Intake Manifold Reskinning

[Joe C.]

Does anyone know where I can send my aluminum intake to have it reskinned. Does the process involve cleaning the baffle(?)with the sheetmetal cover, which is rivetted below the carburetor mount area? What material is under this cover, and what is its function?
This manifold has previously been media blasted and painted. I cleaned out the "baffle" area as thoroughly as I could, but did not want to drill out the rivets to remove the cover. Your thoughts and recommendations are much appreciated.

Joe

[Mike M.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

you definitly want to remove the piece of sheetmetal on the underside, especially if you media blasted the manifold. There are bound to be remnants of the media and your bearings and rings etc. will not be happy with their presence. Seems to me, the rivits can be pryed out with no need to drill them out. I know JOHN DEGREGORY is reskinning valve covers, don't know if his setup will handle an intake. He advertises in the DRIVELINE> Lives in greensburg, pa area. advertises as a FI Rebuilder, and a good one at that. good luck, mike

[Patrick T.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

Jerry MacNeish reskinned my L-79 manifold, it looks beautiful. He can do it in 2-3 weeks. I highly recommend him.

http://www.z28camaro.com/restosvcs.html#manifold

[Joe L.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

Joe and Mike-----

Yes, the rivets retaining the manifold oil shield can be pryed out. They are actually a serrated-shaft stud rather than a true rivet. I don't recommend reusing the studs. Instead, drill and tap the holes for machine screws. Install the screws with Lock-Tite. You don't want the studs (or the screws, for that matter) loosening and falling into the engine.

If you want to use the pins for "originality" purposes, then I recommend obtaining new ones. They're available under GM #10229247, but, as I say, I much prefer to use screws.

When you remove the shield you will find not only remnants of the bead blasting, you'll likely also find a lot of carbonized oil. You may have to "chip" off the large chunks with a chisel. Use more delicate means when you get close to the manifold material.

[Joe C.]

Thank You Mike, Joe, Pat! *NM*

[Paul L.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

This pic will give you a very good idea of what Mike is speaking of. Those are glass beads under the oil splash plate. Sucked into the engine they can do remarkable damage in short order. BTW those rivets pop out in seconds.

[Larry S.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

I secound jerry.He has been highley recomened to me I am using his services on a intake manifold right now and plan on sending him my exchaust manifolds this fall for a reskinning.I still dont understand how he does it but I am confident of the results .

[Craig S.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

As Patrick mentions, Jerry is outstanding. Another great person to work with is Don Dorfman, in Washington, he is about $85 versus $120 to reskin intake manifolds. I believe both Jerry and Don will deliver exceptional results. Don used to run the now defunct ASL, and he specializes in aluminum restoration now. Craig

[Christopher R.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

You do want to take that baffle off. Lots of carbonized oil under there. And now you've also got abrasive media from blasting in there. You won't believe the amout of crud in there.

Easy job. Those rivets will come out easy. Put the sharp end of a chisel where the rivet head meets the surface. Hit the chisel. Those rivets will start to come out. They pry out. Work them some, and they'll come right out.
The baffle plate is there as heat shield. It keeps the heat from the oil away from the carburetor.

[John H.]

Re: Intake Manifold Reskinning

Actually, the shield was designed to prevent direct contact of the oil with the (VERY hot) bottom of the intake crossover passage, to avoid carbonizing/contaminating the oil circulating through the engine. The shield minimizes this, and contains the caked oil that does get carbonized, while allowing liquid oil to drain back into the lifter valley.