Is it possible to restore an aluminum intake to look NOS? What would the process be? If I were to bead blast it, what would the positives and negatives be? I've heard that if you bead blast this, it will 'stain' easily with any petroleum product. Thanks in advance.
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
I hate to say "Check the archives" but this is a topic beaten to death on this list. There is a means of "reskinning" that is discussed every few months. Do a search for reskin and intake and you will find lots of information.
But you do not want to bead blast the intake as that does not give the factory look. -
Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
I hate to say "Check the archives" but this is a topic beaten to death on this list. There is a means of "reskinning" that is discussed every few months. Do a search for reskin and intake and you will find lots of information.
But you do not want to bead blast the intake as that does not give the factory look.Comment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
People seem to have made a science out of trying to make an intake manifold look new. Personally, I would take it to a car wash and blast if with hot soapy water then take it home and scrub it with ajax or similar. I would also carefully remove the pressed in rivets on the underside to remove the sheetmetal heat protector. There is typically a ton of crud in there you don't want floating around in your engine. You might try aluminum wheel brightener on a small section of it. Then I lightly spray it with bright aluminum pain and wipe with a lightly saturated rag of lacqure thinner. Looks good enough for me. I think texture and color are most important. I would not recommend media blasting it or sand blasting or glass beading. Those methods would possibly effect the surface of the aluminum. Some people pay big bucks for having them reskinned. That is not for everyone and I am definitely not one of those that can afford it. Just my opinion. Hopefully, someone else will kick in a comment or two. I am big on original, looks are secondary to me. Good luck, TerryComment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
People seem to have made a science out of trying to make an intake manifold look new. Personally, I would take it to a car wash and blast if with hot soapy water then take it home and scrub it with ajax or similar. I would also carefully remove the pressed in rivets on the underside to remove the sheetmetal heat protector. There is typically a ton of crud in there you don't want floating around in your engine. You might try aluminum wheel brightener on a small section of it. Then I lightly spray it with bright aluminum pain and wipe with a lightly saturated rag of lacqure thinner. Looks good enough for me. I think texture and color are most important. I would not recommend media blasting it or sand blasting or glass beading. Those methods would possibly effect the surface of the aluminum. Some people pay big bucks for having them reskinned. That is not for everyone and I am definitely not one of those that can afford it. Just my opinion. Hopefully, someone else will kick in a comment or two. I am big on original, looks are secondary to me. Good luck, TerryComment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
Thanks Terry.
Suppose it has already been glass beaded. I've got a chance to buy an intake, but it has already been blasted. Is it worth even looking at it ant longer?Comment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
Thanks Terry.
Suppose it has already been glass beaded. I've got a chance to buy an intake, but it has already been blasted. Is it worth even looking at it ant longer?Comment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
It is propably worth looking at. Glass beeding is usually more gental than sandblasting and doesn't mess with the aluminum surface. If the price is right go for it. Look at the whole manifold. If it has no repairs and the water jacket ports are not trashed and destroyed, those are considerations. Look for stripped bolt holes and helicoils or inserts. Hold a staight edge on the flange surfaces. It is easy to over tighten an aluminum intake and screw it up. When they are shot, they are hard to bring back to life. If it is a hard to find mainifold, that is also a consideration. Ebay has a lot of mainifolds typically coming up for auction. Later, TerryComment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
It is propably worth looking at. Glass beeding is usually more gental than sandblasting and doesn't mess with the aluminum surface. If the price is right go for it. Look at the whole manifold. If it has no repairs and the water jacket ports are not trashed and destroyed, those are considerations. Look for stripped bolt holes and helicoils or inserts. Hold a staight edge on the flange surfaces. It is easy to over tighten an aluminum intake and screw it up. When they are shot, they are hard to bring back to life. If it is a hard to find mainifold, that is also a consideration. Ebay has a lot of mainifolds typically coming up for auction. Later, TerryComment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
Irby - it will come out great if you decide to get it restored by Jerry MacNeish or Don Dorfman........Jerry is at Camaro High Performance. I wouldn't worry if it has been beaded or not.....Craig
Camaro High Peformance Aluminum RestorationComment
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Re: C2 Aluminum Intake Restoration
Irby - it will come out great if you decide to get it restored by Jerry MacNeish or Don Dorfman........Jerry is at Camaro High Performance. I wouldn't worry if it has been beaded or not.....Craig
Camaro High Peformance Aluminum RestorationComment
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