So I'm visiting my old man, getting set up to bead blast a very ratty looking 350 intake manifold using his nice bead blasting cabinet, when he says,
"You can't do that! You'll get blasting media stuck inside and it will ruin your engine!"
Now, at 70, he's a pretty cautious guy, and I'm not what you'd call reckless, but it seems to me that damn near everybody bead (or sand) blasts his intake manifold - how the heck else would you get it clean?

Therefore, for his benefit, more than mine, is there anything I should know about bead blasting an intake manifold? Yes, I intend to tape over the sealing surfaces with duct tape and blast around them carefully, and put plugs in the threaded holes. And, yes, I intend to wash the inside out with hot water and detergent after the outside is painted.

Thank you in advance,

- Eric

 

I have sandblasted a lot of intakes without any problem,sand is easy to get out,i wouldnt rec.glass media though! Dont need to plug the threated holes imo.

 

I have done more than a couple, no problem,you can clean it out easly. Now cheveys are something else. Most have a metal cover under the carb area. Did a chevy, and thought it was clean, but decided to grinde off the rivots, and look, and good thing I did. It had sand, and also lots of carbon.

 

Don't worry, CW, my aching back tells me it's not aluminum .

- Eric