I'm changing from the finned, blacked cam/valve covers to the smooth aluminum covers from a '67. What is the general wisdom on bringing them up to a high lustre? Hopefully something better than rubbing compound and a rag. Thanks for your advice.

Eric Cope,
1968 E-Type OTS

Submitted by dmartin@coinstar.com on Fri, 11/11/2005 - 10:11

It depends on how oxidized yours are. Ours were pretty bad and had a number of small pits and scrapes that needed to be leveled first. We ended up taking ours to a professional buffing shop for $60. It was well worth the money. They got them to look way better than I think I could have at home. If they are not too bad you can sand them out with 400-600-1500 grit wet and dry (use water and soap) and then buff them yourself.

I bought a small grinder at Home Depot along with two 6" buffing wheels and the correct buffing compounds. On one wheel I use the black coarse compound and on the other I used the finer white, althought I think red is correct for aluminum. The grinder I bought is not very strong and as a result it won't allow you to over work an area, and it won't rip parts from your hands if it catches an edge, it just slows down. I use it for all sorts of small buffing projects.

I think this the one I bought :

http://tinyurl.com/drt5v

LooK here at the results :

http://tinyurl.com/ak6lg

Submitted by silver007@shaw.ca on Fri, 09/16/2005 - 12:57

Art Dickenson.
1983 XJS GT "Silver"
Pacific Jaguar.ca

Hi Eric,
I used "SOLVOL AUTOSOL" on my Norton Roadholder ( Alluminium )front forks when I was much younger. I thought the stuff was British, I still use it on the Jag for any shiny metal surfaces, it seems to last quite a while also, has a brilliant shine on all smooth non ferrous metals I have come across. Turns out the stuff is made in Germany.......do not put too much on at once , leave a few seconds to haze a bit , then use some terry towel to polish to a brilliant shine.

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Fri, 09/16/2005 - 11:22

I'm sure that some others will jump in with some suggestions, but I've heard that corn starch does a great job. Rather than buffing by hand, you might try using a buffing wheel and possibly some jeweler's rouge. Just use the wheel on a moderate speed to avoid overheating and warping the aluminum.

Steve Weinstein
'70 XKE FHC
'69 XKE OTS