I don't know about trade secrets, but the aluminum pot metal that ford used is pretty superior top most of the other carb makers of the day.
In most cases it cleans up really well and leaves a nicely restored finish. However if you have any sploching of the metal (more common on the later carbs after 1964) or if you have taken off the original finish like it sounds like you have done, now it becomes a dull gray and whitish.
After thirty some odd years of dealing with this problem, Today I use a two part epoxy coating (I wouldn't call it a paint) that is unavailable to the common mechanic. I buy it from a wholesale industrial supply house, and I practically have to sign and promise them and most every government agency dealing with clean air, water and soil to be on my utmost diligence and my house, car, wife, dog and every child if I am not. But it really looks good and last a good while.
I am not sure what some of the top Autolite or other aluminum carb guys are using but am willing to bet it is something very similiar to this product.
So thats out for you.....
Before this I had expiremented and used at least a dozen other products as my rebuilding got more more and more focused.
Some of the best that I had found were quite simply spray type paints, One of the best is Kyrlon cast aluminum engine paint (not the high temp or the straight aluminum which is to silvery).
Of course also one of the best is Eastwoods silver carburetor re-new which also is a silver type paint but has an additive to make it better for carbs and fuel. It tends to be rather on the expensive side being 10oz can for around 15 bucks, but its a good match. Incidently they make a bronze that is probably the closets match for the holley/rochesters I have found out of a can (I use a similiar epoxy now for them).
I have also used a product called Trail Aluminum, it is also a spray type but it is really unique and very hard to get the application correct, it sprays out almost as a highly solvenated aluminum paint and then the solvents instantly evaporate (can you see the EPA ears prick up) to leave the residue which is the aluminum coating. It runs VERY easily and very difficult to spray evenly especially around all the curves in a carburetor but the results I got from this were superior to almost even my stuff that I use now. Also on the expensive side however at around 18 bucks a 15 oz can last time I bought some (awhile ago).
Problem with paints of this type is they look great but after about 2-6 months (with these less than with some of the others I have tried) they start to look duller, and of course if you get any fuel on them then that takes the finish right off (Eastwoods are a little bit better at this than the others).
Hope that helps,
Bill White
White Automotive
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HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!