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Old May 13, 2009 | 09:16 PM
  #1  
kadrocker's Avatar
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intake manifold

To make a long story short- i need a new manifold.

I got a free manifold from Craigslist. It's from a 66 Thunderbird 390.

This manifold I got is filthy- lots of oil/grease/grime/blah.

How can I clean this thing?

My grandfather said to pressure-wash it. But would that really clean the carbon inside the manifold? I think he's nuts, haha!

Could i use carb cleaner? Help!

I need to get it cleaned asap, I need to drive my truck next weekend.


Any help?
 
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Old May 13, 2009 | 09:20 PM
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Soak in a petroleum based cleaner or detergent... Gas works just fine too. Chipping away at it with a flat head will probably speed things up a bit.
 
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Old May 13, 2009 | 09:33 PM
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You're grampa is on to something. That's the first thing I do when I have a greasy/grimy part. Works well.

Take it to the car wash and drop $5.00 cleaning it. I DO NOT do it at home though, it's messy.

Buy a cheap throw-away rain-coat and some goggles.

Or some machine shops will clean it to like new for a fee. $20.00 or so. You'll have nearly that much in cleaners and supplies.
 
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Old May 13, 2009 | 09:35 PM
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Take it to a machine shop and have it hot tanked (acid dipped)
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:05 AM
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you can also buy a small cold soak tank from harbor freight... but that deals with hazardous chemicals and what not... but at least youll be able to clean parts from then on.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:13 AM
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If you need it quick, take it to a machine shop and have it hot tanked/dipped. Thats what I would do, the obnly part I hate about working on cars is having to clean grease, because it can take forever. Carb cleaner will work but you would need a lot of it and it might take a while.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:47 AM
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I agree with the hot tank idea. It's not practical or cost-effective to use carbuertor cleaner for this job.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:54 AM
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Two suggestions first Simple green spray it on and let it sit for 15 minutes then hose off at the car wash. If that doesn't do it Oven cleaner. I have used this several times and it works well spray, on let soak, car wash off. Good luck Tom
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by fordwannabe72
Two suggestions first Simple green spray it on and let it sit for 15 minutes then hose off at the car wash. If that doesn't do it Oven cleaner. I have used this several times and it works well spray, on let soak, car wash off. Good luck Tom
I did the same with my intake. Oven cleaner worked well for me.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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They still hot tank stuff around you guys or are you just assuming they do? The machine shops around here can no longer "hot tank" now it's more of a "hot baked" where they heat the item until all the grease and oil just drip or burn off.

BTW, I am in Colorado not California with all their yuppie laws.

Josh
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 01:27 PM
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what would be suggested for the entire motor? the PO of mine didnt clean anything, ever.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 01:32 PM
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I have the benefit of having a car wash just down the street from me so...

If it comes to engines and drivetrains I'll soak them real god with simple green and then head down the street to blast it all off at the carwash. Works awesome!

I also do these things late at night or early morning as well.

Josh
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 01:36 PM
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mine is shut down at those hours, this thing is just coasted in decades of grease oil and muck, its so thick it tries to peel when scraping it off.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 02:04 PM
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Some car washes don't like you using theirs for cleaning parts. I know the ones around me that don't mind.

Scrape it first. It's the most cost effective way.

Simple Green is amazing cleaner. After scraping, spray it with the Simple Green, then power wash it.

Don't forget the WD40 if your ignition systen gets wet.

Little bit of trivia; WD40 stands for Water Displacing, 40th formula concocted. If I remember right it was developed during WWII to keep our fighting vehicles running in wet weather.

It's basically kerosene with perfume in it. WD40 is also a decent engine cleaner.
 
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Old May 14, 2009 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by mikedc8371


what would be suggested for the entire motor? the PO of mine didnt clean anything, ever.
Get it dipped/hot tanked. It works good, I had it done to a pontiac 301 turbo motor I have and it came really clean. The only thing is that some of the carbon build up in the exh ports might not come out, other than that it does a good job.
 
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