ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1967 Mustang => Topic started by: mhubert89 on July 12, 2016, 11:50:14 PM

Title: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: mhubert89 on July 12, 2016, 11:50:14 PM
Hi

I want to clean my proportioning valves, the brass is fadde and really need a good clean. Did someone have a product that can bring this brass like new ?
Thanks
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: jwc66k on July 13, 2016, 12:06:39 AM
I use Brasso. I used it in the US Navy to polish (wait for it) brass. Sometimes a wire wheel is needed to get down to bare metal. Then Brasso.
Jim
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: Hipo giddyup on July 13, 2016, 01:00:28 PM
+1             I also found that  #000 steel wool works good too.
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: Bob Gaines on July 13, 2016, 11:46:36 PM
Acid products like wire wheel cleaner will help clean the brass too. It can be further polished from there.
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: mhubert89 on July 15, 2016, 12:29:53 AM
Perfect will try this ! Thanks
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: J_Speegle on July 16, 2016, 05:18:27 PM
Guess someone should mentioned that once you polish the brass then it will need to age or be aged so that it looks like an assembly line part before showing the car ;) Though some things like sending units can look fairly bright understand that a bright shinny fitting will attach a judges eye quicker than an empty hole will :)
Title: Re: Best product to clean distributor block ( brass ) ??
Post by: Bob Gaines on July 16, 2016, 07:27:20 PM
As Jeff mentioned the fittings were not highly polished when new. During the manufacture process the fittings were chemically polished or brighten . If you don't have some well preserved NOS fittings to compare to then the next best example is what the highly polished brass dulls down to in a few weeks to a few months depending on conditions. I have purposely "patina-ed" brass fittings after polishing with acid based products like wire wheel cleaner. You have to play with it a little to get the desired effect. It is hard for me to describe in words the typical surface but I have samples to compare to so it is easier for me. Maybe someone else can articulate it better.   It is duller then the highly polished level. Once I get to the desired level i will coat with T9 to help keep it from oxidizing further.