1965Oldsmobile

Hey guys, I recently picked up this intake, it's grimy and I wanted to know your opinions on sand blasting it. Then cleaning it really well in hot solvent, I cleaned it once in hot solvent but it didn't come out as well as I'd hoped, that's why I'm looking at sand blasting it. Thanks for your input and insight.

Doug

joe_padavano

Aluminum intakes clean up nicely when glass bead blasted.

WannaBa442

Sand blasting will leave a rough finish on the aluminum, will look a bit dull and if not smoothed over will actually catch more dirt and grime.
I had an Old SP@P intake I degreased, then soda blasted with sodium bicarbonate.
Cleaned it up nice, not too aggressive, and left a nice surface that took paint well.

joe_padavano

You are correct about sand. That's why I suggested glass beads, which are between sand and soda. It all depends on how corroded the intake is. Certainly the more conservative approach is to start with soda. If that cleans it up well enough, stop there. If not, go to glass beads. I did a trans case with soda and it came out great. I didn't even need to degrease it, the soda took off all the caked grease also.

1965Oldsmobile

Thanks for the insight guys. I didn't think about the sand producing a sponge for more stuff to collect and cling to, that's a good point. I think I'll try a couple of things and see how it goes, again thanks for the insights.

Doug

skyhigh

If your gonna paint it you want a little profile for the paint to bite, so aluminum oxide blast would be good, very little profile..If your looking just to bring back the alum finish use walnut shells or dry ice..