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Conference napalm::musclecars

Title:Musclecars
Notice:Noter Registration - Note 5
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Mon Mar 11 1991
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:182
Total number of notes:5467

131.0. "Clean/Glass beed an intake manifold"?" by IAGO::PROVENCAL () Wed Apr 13 1994 08:25

looking for suggestions on cleaning up an Edelbrock aluminum
intake manifold.  Bought new last year... put about 500 miles on the car,
and now it looks dirty!  Browned in spots, grungy looking.

Someone suggested having it glass beeded then spray with 'clear protector'.
Has anyone else had that done.  If so, where and how much does it cost?
Has anyone heard of the 'clear protector' to use on it.  Otherwise,
are there any cleaning products out there that might clean it up nice?

Thanks,

Cathi P
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131.1Dry Stripping in yellow pages?SALEM::NORCROSS_WWed Apr 13 1994 10:576
    I don't know where you are located but try to locate a place
    advertising "dry stripping".  There are many new types of processes
    now like plastic beads, glass, even baking soda.  One would be
    appropriate for what you are doing.  They could probably also recommend
    what to cover it with once done.
    Wayne
131.2is it really worth it?CSLALL::NASEAM::READIOA Smith & Wesson beats four aces, Tow trucks beat Chapman LocksWed Apr 13 1994 11:2814
Glass beading will clean it and it'll get dirty again  --  even if you 
coat it  --  because the surface is rough.  The coating will only prevent 
tarnishing, it won't keep it clean.

Spray it down regularly with a good cleaner and rinse the dissolved crud 
away (a DIY car wash works pretty good for this) with soapy water.

...or get it polished.


BTW, you have to take it off to glass bead it.  Most automotive machine 
shops can class bead it for you as they normally glass bead cylinder head 
combustion chambers and gasket surfaces when they do valve jobs.
131.3CSLALL::NASEAM::READIOA Smith & Wesson beats four aces, Tow trucks beat Chapman LocksWed Apr 13 1994 11:294

.........and the clear protectorants tend to yellow over time and are a 
pain to get off again.
131.4TINCUP::MFORBESIt's NOT your father's Chevy VegaWed Apr 13 1994 11:409
>>> ...or get it polished.

Speaking of which, the intake system that I picked up this past weekend has some
very slight oxidation/haze to it (it's polished aluminum).  What is a good way
to shine it back up?  Is there a product that I can use with a rag or do I have
to go buy a buffing wheel?

Thanks,
Mark
131.5Wenol orange tube stuff is super for getting the grunge offCSLALL::NASEAM::READIOA Smith & Wesson beats four aces, Tow trucks beat Chapman LocksThu Apr 14 1994 11:396
Wenol (orange tube, followed by purple tube)
Flitz (leaves a protective coating as well as obliterates minute scratches)
Simichrome
Mothers
actually, any good metal polish, finish w/ silver polish
131.6have you thought of powder coatingSSDEVO::DELMONICOM_DelMonico "440's are forever"Fri Apr 22 1994 09:425
    
    
    You may want to look into "powder coating" the intake. This process
    tends to fill the pores in the metal and produce a flat surface
    which would collect less dirt.
131.7You could buy a marine manifoldSALEM::NORCROSS_WMon Apr 25 1994 07:0016
    In Trailer Boat mag this month is an ad from Edelbrock for a marine
    version of their Performer and Performer RPM manifolds.  To protect
    against the effects of "the harsh marine environment" (ie: salt water,
    etc) they "iridium coat" all external surfaces and all internal
    surfaces of the water crossover passages or coated with a
    multi-layered, chemically applied protective coating.  Otherwise, 
    comparing pictures from the Hot Rod PAW ad, these manifolds look the
    same as their automotive version.  Even the Edelbrock part numbers are
    close:  for SBC auto = #2101, for SBC marine = #3101.  Of course with 
    any part that is sold in the marine world there is a price difference.
    In PAW ad for auto version: $97.  Suggested retail for Marine version:
    $252.95!!
    
    Is there such a thing as iridium in a spray can or maybe your local 
    plating company could do it.
    Wayne
131.8CXCAD::C_WILLIAMSHammerWed May 11 1994 15:1121
    
    Hit the local plating company to have it done.  No sprays.
    
    Another possibility is anodizing.  Most of the 'colored' aluminums are
    anodized.  As an example, the "Earl's" aluminum connectors for steel
    braided lines (the blue and red connectors) are anodized aluminum.  Be
    careful, however, as it scratches quite easily.  In fact, for working
    on those aluminum connectors, they sell aluminum tools with the hope
    that it'll scratch less than using hard steel tools.  Colors tend to be
    blue, red, black, gold, silver, and CLEAR.  There is also a stronger
    black called "hard black anodize".  That is pretty tough to scratch.
    
    The gold anodize may be iridium, as I believe that is a gold color.
    
    Powder coating has come a LONG ways in the past five years or so.  You
    can now get any color imaginable with a variety of material types such
    as epoxies, acrylics, and I can't remember what else.  In the old days,
    powder coating was tough but couldn't handle high temps and could
    scratch quite easily.  Best to talk to the powder coating dudes first,
    and ask questions.  If you don't use it, it's at least worth a tour of
    the shop!
131.9NO anodizing of castingsTROOA::GILESThu May 12 1994 17:4114
    You CANNOT effectively anodize cast aluminum. It's too porous and the
    chemical bath gets into these pores and eats them away. If the part is
    anodized afterwords it looks like hell because the pores also hold
    more dye than the smoother surfaces an these appear like black pinholes
    (which they are!). Buffing and polishing the aluminum casting before
    anodizing doesn't help much.
    
    Powder coating or painting is the best bet. Try the paint route, it's
    cheaper and if you don't like it it can be blasted off and then you can
    try the powdercoat. I've had excellent results with paint by cleaning
    the surface properly, priming, painting and then BAKING the items at a
    minimum of 350 degrees.
    
    Stan
131.10CXCAD::C_WILLIAMSHammerFri May 13 1994 10:3415
    
    
    Didn't quite think about the fact the intakes are CAST aluminum.  All
    I've ever anodized is machined (Gawd I'm sick of the word:  BILLET)
    aluminum.  I've personally never anodized CAST Al.
    
    I think there is a topic in here somewhere on powder coating.  For
    $100, you can do a whole rack of parts or an entire frame.  It's
    surprisingly cheap.  My only concern is what kind of temperatures it
    can handle.  But now that there are a variety of types of Powder
    Coating, one type must be able to handle fairly high temps.
    
    
    
	Mine is painted.  Easy, cheap, easy to touch up, easy to change.