I think I have seen some heavy reaction with pool acid (muiatic). The best meathod I have had was to clean it really well to remove grease and oil and bead blast it. Then I have clear coated them and they look great for years.

Ummm, if the wife is away and you have a day run it through the dishwasher. DONT EVEN let her know you did that. At one point in my life I was refurbishing so many machine parts I considered buying a dishwasher for the shop. A closed loop system. JR

 

I wouldn't use muriatic acid on aluminum. Take the intake to your local machine shop and have them throw it in the Hot Tank:thumbsup:

 

dont use it, its hard to stop the reaction and will eat away the aluminum

 

i've used Eagle1 mag cleaner for unfinished/non clear-coated rims. works good but it will etch the manifold. spray it on, let it sit and then hose off. in my opinion, best way to get the best finish is bead blasting.

 

I agree, bead blasting is the best option in my opinion. cast aluminum is poris, it will absorb oils and gas and stain it. I painted mine cast aluminum gray engine paint but clear would work too. when it's dirty clean it with 50/50 mix water / simple green and hose off.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

 

NAPA used to sell an aluminum cleaner that will make them look like a new nickle

 

Blast it. You won't like the pitted finish the muriatic acid will leave behind.

 

Take it and have it dipped in a hot tank, then if its not as good as you want it then bead blast it. What ever you do dont put it in any acid.

 

I am about to but a TPI engine in my 66 and will be painting the engine and need to clean up the Aluminum heads.The machined surfaces look good,but the rest looks like they have a Patina finish.I have some Aluminum cleaner and thought about trying it.The last thing i want to do is remove the heads.Do you think i should try this in an not so visible spot?

 

Many years back I cleaned an intake with Ospho (and a toothbrush) which I believe is muriatic acid. I then rinsed with water and placed in the bathtub with baking soda and water again. The baking soda will neutralize the acid.

 

Hello,

I would be very carefull about taking somewhere to have it "hot tanked".

I think there are several different chemicals that are used in most normal hot tanks, and the one will basically eat aluminum and the aluminum will also "kill" the chemical.

I would make sure the shop has a specific chemical suitable for aluminum. I know a lot of transmission shops have very nice cleaning systems for aluminum.

As was stated the glass beading works great, but the manifold (or what ever) has to be about perfectly free of oil and very dry or it will retain the beads and thats very bad for what ever you are putting the manifold on.

If you do bead blast it, I would carefully clean it afterwards, and run a tap through all of the threaded holes before you install it.

Good luck

Jeff

 

If you bead blast it will a really fine glass bead it will come out like new!

It will even have a nice sheen to it!