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Author
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Topic: Cleaning an aluminum intake manifold............
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skips69
Gearhead Posts: 274
From: Catlin, IL USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-08-2002 11:08 PM
   
Mine has stains from gasoline. Is there a remedy to clean this up without taking it off of the car? I could media blast it, but would hate to have to pull it. The shows are coming up in a few months, and I am just itching to do some detailing on it. Thanks for any advice.
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kcode
Gearhead Posts: 2623
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 03-08-2002 11:54 PM
There are numerous cleaners, I like Castrol Super clean. But, Gas stains on aluminum that have dried and baked on are a bitch to get off. I haven't found any thing that will totally remove the stain. Still the best bet is to pull it and have a session with a blast cabinet, then shoot it with a good clearcoat. Just my opinion  Mike
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3529
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 03-09-2002 12:00 AM
kcode's hit the nail right on the head... aluminum is so porous, it almost has to be blasted clean
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 5739
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-09-2002 11:01 AM
I have one of those Shelby intakes on my 65. I took it off a 66 I owned. It had been painted corporate blue to match engine. It came right off with stripper and looked good. I sprayed the thermostat housing and it looked great using stainless steel paint. In fact it looked so good and so natural( not like the Nu cast alum stuff} that I shot the intake with it also. That was three years and 12,000 miles and it still looks natural. It is available at CJ Pony Parts.
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69_sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 184
From: Camino Calif (yeah, it does snow here)
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-09-2002 02:22 PM
Not really sure BUT I can speak from experience...Don't put it in the dishwasher.The damn thing rumbles around and the wife goes balistic....Trust me on this one..maybe a good idea for a thread..kitchen things that should be in the shop.
Jay
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 1214
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-09-2002 03:37 PM
Have you tried brake cleaner? That works well on raw aluminum.I painted mine with aluminum high temp paint before installing and I use simple green to clean it.
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3529
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 03-09-2002 04:55 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 69_sportsroof:
...Don't put it in the dishwasher. The damn thing rumbles around and the wife goes balistic... Jay
That's too funny!  are our wives related somehow?
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6602
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 03-09-2002 08:00 PM
My son "cleaned" a carb in the dishwasher once. Damned thing never did run right! I think the dried up cascade in the passages didn't help.  BTW my wife had the same reaction! I'm sure all women are related. SteveW
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SundanceKid
Gearhead Posts: 1033
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-09-2002 11:28 PM
Try silver tarnish remover.
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bgseib
Gearhead Posts: 109
From: Tyler, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 03-10-2002 10:16 AM
I am actually blasting mine this week and was curious what type of clear coat was good to spray on it. I also have the alum. valve covers that I am doing the same thing with.. I am guessing that spraying it with clear would keep it from oxidizing.???BS
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4736
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 03-10-2002 10:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 69_sportsroof:
Not really sure BUT I can speak from experience...Don't put it in the dishwasher.The damn thing rumbles around and the wife goes balistic....Trust me on this one.. Jay
That is sooooo freakin funny !
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TomP
Gearhead Posts: 4838
From: Delta BC Canada
Registered: Dec 99
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posted 03-10-2002 11:36 PM
Clearcoat will turn yellow and flake, cleaners usually stain too If you want the manifold made to stay clean heres the best way i've found http://www.group19.com/index2.htm I've seen manifolds done like this that are perfectly clean yet have a finish that looks pretty stock.
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69_sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 184
From: Camino Calif (yeah, it does snow here)
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-11-2002 05:04 PM
Yeah well I must be a slow learner cause about 2 weeks after the dishwasher thing she busted me with the tires and wheels in the bathtub !!!But they have all that cool stuff in the kitchen...measuring spoons for epoxy cups for paint basters for sucking stuff from where it shouldn't be I just can't help myself
(ps these are all true and im still on the lookout around the house for things she thinks belong there but really should be in the shop.) Jay
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-11-2002 05:41 PM
Try that acidic cleaner used on mag wheels. I had some green stuff that cleaned a heck of a lot better than I wanted. I'd tell you the brand, but it ate through the container and I chucked it. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773
Always borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-11-2002 05:43 PM
As for recoating, kcode used some POR Glisten on his intake and it looked amazing when I saw it in Raleigh in 2000, and I think he mentioned a little while ago that it still looks great.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773
Always borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back.
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TomP
Gearhead Posts: 4838
From: Delta BC Canada
Registered: Dec 99
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posted 03-11-2002 07:03 PM
a fine kitchen strainer is great if you wanna check for chunks while draining oil .... better wash it real well afterwards or rice can taste funny. 
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bgseib
Gearhead Posts: 109
From: Tyler, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 03-12-2002 11:07 AM
What is POR Glisten?? If it really works I would love to get some...thanks,
BS
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-12-2002 12:42 PM
Here you go:http://www.por15.com/primer_topcoat_clearcoat.html#GlistenPC ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773
Always borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back.
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1539
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 03-13-2002 12:59 PM
Has anyone put on a 'Clear' powder-coat finish? There's a fella nearby that would sandblast it, phosporic acid etch & clean it, then put a clear powder-coat on it. I haven't seen anything he's done this way, but it's a thought....? Ryan
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-13-2002 01:44 PM
Powder coat would work great. Others have mentioned they come out and hold up primo.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773
Always borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back.
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SundanceKid
Gearhead Posts: 1033
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-13-2002 02:44 PM
I'm gonna get my AirGap ceramic coated (same as my headers! Can you say cold air?
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289 Rod
Journeyman Posts: 63
From: Laguna Niguel, CA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 03-13-2002 04:02 PM
Will coating the manifold with Ceramic promote a colder flow of air? Or would it be parasitic to air flow? I know on headers it is used to trap the heat in the headers. ------------------
'65 Mustang Black/Black Pony Interior
289 4V 4 speed Manual
Weiand Dual Plane,AFR 165cc, Comp Cam Pro Magnum Rocker Arms, 3.55 Rearend, 2.5 inch exhaust with headers and loud!
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SundanceKid
Gearhead Posts: 1033
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-14-2002 04:12 AM
Well, I have given this a little thought before I desided this was what I wanted to do. If the inside is coated then it will insulate it from the lifter valley oil and manifold heat and smooth the casting flaws a bit. (Good) If you coat the outside it will insulate the cooling effect of the outside air over the manifold. (bad) If you coat both inside and out, the good should be better then the bad. Question I have is if this will it be too cold? Will it hurt vaporization and cause fuel to drop out of suspention?
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Hell_Fish
Gearhead Posts: 672
From: Austin, TX.
Registered: May 2002
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posted 09-10-2002 08:34 AM
The powder coat is the way to go. I would at least clear coat it with a high temp paint after you get it clean. If it did "yellow" it is easier to remove paint then to get the stains off of it. I painted all my aluminum parts Ford engine blue.------------------
Dustin C
[IMG]http://pages.moparpages.com/duster/sigs/hell_fish.gif[/IMG]
56 F-100
Mech. for wifes 69 Mustang coupe
65 Plymouth Barracuda
70 Dodge Swinger
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 1590
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 09-10-2002 10:38 AM
A steel wire brush will dull aluminum, but a STAINLESS steel brush will shine aluminum right up. (my dad used to have one, but I've never been able to locate one, myself) His worked great on aluminum, though.If you use 'rattle can' clear coat, get a name brand that is made for engines.... and most importantly DON'T SPRAY IT ON TOO THICK!. A -thin- coat won't yellow nearly as bad, and will hold up very well. Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Dad Vishus
Gearhead Posts: 564
From: Moscow, Iowa, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 09-10-2002 10:58 AM
Cheap spray bomb carb cleaner takes baked on gas stains right off intakes and carbs. Its my "handyman's secret weapon".We have used that stuff for just about every type of cleaning operation you can think of. Maybe not dried hardblock, but just about anything else. I don't know if you can coat an intake and prevent discoloration, but 89 cent carb cleaner is easy and cheap, so why worry about it. If you want to eliminate the porosity, sand er down and get out the Simichrome. A polished surface won't soak up liquids as much, but will need repolished often. Carb cleaner makes great bug killer too. Wasps and bees drop like rocks when the stuff gets anywhere close to them.
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460-67Stang
Gearhead Posts: 195
From: Southern Ohio, USA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 09-10-2002 02:42 PM
I sprayed my Edelbrock Performer II with dull aluminum laquer. Looks just like brand new aluminum. In fact, it matched the natural finish so well it was difficult to tell where I had already sprayed when I was initially painting the intake!And touch ups just before shows are a breeze. I spray a bit into a coffee can and use a small brush. Of course the manifold needs to be removed to do this...which you said you didn't want to do. Cheers,
Brian
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1539
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 09-10-2002 03:26 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Dad Vishus:
...Carb cleaner makes great bug killer too. Wasps and bees drop like rocks when the stuff gets anywhere close to them.
DV, You're right! I sprayed some up at some bees that were building a nest up between the storm window and the inside window of my house. ...They fell like ripe cherries on a windy day!  
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 1539
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 09-10-2002 03:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 460-67Stang:
...touch ups just before shows are a breeze. I spray a bit into a coffee can and use a small brush. Cheers, Brian
Another tip for touchup: Spray (ever so lightly) into the center roller that toliet paper is rolled on. It works kinda like the little tube on the WD40 spray can... it directs the spray without overspray..... The tube that paper towels comes on is too long, it'll run down the inside & drip.....
"It Worked for Me".
Ryan
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Hell_Fish
Gearhead Posts: 672
From: Austin, TX.
Registered: May 2002
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posted 09-10-2002 03:58 PM
A found that foam brushes work best for the touch ups. Is doesn'y strick like most brushes do.------------------
Dustin C
[IMG]http://pages.moparpages.com/duster/sigs/hell_fish.gif[/IMG]
56 F-100
Mech. for wifes 69 Mustang coupe
65 Plymouth Barracuda
70 Dodge Swinger
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indyphil
Gearhead Posts: 877
From: Lafayette, IN, USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 09-10-2002 07:46 PM
Can you anodize cast aluminum parts?
It works well for machined/billet parts...
Not just the nasty colors either you can anodize something in silvers and greys. it seals it up and stops it from corroding and oxidizing. might work on valve covers and intakes. Just a thought...
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