Nils, glad that you tried the tests. I am DAVE's small-body HEI's in the automotive world, I literally build a GM processor HEI ignition system into small diameter point distributors of all makes.
One of the features I do is a complete bare body reconstruction, with full appearance resto. I use 60 grit bead blasting after carburetor cleaner vat chemical de-grease and cleaning. I then do a hand Brillo pad over the bead blasted surfaces of the aluminum distributor bodies.
As you are aware, any blast media "kicks up and open" the surface of the part blasted, forming a porosity, literally, a "pore". These pores are also rough inside themselves, making for an excellent holding area for all that oil, grease, and what that stuff holds, dirt and discoloration. This is why I have always been so against untreated, and even clear coated bead and other medial blasted aluminum parts.
As you have just tried, I like to close those pores up as much as possible, making them as slick as possible as well. Less surface disruption, less places to hold the dirt, etc. From the various stuff, the Brillo pads came out the best for close to dead stock un-blasted aluminum in finish and dirt retention. The "smoother" you make the surface, the less dirt problems ensue, the easier to clean it, without chemicals, if possible.
Of course, the finer the blasting media, the better the pores close up with the Brillo pads. ONLY concession is, what finish is desired on the aluminum? The actual media dictates that.
As far as how I figured this out, long before I started to do distributor conversions, I did my own Kawasaki and other aluminum engine resto. This is the SAME process I have done for over 40 years. I have devised a lot of different Brillo pad stuff, for in between fins, areas not easily accessed, all over aluminum castings. I even do this to the ports, carbs, after working on them.
The hing I like the least about a full on resto is to see areas that were media blasted, that now are holding dirt, discoloration, just takes that much away from a nice resto.
If you would like to see some of the dists I have done the glass bead and Brillo work to, please send me a real world email @
info@davessmallbodyheis.com and I will send same for you to view. Most of these distributors arrived here in one giant lump of grease and dirt that most people wouldn't have even picked up by the coil trigger wire. (NOTE: I attempted to post this reply earlier, couldn't do so, site issues. So, I followed a link, and emailed Nils a pictures package of aluminum distributor finishes I do all the time).
I hope I helped with this, if only a little bit.
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