Cleaning Cast aluminum intakes?
- Thread starter John
- Start date
Devilman
Well-known member
If I were to try to clean it without pulling the intake, I would stick an old set of valve covers on it just to be safe & cover everything I could with plastic. I'd probably pull the carb as well, so it wouldn't be in the way. Spray it down with some aluminum brightener like they sell at the truck stops, or some of that wheel cleaner (Eagle 1 or ArmorAll brand works too) & scrub it some with an old toothbrush down in the nooks & crannies. Rinsing it with a garden hose will clean it off without making too big a mess splashing it everywhere.
Then, after its good & dry, I'd paint that biznatch so I wouldn't have to do it again in a few months, lol...
Then, after its good & dry, I'd paint that biznatch so I wouldn't have to do it again in a few months, lol...
spd500
New member
We use the Alumabrite on our big trucks , and that stuff will destroy anything that is highly polished . If you want to use it make sure there is nothing around that is polished , it will etch the polished surfaces . The stuff we get is acid based and works well for some areas , but we have some trucks that we will not use it on because we don't want it to ruin the nice polished tanks .
Devilman said:If I were to try to clean it without pulling the intake, I would stick an old set of valve covers on it just to be safe & cover everything I could with plastic. I'd probably pull the carb as well, so it wouldn't be in the way. Spray it down with some aluminum brightener like they sell at the truck stops, or some of that wheel cleaner (Eagle 1 or ArmorAll brand works too) & scrub it some with an old toothbrush down in the nooks & crannies. Rinsing it with a garden hose will clean it off without making too big a mess splashing it everywhere.
Then, after its good & dry, I'd paint that biznatch so I wouldn't have to do it again in a few months, lol...
have you done this kenny?, when i built my motor back in the day for truck.... the intake got cruddy and i gave up on it, i just thought before put this motor in the boat i would brighten the intake on it,
Devilman
Well-known member
Yeah it will mess up polished stuff for sure, even that store bought crap if you don't get it rinsed off good. I used that Armor All brake dust/wheel cleaner spray on a set of polished alum. wheels I used to have. It cleaned 'em right up, but what little bit of spray got behind the center caps, didn't get all rinsed out & leaked overnight..... leaving a nasty trail etched into the surface on all 4 wheels where it drained out & ran down the wheel... :tongue: I couldn't get rid of the stains, I just left those wheels on the truck when I traded it in...
Devilman
Well-known member
KONA77 said:
Roger, I haven't done exactly what you are trying to do (clean the intake without removing it) but I wouldn't be scared to try it, I'd just make damn sure anything you wouldn't want to take a chance on messing up, was protected. That & go easy with it, not splashing it around everywhere, even when rinsing... and it should be fine.
I thought the engine was in the boat, you are doing this to one on a stand?
i'll check the label, i've said that before....that where i made the mistake with the degreaser... it said don't get on paint, did not believe them because it was biodegradeable, did not think it was that strong :smile23: was i wrong :smile23:... normally an aluminum cleaner is some what mild and your right touching up the paint will be easy on the stand, it needs it any way :smile15:
txcrusader
New member
guys the best stuff i have used and will not hurt polished is castrol super clean ,carpet seats ect i have white interiour sorry for the spelling and it cleans any thing the worst it would do to gel coat is take the wax offKONA77 said: