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What is the best way to polish the aluminum block on a 1934 packard motor

Why are you wanting to polish the block?

I guess that I have seen them shine like a mirror on high end cars

To me, a purist to be sure, polishing the aluminum sounds like a terrible idea; unlike paint or plating it can't be undone and just destroys the originality forever. With the painted parts done well with correct paints, manifolds re-procelainzed, and the plated parts done in the proper nickel plate finish, it's a very attractive engine without mutilating the aluminum.

what car of that era used a polished block?

Quote:

Agreed.
Lonny
I've seen high-end cars "restored" with polished blocks, too, but they weren't that way originally. It looks cheap, in my opinion. If you want it to look its best, stay with original.

Thanks to all for the great response I guess that I just saved myself some time and finger tips I to am a purist I use much of the original parts I can

I have heard that glass bead blasting is a good way to get the layers of crud off the aluminum without creatiing a mirror finish. Anybody have any thoughts on that?

If you blast anything, remember to seal all orafices/entries into the engine well. ...as blasting leaves media in places that you didn't think that were accessible.

...and when it comes time to remove said coverings, watch that loose media isn't present on the covering. It can then fall into the orafices on removal.

I rebuilt my fuel pump last summer and found glass beads in the fuel pump vent line. The filtering element stopped it from entering the crankcase, but I was surprised as heck to see it there.

Good luck,

Mark

All to many good parts and assemblies have been ruined by blasting media, despite well-intentioned and careful steps to cover or mask. If I really wanted to blast a senior crankcase or oil pan (and I wouldn't do it), I'd do it when the engine was diassembled for a rebuild and even after scrupulous cleaning I'd probably coat the interior surfaces with Glyptal or equivalent. As to blasting media, perhaps walnut shells such as used for tumble-cleaning brass would be a better choice than glass, I'd stay away from sand regardless of what precautions were taken.

I've seen plenty of these aluminum castings cleaned simply with solvents in a vapor degreaser and doubt any blasting media would do much better, if any.