Anyone have a better way to get a new natural finish on an aluminum distributor. I have tried soda blasting. That gave it a clean finish just not as clean and bright as the inside of it. I don't want to use glass or sand its to dull of a finish. Thanks in advance.

Try The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner, a mild hydrochloric acid:

http://www.theworkscleans.com/index.html

Apply with tooth brush and scrub with Scotch Brite while wearing rubber gloves.

To preserve the finish apply Alodine 1001 or 1201, an aircraft coating for aluminum. 1001 is clear (invisible after it dries) and 1201 is the same except tinted slightly yellowish, but not much, simply as an indicator that the solution has been applied. I believe that Mopar aluminum alternator housing castings were coated with 1201 or similar during manufacture, and that Jim Ridge at Dixie Restorations recoats alternator restorations with 1201. I also believe Tremec transmission castings are coated with 1201.

Alodine is a hazardous product containing chromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, and potassium ferricyanide.

Good to know. I was going to try and clean up my alternator a little bit to get that white crust off of it.

Great information

These are aluminum pulleys that I cast and machined decades ago in a shop class. They've been stored in a garage and have dark corrosion but no white rust. In these photos they have been washed in soap and water only. Sorry, but I should have chosen lighting other than this yellowish fluorescent.

These photos are after treatment with The Works toilet bowl cleaner, a mild hydrochloric acid.

Applying Alodine 1201.

Top photo: After applying the 1201 conversion coating for preservation against oxidation and white rust. The single pulley at left rear is half coated with 1201 which contains a yellow die that isn't very noticeable. The double pulley in front is still wet with the 1201. The preservation should last a few years, at least as long as you can see some yellow die. This is a good reason not to use the Alodine 1001 which has no die.

Bottom photo: Just the right half is coated with 1201. Keep in mind that the lighting is yellow fluorescent.

Wow ! I see a huge difference. Again, thanks for sharing that. I'm sure that will help me when I try to at least clean up the alternator. I see some sand marks. Did you just soak it in the Works stuff or did you use something like a brillo pad or some other kind of abrasive on it?

The 'sand' marks are from shaping the parts decades ago. Apply the HCl acid with a toothbrush, and you'll see some white foaming indicating that the part is being partially consumed by the acid. You can scrub the part with an acid-soaked Scotch Brite pad to see if any spots are removed that way.

Rewetting the acid a few times will continue the foaming, but you'll probably want to put a stop to the reaction after about 10 minutes by washing off with running water.

The acid will dissolve any metal pad like Brillo and probably make a big mess.

Sorry, I was thinking of that green pad that my Mom has that she uses for getting stuck on food off of the pots and pans. I misused the Brillo name.

You could also use vinegar for this. It's just slower.

Did not know that either. Thanks.