F.I base plate

[Rainer S.]

I had my 63 SWC F.I. unit "Restored". Everything came out OK, except the baseplate. The baseplate has a silver look, like it was cad plated. (I am trying to find out from the restorer, if it was plated). How can I return the surface, as close as possible, to the original "Look" ? As per AIM, the part should not be blasted.

Rainer

[Joe L.]

Re: F.I base plate

Rainer-----

If by "baseplate" you are refering to the ADAPTER (the manifold-like piece that bolts to the cylinder heads and to which the FI manifold plenum attaches), it was never plated and should not now be plated. I've never heard of zinc or cadmium plating being performed on aluminum substrate material, anyway. It can probably be done, but it's not commonly done and I doubt that it was done here, either. More likley, the adaptor was painted with dull aluminum paint. I don't know if originals were so painted, or not. While many aluminum manifolds for carburetors were so-painted, I doubt that these adapters were.

If you wish to go to the trouble of removing it in order to return the manifold to its original as-cast appearance, I'd send it to Jerry MacNeish (www.z28camaro.com) for re-finishing.

[G B.]

Brace yourself, Gertie. Incoming!

You're going to get a different answer from everyone you ask. Rainer, I don't know you. I may not even know the FI repairperson you used, so please take my comments as just another opinion based only on your six sentence post and my own experience.

Most people strongly prefer to have their FI unit tarted up like a French ***** when it is "restored". They aren't satisfied unless it looks far more colorful than anything that ever left St. Louis on a Corvette. I know FI rebuilders who blast, plate, polish, clear coat, or at least treat with Mystery Miracle Juice ALL the parts of a unit. The big castings are sometimes "reskinned" in a vibratory drum filled with ceramic beads and a soap or oil solution. This gives them a bright 'n shiny look. I guess you can tell that I don't care for the over-restored look.

Anyway... if your adapter manifold has been "reskinned" or even cadmium plated you can dull the finish with a dilute solution of phosphoric acid. This is sold in gallon jugs at most auto parts stores as "aluminum wheel and grill cleaner". The instructions are on the label. The longer you leave it on, the duller and darker the finish will become. Practice on the bottom first.

[Rainer S.]

Re: Brace yourself, Gertie. Incoming!

I just spoke with the restorer, he did not coat the aluminum, he cleaned it using a fine glass bead and steel wool. The color is very light, no indication of "blasting" finish. Well done, but a little too bright for me. I would have bet money, it was cad plating or similar.
Anyway, I will try to dull the finish, using Jerry's suggested process. I will try it inside the airintakes first(the bottom was not finished the way the top was).

Rainer

[Loren L.]

When Futo did the unit for the '60, he

asked if I wanted it pimped up like a Caddie with gold trim - I told him the
way that Rochester did it was fine. Just in time to hear a specatator at Monterey say "Why didn't he do the unit?".