Aluminum Intake old clear coat removal?

[ba123]

This intake has never been run, but there is a clear coat on it that has yellowed and we can’t have that!

I’ve tried and scrubbed with denatured alcohol, acetone, adhesive remover, wd40, lacquer thinner, parts cleaner…

The acetone and parts cleaner both kind of get it off with a scrub but there has to be something that will just take it all of. I’m happy to slave away to make this thing look good before it goes on, but if anyone has any tips to get it looking its best, I’d appreciate any guidance!

 

[ba123]

I dunno…I kept at it with the acetone. Such a pain since it eats through everything and not quickly. Had to wear a 9 mil glove and then a work glove over it. Still eventually ate through but looks so much better. Still a ways to go I think but the annoying thing is that the acetone dries so quickly and then black smudges dry all over so scrub wipe scrub wipe and it’s not like it’s flat so a real pain.

 

[kempco]

Sandblast

 

[dmoses42]

I vote media blast. Get some 1/8 to 1/4 inch plywood and some nuts and bolts and gasket sealer and seal up the carb and intake runners, pipe plug the orifices and media blast it.

 

[ba123]

Wow, two votes for blasting? Yeah, while that might be a nice solution to get the gunk off, I’m not blasting this intake. First off, there is no way to not mess things up unless I put in injectors I don’t care about, sensors I don’t care about and then yes, maybe some plywood on the gasket surfaces. I’d rather just paint it than blast.

Thanks for the thought but that won’t work for this.

I think I’ll just continue the elbow grease method and for the life of me I can’t find brass wire wheels anywhere. They must cause cancer in California or something.

 

[dmoses42]

To be fair, you didn't say what kind of intake you are working on. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/paint-removal-on-aluminum.878066/ Might try this...

 

[ba123]

Very true. It’s not replaceable.

Here’s the latest pic.

 

[dmoses42]

That link I posted suggests aircraft stripper, vast majority of an airplane is aluminum. I think its worth looking into, kinda sounds like naval jelly for aluminum. Neutralize it with water. With a prize like you are working on, I'd try the aircraft stripper on an old beat up Edelbrock or something first though... I think your BXR is looking good! Wish I had one.

 

[ba123]

Ahh, yeah, I saw that mentioned somewhere. Rust oleum used to have a stripper that was mainly for metals and they must have stopped making it. I thoughts about the aircraft one but I really don’t want to mess anything up.

I think I’m making progress. I ordered some various wheels and disks to try out tomorrow and hoping that finishes it up. Not sure what else to do. I don’t want it polished, I just want it looking clean and new.

Thanks!

 

[nvrstuk]

Yeah, Can't blast that one after seeing that pic. Aircraft stripper.

 

[ba123]

ok, looks like Autozone has it so I might try to get that today or tomorrow, thanks!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Any idea what kind of clear coat they used? Could be any of a number of types of paint, and I remember a clear powdercoat.
Don't blast, too special of an intake.

 

[ba123]

Definitely not powdercoat. It would be harder. If I use a sanding disc, it gums up so I'd bet just a spray. I wish I'd taken a pic before starting.

 

[Madgyver]

i just bead blast it. done several already. but that's just me

 

[bmc69]

Wow, two votes for blasting? Yeah, while that might be a nice solution to get the gunk off, I’m not blasting this intake. First off, there is no way to not mess things up unless I put in injectors I don’t care about, sensors I don’t care about and then yes, maybe some plywood on the gasket surfaces. I’d rather just paint it than blast.

I assumed the intake was off the engine..? I've bead blasted probably dozens of aluminum intakes over the 35 years I've been building engines.... Then I typically paint them with VHT aluminum or similar, so that they stay clean looking, and can be easily cleaned later.
If I'm cleaning something like an antique carb part or bronze boat hardware, sometimes I'll change the blast media to crushed walnut shells.

 

[ba123]

I'm definitely not blasting, but I guess if I paint with aluminum looking paint I don't need to. It just needs to be clean. I was planning on using clear.

I didn’t know there was an aluminum version. Thanks!

 

[Broncobowsher]

If you blast be sure to protect that BXR and other machined surfaces. The raw casting would look just fine blasted.

I had to scrap an Explorer intake once. It was blasted and I could never get the inside clean. It looks like there are side panels that will let you clean the inside, so not an issue for you. But a regular upper, you can never clean out that plenum.

 

[ba123]

Yeah, this intake is special. End caps to choose between high rpm or low torque and they come off. If they could’ve just done a couple things differently, like leave anough room for a cam sync instead of their belt drive distributor I think the company would’ve soared.

Straight through.



BAM!

 

[bmc69]

I'm definitely not blasting,

That's where walnut shells come in to play....

 

[ba123]

Yeah, still not doing it. Not worth it. I’ll use my elbow grease.