Author Topic: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?  (Read 7284 times)

67GT500#1594

  • Jr. Member
  • **
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #15 on: September 04, 2019, 06:08:05 PM »
Personally, I blasted mine with recycled glass, used the wife’s high end dishwasher and then hit it with some aluminum acid wash. No clear coat. As before, if it gets stained use brake cleaner on it.

Big shout out to Drew Pojedinec for restoring my carbs! Ain’t they pretty!!

Vcode

  • Jr. Member
  • **
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2019, 09:07:34 PM »
Post on the CJ forum on vapor blasting.

https://www.428cobrajet.org/forum/index.php?topic=26343.0

mlplunkett

  • SAAC Member
  • Full Member
  • *
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2019, 10:55:05 PM »
Personally, I blasted mine with recycled glass, used the wife’s high end dishwasher and then hit it with some aluminum acid wash. No clear coat. As before, if it gets stained use brake cleaner on it.

Big shout out to Drew Pojedinec for restoring my carbs! Ain’t they pretty!!

Tell me more about "aluminum acid wash". Would that actually be muriatic acid?
67 GT500 tribute under construction
65 R-model tribute under construction

Bob Gaines

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Original Posts:14706
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2019, 10:58:46 PM »
Personally, I blasted mine with recycled glass, used the wife’s high end dishwasher and then hit it with some aluminum acid wash. No clear coat. As before, if it gets stained use brake cleaner on it.

Big shout out to Drew Pojedinec for restoring my carbs! Ain’t they pretty!!

Tell me more about "aluminum acid wash". Would that actually be muriatic acid?
I use Eagle One products .
Bob Gaines,Shelby Enthusiast, Shelby Collector , Shelby Concours judge SAAC,MCA,Mid America Shelby

shelbydoug

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2019, 07:42:26 AM »
Personally, I blasted mine with recycled glass, used the wife’s high end dishwasher and then hit it with some aluminum acid wash. No clear coat. As before, if it gets stained use brake cleaner on it.

Big shout out to Drew Pojedinec for restoring my carbs! Ain’t they pretty!!

Tell me more about "aluminum acid wash". Would that actually be muriatic acid?

It's just the "heavy duty" duty wheel cleaner. Don't leave it on too long though.

Incidentally, don't buy it in California. It will cause caner. Buy it in another state, then you won't get sick.
68 GT350 Lives Matter!

Bossbill

  • SAAC Member
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • In the middle of Puget Sound
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #20 on: July 12, 2022, 11:45:56 PM »
This one?
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/EGOE1TMG23

The MSDS lists phosphoric acid as the number one ingredient.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2022, 11:51:42 PM by Bossbill »
Bill

67 GT350 Actual Build 3/2/67  01375
70 B302   6/6/70  0T02G160xxx

JohnSlack

  • Full Member
  • ***
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #21 on: July 13, 2022, 12:16:48 AM »
I've come to like Soda Blasting.. I will probably soda blast a BOSS 302 intake manifold later this week.

John

shelbydoug

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #22 on: July 13, 2022, 08:07:19 AM »
Put one in a dishwasher with PlatinumPlus detergent.
68 GT350 Lives Matter!

Rickmustang

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • "What's behind you, doesn't matter"
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #23 on: July 13, 2022, 09:50:50 AM »
Vapor Blast in Houston for any aluminum parts
1965 G.T. 350
1967 Fairlane GT - 390 4-speed
1970 Mach 1 - 428CJ 4-speed/AC
1971 Mach 1 - 429CJ auto/AC
2005 Ford GT

Bob Gaines

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Original Posts:14706
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #24 on: July 13, 2022, 10:16:58 AM »
Vapor Blast in Houston for any aluminum parts
Vapor blasting leaves aluminum intakes too shiny IMO at least compared to original.
Bob Gaines,Shelby Enthusiast, Shelby Collector , Shelby Concours judge SAAC,MCA,Mid America Shelby

roddster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #25 on: July 13, 2022, 06:44:27 PM »
  I used to stress about just leaving it a natural finish. Used to clear coat it.  Then finally just bead blasted it and didn't coat it.  Surprisingly it has not stained, yellowed, or even dirtied up.  Last time I did it was about 5 years ago now.

Royce Peterson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #26 on: July 13, 2022, 09:01:38 PM »
  I used to stress about just leaving it a natural finish. Used to clear coat it.  Then finally just bead blasted it and didn't coat it.  Surprisingly it has not stained, yellowed, or even dirtied up.  Last time I did it was about 5 years ago now.

I just had a C6 case (behind a 428CJ) treated with a process described as "vapor honing". It turned out very well, looks like a brand new C6 case. I bet it would look great on a aluminum intake manifold. Cost me $95 for the case, my guess is that an intake would be around $50.
1968 Cougar XR-7 GT-E 427 Side Oiler C6 3.50 Detroit Locker
1968 1/2 Cougar XR-7 428CJ Ram Air C6 3.91 Traction Lock

Bob Gaines

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Original Posts:14706
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #27 on: July 13, 2022, 09:40:38 PM »
  I used to stress about just leaving it a natural finish. Used to clear coat it.  Then finally just bead blasted it and didn't coat it.  Surprisingly it has not stained, yellowed, or even dirtied up.  Last time I did it was about 5 years ago now.

I just had a C6 case (behind a 428CJ) treated with a process described as "vapor honing". It turned out very well, looks like a brand new C6 case. I bet it would look great on a aluminum intake manifold. Cost me $95 for the case, my guess is that an intake would be around $50.
I suspect that the vapor honing and vapor blasting are a similar process. It doesn't surprise me that the C6 case came out looking smooth and shiny surface like new given the surface. That sounds like a very fair price too. A intake has a dull and porous surface when new by comparison. The vapor blasting/honing is good for many things but not for a recreating a fresh cast intake look IMO. It comes out too shiny.
Bob Gaines,Shelby Enthusiast, Shelby Collector , Shelby Concours judge SAAC,MCA,Mid America Shelby

CharlesTurner

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
    • View Profile
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #28 on: July 13, 2022, 10:21:24 PM »
Vapor honing/blasting is basically just mixing water with a media to make a slurry.  A water-tight blasting cabinet is used with a recirculation system and something like a wiper or water stream to keep the looking glass clear.  There are plans on how to build these with cheap harbor freight cabinets.

So, it depends on the media that is used in vapor blasting as to how the parts come out.  Most of what I've seen comes out too shiny compared to original finishes.
Charles Turner
MCA/SAAC Judge

J_Speegle

  • SAAC Member
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Just here to help :)
    • View Profile
    • ConcoursMustang.com
Re: Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?
« Reply #29 on: July 14, 2022, 01:55:50 PM »
Would be concerned if cases (like bell housings and and aluminum transmission for example)  are coming out monotone and without the irregularities in the outer surface and finish like original castings.  That is one of the things that makes cleaning so difficult IMHO
Jeff Speegle- Mustang & Shelby detail collector, ConcoursMustang.com mentor :) and Judge