Cleaning manifolds?
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 78
From: Salem
Cleaning manifolds?
What is the best way to clean the intake and exhaust manifolds inside and out? I have some that have been sitting for 15 - 20 years - all kinds of criters have claimed them as their home.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 4
From: Southern Oregon
I recently purchased a good size blasting cabinet, and have been using 80 grit glass bead for cleaning inside and out. Give the parts a rough cleaning with solvent prior to blasting to get the caked on oil and grease off. On the intake manifolds it takes a while. Aluminum oxide may work better as an abrasive for cast iron, but havent tried it yet. I cleaned one set of heads so far, and by putting the nozzle tip right into the water jacket openings it cleans the inside water passages pretty well, a lot better than just having them dipped at the machine shop.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 2
From: Boise, Idaho
I have used Red Devil lye to clean the carbon out of the exhaust cross-over passages. I would use the same thing for the insides of the exhaust manifolds. Bead blast the exterior of the manifolds. Avoid beading the mounting surface of the carb and intake manifold ports. The exhaust manifold might want to be milled flat.
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 78
From: Salem
I have found that a steel brush worked very well on the exterior - these guys look like brand new now.... except the inside of course.
PC, how did you use the lye? 46y - I wish I was still in your neck of the woods. I'd like to the see finished product.
Thanks guys!!
PC, how did you use the lye? 46y - I wish I was still in your neck of the woods. I'd like to the see finished product.
Thanks guys!!
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 4
From: Southern Oregon
Brian, there is another thing I tried on a very rusty 2V intake just to see what happened. I more or less immersed it in straight sulfuric acid from the hardware store. The stuff is really dangerous, but it worked fairly well on loosening rust. Would have worked better had it sat longer. Basically there was little to no effect on the patches of paint still present. Rinsed it very well and wire brushed the remaining rust fairly easily. This is more for idle chat than a recommended method, but one that a machinist said he had tried once. He cautioned to do it outside, because if done inside it left an orange corrosion on tools and other metal parts.
And I would like to see the finished product too
! Ordered one of John Mummert's new aluminum intakes today, so when it gets here, on to the top and in with the new engine.
And I would like to see the finished product too
! Ordered one of John Mummert's new aluminum intakes today, so when it gets here, on to the top and in with the new engine.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: fillmore calif.
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 4
From: Southern Oregon
The small area around Grants Pass has 4 machine shops that I know of. Only one of them has the traditional type acid dipping hot tank, and it may be illegal. An owner told me the city and/or county didnt allow them, so most have been forced to go with a type of solvent washing machine. The washers dont seem to do as well as hot tanks. Quite a bit of debris remains in the water jackets and even paint isnt removed sometimes. So after the washing machine, heads, manifolds, etc. are bead blasted, which runs costs up.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dyoungen
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jun 17, 2012 06:40 PM
fordboy5894
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Mar 6, 2011 09:10 PM
