Looking for a cleaner for my aluminum intake that will not damage or spot
the manifold. Have heard some horror stories about certain "cleaners".
any suggestions?

 

Do you have access to a glass
bead blaster? They work the best for that.
I have no idea as far as chemicals.

 

I tried the bare aluminum wheel cleaner (not the weaker coated al stuff) on a heavily oxidized and filthy performer...it made little difference w 1 application and heavy scrubbing.

So I would second the glass bead blast approach, I gb some small parts ( not al) and they came out great, w lower pressures and finer bead " grit" I think an al manifold would come out great as well.

 

I did a friend's sbc performer manifold.
I turned the outflow pressure down to
around 90 psi and it worked great.
I use 125 psi on steel or cast.