Aluminum intake cleaning/refinishing

[69L78Post]

What are the best options for cleaning and refinishing an aluminum intake back to "like new" condition?

[Bill Rose]

Lacquer thinner is the best thing I've used. If the intake is off the engine, fill spray gun with the thinner, turn up the air, and spray it down hard. If it's on the engine, I put lacquer thinner on a rag and wipe it down.

[SuperNovaSS]

Many guys like oven cleaner for heavy cleaning and mag wheel cleaner for lighter cleaning. I use plastic media in a blast cabinet for original intakes that I don't want to mess up.

If I have a heavily stained intake I use plastic, followed by garnet, followed by glass shards, and finally glass beads.

I plan to do a tutorial with different techniques for this site soon.


Jason

[69L78Post]

Thanks guys.

[L78M22Rag]

I find that glass beaded aluminum leaves a bright-shiny etched look. Personally, I prefer the look of a tumbled intake with a clean but dull-smooth finish.

[AutumngoldL78]

I had mine put in a wheelabrator.

[AutumngoldL78]

[scuncio]

That's the way to go if you have access to the machine.

[COPO CARTEL]

Try Brake Cleaner

[SeattleCarGuy]

I glass bead blasted my 163 intake with very, very fine glass powder in my blast cabinet, but I must have had the air turned up too high as I caused some pitting in the aluminum. Any easy way to fill that? Or other suggestions?