The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop cleaning offy dual intake

any sugesstions on the best way to clean up an Offenhauser 2-1"s intake manifold? Don't want to stain it with the wrong chemicals

you could try media blasting it.I have cleaned up aluminum small block chevy intakes this way,they look like new when done.

Whats it got on it, normal engine dirt or something else?

Simple Green or Castrol Degreaser both work pretty good, glass bead blasting also works very.

Joe

I'm in the process of cleaning up an intake setup myself. This one I've had for over 25 years, used to run it on my '57 chevy 2door HT but it has been siiting (and getting grungy) for the last 20 years or so. I soaked the intake in a 5 gal pail of diluted muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid, same thing). The intake is too long so I just soaked one end until I was satisfied then flipped it over. Works great on cast iron also but you need to neutralize the acid after done. I first power washed the parts then soaked in a pail of water with baking soda in it. Stir often, then power wash again. Here's a before and after.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/tetachuk/intakebefore.jpg

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/tetachuk/intakeafter.jpg

Semi trailer companies sell aluminum brightner. We spray it on our trailers with a bug sprayer and then wash it off with a pressure washer. Its only something like $12 a gallon. If you don't have a pressure washer, you can just brush it off and wash it off at a car wash before it dries.

thanks for the tips. I like the idea of the muriatic acid ( only because I have some ) what ratio did you use ---water to acid to dilute it and what did you use on the carbs. came out nice looks good thanks

It doesn't really matter what the rate is, the sronger the acid, the shorter soak time. I also used the acid on the carbs (totally dissassembled of course). It cleaned them up real well but didn't get the bodies the way I wanted so I powder coated them. The cast iron throttle bodies are blued/blacked with 44-40 cold gun blue. This stuff requires a good soda soak or they will rust.Always add acid to water not the other way around. Caveat on the carbs, I haven't run them yet so any adverse affects from acid bath or powder coating are as yet unknown, but I don't expect any.

Go easy on the acid, try a little at first then add to it if its not working. If you see a lot of bubbles, it to strong.

The tough part on the Offy dual carb intake is the machined part where the Offenhouser logo is. An acid will dull that too. I have used carb cleaner on mine but it has never really been dulled and dirty. Good luck, I would use weaker chemicals to start and work up until you find what it takes to get it cleaned like you want.

I had an aluminum fuel tank soda blasted, left a nice satin finish not as harsh as glass bead blasting.

Grigg

just finished the intake and exhaust headers. I bought a little container of that stuff called CALYX. So far in this entire restoration that is the most amazing product I have come across!!It's so easy to use and the results are incredible. The headers came out so good I decided to try it on the intake after the acid bath. I don't know how it will hold up but right now they look fantastic! The best thing I found for applying it was an old electric toothbrush (no not mine --- my wifes) the look on her face was priceless when she came out to the garage and saw me working the intake with it. If I've learned anything about this restoration it's that 90% of the work is in cleaning and degeasing the old stuff and only a few minutes to reassemble the piece. Thanks for the help---wes