Best method for original finish on aluminum intakes?

[67GT500#1594]

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]

Post on the CJ forum on vapor blasting.

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

[mlplunkett]

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?

[Bob Gaines]

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 .

[shelbydoug]

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.

[Bossbill]

This one?
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/EGOE1TMG23

The MSDS lists phosphoric acid as the number one ingredient.

[JohnSlack]

I've come to like Soda Blasting.. I will probably soda blast a BOSS 302 intake manifold later this week.

John

[shelbydoug]

Put one in a dishwasher with PlatinumPlus detergent.

[Rickmustang]

Vapor Blast in Houston for any aluminum parts

[Bob Gaines]

Vapor Blast in Houston for any aluminum parts

Vapor blasting leaves aluminum intakes too shiny IMO at least compared to original.

[roddster]

  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]

  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.

[Bob Gaines]

  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.

[CharlesTurner]

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.

[J_Speegle]

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