cache=yes&query=silver+leaf&autosyntax=EXACT&
rankby=AGE&limit=500%3A50&autonegate=

I used "Simple Green Automotive" from AutoZone to clean the ZF. It is not
the regular Simple Green product. You will need a bunch of tooth brushes.

Good Luck,
IndyDave

-----Original Message-----
From: clay willmott [mailto:claywillmott at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 9:55 AM
To: bjbstewart at yahoo.com; artstephens at verizon.net; Pantera Forum
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] cleaning engine bay metal question, polished ZF
won't polish easily

I took my wall powered Dremel and a white buffing wheel with both compounds
already and it shines but does not remove these little spots.  Tried that
right after the muscle cramps.  It also makes a a mess with flinging around
material.

Will try Mothers in glass jar.

Thanks

Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:14:50 -0700
From: bjbstewart at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] cleaning engine bay metal question, polished ZF
won't polish easily
To: artstephens at verizon.net; claywillmott at hotmail.com; detomaso at realbig.com

One point - I tried polishing with my drill motor that only went to 1400 RPM
- seems that isn't nearly enough to make any progress. When I changed to a
buffing wheel attached to my bench grinder I had great success (obviously
not on my ZF). I recall reading somewhere that 3k RPM is about right...

brent

From: Art Stephens <artstephens at verizon.net>
To: clay willmott <claywillmott at hotmail.com>; List Pantera
<detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 5:04:12 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] cleaning engine bay metal question, polished ZF
won't polish easily

Hello Clay,
    First off,  don't rush into anything too abrasive,  you'll be really 
unhappy if you do that.  I think the worst thing you can do is get too 
aggressive and scratch the aluminum,  then you will really be staring at a 
lot of work.  You've done good by starting with the mild/fine stuff.  Next 
step is to go with something slightly more aggressive and then go to 
something more aggressive than that if necessary.  Remember,  no 
scratches!!!  If it was me,  I would probably try a buffing wheel on your 
drill motor next.  You will probably find 3 or 4 different rouges/compounds 
from fine to aggressive.  None are really very aggressive and I don't think 
you will do any damage with even the most aggressive.  I would still start 
with the finest and work toward the more aggressive if you aren't making 
progress with the fine stuff.  The serious polishers will say to use a 
separate buffing wheel for each compound,  so as not to contaminate the 
wheel.  I've never worried about that and have had some success.  Be careful

with the wheel as it will have a metal shank that can scratch your work if 
you are not careful.  Remember,  no scratches!

Good luck,
Art

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "clay willmott" <claywillmott at hotmail.com>
To: "List Pantera" <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 2:07 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] cleaning engine bay metal question,polished ZF won't 
polish easily

>
> Hi All,
>
> I noticed a lot of tarnish etc on my valve covers, polished ZF and 
> bellhousing and intake after the winter.  I used two compounds, one for my

> wheels and the other is the blue magic metal polish.  Neither work well 
> and I can see these little "gray snowflakes" all over it even after 
> polishing.  The polishing makes the surface shiny but still these tarnish 
> spots are everywhere.  It looks awful.  I did not have these problem last 
> year.  These same chemicals did seem to work well last year however!!
>
> I am going to a car show in one week and need a locally available 
> polish/chemical that will work better.  Any suggestion?
>
> Thanks
>
> Clay
>
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