Air intake Refinishing

[dmc3130]

I'm doing my VOD this winter and while I had my Air intake manifold out I was thinking of refinishing the ugly casting boogers that are on them. Has anyone done this and if not why. They look like they where never finished when they came out of the castings. Does anyone have some pictures of the finished product.:8ball:

[sdg3205]

Boogers? I've done 3 valleys and I have no idea what you mean!

[dmc3130]

Boogers? I've done 3 valleys and I have no idea what you mean!

At the top of the intake where the air filter sits,@ the W pipe the edges are sharp and jagged-not smooth.

[Delorean Industries]

That looks nice compared to most. A lot of manifolds have nasty casting slag in the top f the runners.

[dmc3130]

That looks nice compared to most. A lot of manifolds have nasty casting slag in the top f the runners.

You can't really tell by the pic. It has the same slag. That's why I was asking about the refinishing. Is there anything that I need to worry about or not to do when doing so?

[vwdmc16]

Its just cast aluminum so its not too thin to have to worry about grinding a hole through. What kind of finish do you want in the end? a brushed finish? or glossy smooth, polished?

[dmc3130]

Its just cast aluminum so its not too thin to have to worry about grinding a hole through. What kind of finish do you want in the end? a brushed finish? or glossy smooth, polished?

Not sure yet, what do you think? Does anyone have any pics of finished manifolds

[vwdmc16]

Id say grinding the large parts then brushing the upper section in one direction with a flap wheel sander would yield a nice finish without too much labor. Thinking of painting it like your valve covers?

[dmc3130]

Id say grinding the large parts then brushing the upper section in one direction with a flap wheel sander would yield a nice finish without too much labor. Thinking of painting it like your valve covers?

No, I was thinking of a little off set of colors but not too much.

[SS Spoiler]

I thought the intake looked awful rough also. When I did the valley I ground off all the extra bumps and flash. Using increasingly finer flap sanding wheels got it to the polishing stage. Really dresses up the engine compartment.
Over time the alum. tends to dull out, but a quick pass with buff ball brings the shine up.
Again I don't know how to post photos....Nick?


37lb. spoiler 2691 Paul Cerny


Kalispell, MT

[dmc3130]

I thought the intake looked awful rough also. When I did the valley I ground off all the extra bumps and flash. Using increasingly finer flap sanding wheels got it to the polishing stage. Really dresses up the engine compartment.
Over time the alum. tends to dull out, but a quick pass with buff ball brings the shine up.
Again I don't know how to post photos....Nick?


37lb. spoiler 2691 Paul Cerny


Kalispell, MT

That's what I was thinking---Not sure how shiny I want it but definetly better then what it is now.

[Elvis]

I filed the sharp edges down, sandblasted it and had the whole intake and valve covers clear coated with automotive paint.

Looks awesome and lasts many years.


Before: 15017 15013
After: 15014 15015 15016

[dmc3130]

I filed the sharp edges down, sandblasted it and had the whole intake and valve covers clear coated with automotive paint.

Looks awesome and lasts many years.


Before: 15017 15013
After: 15014 15015 15016

Thanks for the pics. Did you do the painting yourself?

[Bitsyncmaster]

I always try to file off any flashing and sharp edges when I'm going to paint it. I've been known to file off the part numbers cast into the part. Those are just places that get dirty and can't be cleaned. Don't use a grinding wheel on aluminum. It will just fill up the wheel and need a diamond tool to clean it off.

[Elvis]

Thanks for the pics. Did you do the painting yourself?

I've done it once with a spray can, but the result was not comparable to a high quality automotive paint.
There are many paint shops around, I gave it to them. (I've done 3-4 so far)
Sand blasting and clear coating costed together around 100 to 150$.

[dmc3130]

I always try to file off any flashing and sharp edges when I'm going to paint it. I've been known to file off the part numbers cast into the part. Those are just places that get dirty and can't be cleaned. Don't use a grinding wheel on aluminum. It will just fill up the wheel and need a diamond tool to clean it off.


Thanks for the tip. I'll keep you all posted on this project.

:D