Hello everyone; I'm working on cleaning up oil and gas stains etc. on an aluminum intake . Baked right on. I know blasting would do the job, but I didnt care for the finish it leaves on the aluminum. Does anybody know of another way? Thanks in advance.

take it to a machien shop and have it tanked or spray washed.

Hey Frank
I've done this a bunch of times and it works pretty good on most oil and gas stains. Mix up a big bucket of hot water and a half cup of laundry soap like Tide. The hotter the better on the water. If you have a sink out in your garage they work perfect. Let it soak for a while then scrub it with a soft bristle brush. Rinse and dry. Done.
I do this after I port a manifold too- it gets rid of the WD-40 and aluminum dust real nicely. Hope this helps- Pete

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68 Camaro 355/TH400/3.73
69 Nova 355/TH350/4.88
69 Firebird 400 ragtop
71 Firebird 350
00 Standard Trails 250

Simple Green works great for me, just cleaned mine yesterday.

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70 1/2 RS Camaro

Edelbrock used to have intake manifold clener forsale ,ask your local speedshop.
Joni

does that give it the just about new look? cause i'm planning to clean mine up in the future. was thinking about bead blasting! thanks, scott

the problem with sand or bead blasting is that you can cause leak's at the mating surface's.

i know people have done it and it is a good way to clean but you also take material off the part when you do this.

in a hot tank or a spaywash you do not. and it look's brand new when done.

it has also been my experiance that if you have a few small job's done at a machiene shop and need a big one done you some time's get a better price cause you are a repet customer. just my.02

Don't have it tanked at a machine shop that does iron blocks and heads - that solution (phosphoric acid) eats aluminum. If you must have it tanked, go to an automatic transmission shop and let them do it - their power-washer machine uses a solution that won't harm aluminum.

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JohnZ
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

good point i forgot that one, but most good machiene shop's have on for cast iron and steel and one for alum. as alum head's are so populare now.

ask before you give them the job.

just wondering.Me an a buddy of mine got our intakes powder coated they look some sharp just like polished aluminum stays clean don't chip change colour an easy to clean just water an it shines just saying thx's just a bird p.s can get different colour...

I have done the glass bead thing and clear coated the intake. It looks good for awhile then it will turn brown. I have an edelbrock crossram I'm installing and was wondering how the powder coat looks and holds up. I only us mine for show.
Thanks, Jack

I've had luck with Eagle 1 mag wheel cleaner for non polished wheels.Just spray it on and hose it off.Works best when manifold is off the engine,makes a mess elsewhere.