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Aluminum polishing
Hi guys. Has anyone tried polishing a natural finish aluminum intake manifold? Is it relatively doable? Any tips?
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Buzz,
If you want to do this yourself, check out The Eastwood Company's web site. They've put all the products together in one package you'll need for the tedious task you're about to embark on. http://www.eastwoodco.com/itemdy01.a...Z&Dep_Key1=mfb Tips? Be prepared for a lot of hard and dirty work, but it's doable. |
Have you considered having it silver powdercoated?
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I'd have it ceramic coated. Ceramic coating looks great, is easy to clean and is relatively cheap. I had mine done. Pictures are in my gallery. While I've never tried polishing an intake manifold, I did polish my own timing chain cover. It was fairly easy because it's small and there are not a lot of crevices. That did, however, convince me that I'd never want to do an intake manifold. There are just too many nooks and crevices. Without a lot of specialty tools to get to those tight spots, you'll be there forever and it won't come out that good. If you have your heart set on polishing it, I think I'd pay someone the $200-300 they're likely going to want.
Chris |
Thanks for the pointers, guys. I've been doing a little research as well and your comments are right in line with what I've found. Needless to say, I am considering other alternatives. Thanks again.
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Drop it off at a polishing shop. Your time is probubly worth more than it will cost you to pay somebody else to do it.
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I agree with Mr.Fixit. Find the right shop and you will probably get a better result. They should have the tools and experience to do it right.
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Smooth flat pieces are fairly easy to polish, but the manifold is a different beast. I personally won't try to do mine again. Next time it's off it will be ceramic or sent away to be polished. Do what Fixit said, you won't be disappointed.
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Buz, I just had a Vic. Jr. intake polished at a small shop here in the Atlanta area. If you know what a Vic. Jr. looks like, you'll agree it looks like an impossible task. I got it back last week and it looks like it was literally dipped in chrome. Even the plate area below the plenum looks awesome. they charged me $185. Well worth it. They charge $150 for a regular intake.
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Or, you could just sand and polish the TOPS of the runners themselves, and paint the vertical sides and bottoms the same coloe as the car, or the rest of the engine.
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I had my alluminum parts ceramic coated. Timing chain cover & pointer, intake manifold, thermostat housing,oilpan, ect.It is a lot easeier, durable and will fill in and cover some of the smaller boo boos.Allso bare alluminum will oxidize if not sealed.
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Atlanta polishing shop
Tony,
Do you have the name and phone number of the shop you used to polish your intake? I have a few items that I need polished and need a good shop on the east coast. Thanks in advance, |
The going rate around here (Silicon Valley) is $400 for a bare casting......That was a little much for me so I started polishing my own. After doing as much as I could stand I took it to a local polishing shop. They charged me $150 to get the nooks and crannies. They did not do as nice of a job as I would have liked, but I guess that they did $150 worth.
-Jon |
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