How to brighten up aluminum intake manifolds

I picked up a used aluminum intake and am looking to restore the luster it had when new. The previous owner had it painted VERY orange and I believe the paint was applied with a soup ladle.
What do you recommend for blast media and what are the recommendations for preserving? I have tried basic ground glass media and it looks terrible. I have also found, though never have used, an engine paint that is a clear coat. Myself, I have always had faith in VHT products, however this isn't such.

@Doppleganger probably knows the best method, I'll bet.

As far as cleaning up a dulled cast aluminum surface, I've had good luck scrubbing with a red scotchbrite pad followed by a light polishing (by hand) with a mag/aluminum polish. It's the paint removal process that will probably be the difficult part.

Grumpy said:

I picked up a used aluminum intake and am looking to restore the luster it had when new. The previous owner had it painted VERY orange and I believe the paint was applied with a soup ladle.
What do you recommend for blast media and what are the recommendations for preserving? I have tried basic ground glass media and it looks terrible. I have also found, though never have used, an engine paint that is a clear coat. Myself, I have always had faith in VHT products, however this isn't such.

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Sand blasting will make it clean and dull. Glass bead will give it a clean/brighter matte finish. If you cant get all the paint off, get it as clean as you can then use some of this:

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...lor-12-ounce-aluminum-spray-paint/dplg/de1615

Looks like fresh aluminum and is easy to clean if ever need be.

Had to hunt for this pic.....this particular intake had a cold start injector port, so was kind of rare - had to be used. Only one I could find was spray painted black. Only blast cabinet I had to use had soda in it (for valves, so not aggressive). After it was blasted, it still had alot of black specs in the cast, plus the whole thing was dark/blotchy. A couple coats of the above and it came out great.



I used it on the head and (cant quite see it) the alternator housing. Looks better than new.

I should add: put old bolts in the threaded holes as well.....you dont need paint in the threads, especially on soft aluminum that wants a reason to cross thread or strip out.

I did a bath of engine degreaser, dish soap, and oven cleaner, along with a scrub brush, to get it clean. As far as getting it shiney, some hydrochloric acid, let it sit, then wash it off.

Once you get ot just the way you want, I'd throw a clear coat on it.

If it were new then I'd clear it but seeing how the paint was coated liberally with the soup ladle then I'd remove that and use the aluminum paint in the aforementioned post.

Strickland

With respect to restoring the “luster it had when new” by far most intakes are sold with a natural finish, not polished. I would not expect it’s original finish to have been shiny at all.

spray it with aircraft stripper. The paint will bubble right off it. Then spray with the aluminum paint and clear coat if you want it to stay clean.

The best way to brighten and have a nice finish is to have them vapor blasted. The only finish you will find better for raw aluminum is freshly machined surface with a clear over it.

nvrenuf said:

With respect to restoring the “luster it had when new” by far most intakes are sold with a natural finish, not polished. I would not expect it’s original finish to have been shiny at all.

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Right, but a fresh natural casting has some amount of luster. After a few years of service, that "new" look goes away.

I hated aluminum manifolds. I blasted mine , ground off the edelbrock and textured it back to look like cast iron. Prime with dupont corlar and tup off with Imron.

bead blast it , clear coat it and be done