Aluminum Finishes

[Greg 36804]

I need to restore the "gray" aluminum finish on my not quite factory fuel injection manifold. Was thinking of Eastwood Alumablast, but am open to anyones experience with this or other products.

Thanks - Greg

[Patrick H.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Try Jerry MacNeish at www.z28camaro.com

He'll make it look better than new.

Patrick

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Greg, Let me ditto on Jerry mcNeish. He restored the manifold and valve covers on my 56 and they are incredible. Steve

[Craig S.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Steve and Patrick - is this the tumbling process that Dale Pearman mentions? Obviously aluminum doesn't have a skin. Does it look like the original as cast finish? I am considering it for my 66 L72 Intake manifold, what does a manifold cost to go through this process if there is no welding or repair involved? Thx, Craig

[Patrick H.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

I've heard that he even may spray a VERY thin coat of new aluminum on top. Whatever it is, it looks great.

He'll respond to e-mails - check out his site. I've got about 6-8 things I need to send out soon.

Patrick

[Craig S.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Thx Patrick, it sounds great. My 66 L72 intake manifold needs a good cleanup and was beaded in it's history, and this sounds like the ticket to restore it to perfection. I see the website, and how he even resotred the casting finish on a weld repair, and it looks great. I saw some coatings (can't remember whose) at both Bloomington and Carlisle that looked more like paint than the original aluminum finish to me...on some valve covers I think. Thx!....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Patrick - I sent him an email, thx for the tips!....Craig

[Steve Junkersfeld]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Craig, I believe that it is a tumbling process - Jerry is, understandably, not real specific about how it's done. My manifold was bead blasted at some point -and badly cracked. It came out perfect. I'm sorry, but I don't recall the cost of just a manifold reskinning. Steve

[John H.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Jerry has done lots of aluminum for me - check the links below for his work on my '69 Z/28 and a typical Corvette finned valve cover, and his new process for re-skinning cast iron:

Re-skinned intake, valve covers, alternator, A.I.R. pump:

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=146366

Re-skinned '57 low-script valve cover:

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=146803

Re-skinned iron exhaust manifold (.005" thick molten aluminum plasma-sprayed on it after blasting, then painted with Seymour 1200-deg. Cast-Blast):

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=175761

[Craig S.]

Re: Aluminum Finishes

Thx John and Steve. I sent Jerry and email last weekend, and called him Monday. I was very impressed. He indicated it was tumbling with a chemical included in the tumbling media, he indicated no spraying was involved when I asked. Anyway, the results on his website and John's pictures here have sold me. However, Jerry is leaving on 10/19 to try for the world championship in Pomona, and will be gone until mid November. He included his schedule in the response to my email...so I will wait to send him my manifold..thx all for the pointers!...Craig