Transmission clean up

[Rut]

I keep seeing all these pictures of pristine aluminum transmissions that look like they were made yesterday. How do you clean aluminum to look so good? Is there an aluminum cleaner that you use after you degrease and then you polish? Tell me what you got!
Thanks, Rut

 

[TomMull]

Rut,
You can get them looking pretty good with a pressure washer (careful to plug all the holes and change the oil afterward) and a little wire brush in the corners. However they wont look new. Most of the pictures show rebuilts that have been stripped and media (soda, glass bead, etc) blasted. I don't think there is any chemical way to do that, or at least I haven't found one.
Tom

 

[Rut]

Thanks, my rib case has a touch o the white powder and a little corrosion on her. I may try the pressure washer/wire brush method before I media blast it. I wonder if they ever clear coat these things?
Thanks, Rut

 

[Brinkerhoff]

Degrease thoroughly and spray with Maguiars wire wheel cleaner for chrome and aluminum. Follow directions let sit , scrub, rinse, dry and repeat. when as clean as possible dry thoroughly with compressed air and take a spray can of dull aluminum and give a single light coat. It will stick great and look new. That way you can just stand around and look at it if you like , don't even have to go in a car.

 

[Rut]

Pretty funny and useful information! I may go ahead and paint it the same color as the engine.
Thanks, Rut

 

[PAUL161]

I cleaned one up once using, I think it was called, Mar-Hyde paint stripper in a spray can. Got it at Advance Auto. Washed it off after it set for 30 minutes with a power washer and it came up very clean, looked almost like new. The transmission had a lot of paint on it and that's the reason for the stripper. Worked for me. PJ