Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

[Garry E.]

Who is currently restoring aluminum intake manifolds and valve covers to NCRS specs.....? Any good recommendations.....?

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[David S.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Contact Jerry MacNeish at Camaro Hi- Performance. (www.z28camaro.com)

-Dave

[Jim S.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

A second on what David said .


Jim

[Domenic T.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Gary,
I will get poked for this but I have the easiest and cheapest suggestion.

Take them and have them glass powder blasted (fine glass bead) .

Then choose your protection, clear alodine, clear coating etc.

I don't believe in the tumbling because I think it would alter the orininal sand cast look, glass bead doen not.

DOM

[Dick W.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Most judges will take a few points for glass beading. McNeish would be my choice

[Tracy C.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Agree glass beading is detectable, plus you run the risk of dropping a few stray "left behind' beads down into the combustion chambers once it running...not a pretty result.

tc

[Michael F.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Agree glass beading is detectable, plus you run the risk of dropping a few stray "left behind' beads down into the combustion chambers once it running...not a pretty result.

tc

I don't think glass beads in the chamber are the issue. It will just pass through.

It's the oiling system that will get the beads.

[Joe R.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

John DeGregory gets my vote. Seen his work and it beats the glass beading hands down. The other fellow mentioned has a history of keeping stuff for months and months and months.

Also, John is a member of the NCRS and has a record of reliable work.

JR

[Bob J.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Agree with Joe Ray,
John DeGregory does excellent refinishing on aluminum. Bob

[Page C.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Another good choice is Fred Hudson in Oklahoma City, Ok. He is a NCRS member and does work for some of the top restorers in the country. He also has a quick turn around time. (405) 942-2729 during evening hours.
Page Campbell

[Joel F.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Last time I checked with John D, he said he would do valve covers but not intakes. He apparently only does intakes as part of FI restorations. Just my $.02. I ended up going with Jerry MacNeish and was pleased with the work. Turn around was about 2 weeks.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Aluminum intake and valve cover restoration

Well you are right.

Glass bead is detectable because it takes years off of what happens to aluminum as it AGES.

Unprotected aluminum WILL change color as it ages and in most cases get black spots that are hard to remove.

It brings it back to what it looked like when the popped it out of the sand cast, which very few have seen.

From the pic's i've seen posted it looks like the aged look is what is being judged not the new as it once looked like for a short time.

I have tried to de-bur or change the surface with glass bead powder and doesn't do it.

Actually the powder doesn't even hurt the glass you look thru, mine is not protected with plastic and is still clear.

NOW, I collect & restore model airplane engines and blasting the ones that are sand cast is the THING to do.

BUT I have to age some with acid (especially mag) so you can tell what alloy they are and to satisfy who judges it as original.


Acid etches, tumbling smoothens, glass bead powder etches, sand will de-bur. What is the new process?

Also remember that the manifolds, blocks, water pump, oil pump, were all filled with sand when cast and it was removed.


DOM