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Cleaning up an aluminum intake manifold

MD69Boss

MD69Boss

Suspected Troll
Good morning all,

Last night I received a new, (for me), OEM date coded correct Boss intake manifold from another Boss Registry member.
It looks good visually and sound. It has been painted, however with a cast aluminum paint, and I wish to bring it back to a natural aluminum look, without removing the cast date code.
My question has to do with the best way to do this, media blasting? If so, walnut shells, or....?

Also, I am checking the mating surfaces with a straight edge, anything else I should be wary of before installing? Not planning the install till after Knotts so time is not a factor...
Thanks in advance,

Dana
 
If you are taking to someone for media-blasting to remove the paint (which I would recommend), they will have different medias at their disposal to do the job. They should also know what best to use. IMHO, there is really not too much to worry about from a damage perspective.
 
Media blasting works well. I use fine grit glass media from harbor freight. It made a crusty old aluminum manifold look like new. I'll see if I can find the before and after pics to post later.
 
glaspearl media should be ideal IMO ? ( don't know how you call it in the states )
 
"Horseplay" said:
If you are taking to someone for media-blasting...
Click to expand...

I am, as I don't have a blasting cabinet.
I was just wanting to understand which media are too harsh for aluminum and which are suitable...
Thanks for the responses...
 
For a non-media blasting capability, think about brake fluid, carb cleaner, or aircraft stripper (the latter may react with aluminum).
 
"Midlife" said:
For a non-media blasting capability, think about brake fluid, carb cleaner, or aircraft stripper (the latter may react with aluminum).
Click to expand...

A smaller part, I would give a go with carb cleaner, those other two have very specific purposes and I wouldn't want either on my aluminum parts. Thanks for the ideas however.
Appropriate media blasting is the way I am leaning now...
 
Don't use the the aircraft stripper... I tried it some of the stained areas on this manifold and it made it worse. This chebby manifold had oil stains near the distributor mount, coolant stains near the water neck, and just plain corrosion on the dry areas. It was pretty ugly. I blasted it in a harbor frieght cabinet with #8 glass bead (pretty fine stuff). It came out pretty good.

After I did this manifold, one of my friends blasted his 427 tunnel port manifold in the cabinet and got the same results. His manifold was partially painted and it stripped it off just fine.

glass_beaded_manifold.jpg
 
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"stangg" said:
Don't use the the aircraft stripper... I tried it some of the stained areas on this manifold and it made it worse. This chebby manifold had oil stains near the distributor mount, coolant stains near the water neck, and just plain corrosion on the dry areas. It was pretty ugly. I blasted it in a harbor frieght cabinet with #8 glass bead (pretty fine stuff). It came out pretty good.

After I did this manifold, one of my friends blasted his 427 tunnel port manifold in the cabinet and got the same results. His manifold was partially painted and it stripped it off just fine.

glass_beaded_manifold.jpg
Click to expand...

Glass bead works great. I've done this a few times. Rinse it out/off thoroughly afterward.
 
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I will caution against any glass bead on the inside or bottom of intakes or heads, any part of the crankcase. The aluminum will hold glass particles and once hot it will release in your motor. Washing with water does not remove the embedded pieces but they do wash out with the heat and fuel or oil mixture. A good rule is to never glass bead the flow passages or crank case side of heads, blocks for intakes.

You can google it to find out more info. but i found this on page 1 to check out -


http://virtualindian.org/2techclean.htm
 
Glass bead will make the manifold look like new. I just did one and it came out great. I was advised to tape off all ports, and after blasting rinse the manifold out with anti-static spray to release any particles that might be hanging on.
 
At work we have glass bead and also plastic pellets. the plastic pellets are amazing on paint, but will not harm the base material whatsoever. It won't even take rust off of steel.

If you end up using glass bead, pay close attention to threads after. if there's any leftover shot in them, bolts will seize tight
 
"Shaun" said:
... Rinse it out/off thoroughly afterward.
Click to expand...

I was planning on rinsing out all the passages thoroughly with a high powered hose and then hanging the manifold in the backyard lengthwise to let it drain out... thoughts?
 
That's what my wife did to me one time and the neighbors complained big time. And yes, I still dribbled a little afterwards.

Just saying :shrug
 
Are you guys not spraying clear (catalyzed) on the cleaned aluminum after you have it pretty?
 
"67 evil eleanor" said:
Are you guys not spraying clear (catalyzed) on the cleaned aluminum after you have it pretty?
Click to expand...

From talking to others, my understanding is that the rattle can clear coat will yellow with the heat cycling underhood.
I was advised not to do so.
Do you have experience with this?
 
Yeah, I've done some modular heads, aluminum blocks, trannys and difs. It seems to have held up well. I can say without doing it they will oxidize in not time and I hate that white powdery look.
 
I cleaned the manifold above and sold it... I told the guy that it will still need a good cleaning before installing it. I've heard that if you want to keep the original look, just spray it with WD-40 once a year or so.

On an M21 transmission, I cleared the tail housing and side cover with rattle can clear, and for the more porous main housing just dusted it with a few coats of eastwoods cast blast.

For the blocks, heads and intakes... do you add any flattener to the clear to give it a more satin look?
 
"MD69Boss" said:
I was planning on rinsing out all the passages thoroughly with a high powered hose and then hanging the manifold in the backyard lengthwise to let it drain out... thoughts?
Click to expand...

Shh, don't tell the wife but I run it through the dishwasher a few times...
 
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