Sandblasting (or what else?) to clean oily bits..?

[Jim 2]

Been hunting around on Club GTI and Google and a few other places but not turning up much useful info! I've got an upper and lower intake manifold that I'd quite like to get cleaned up - thinking sandblasting as a possible way of doing it but not sure. Any advice on what the best thing to do is, and anybody know of anybody decent in the West Mids for doing it?

 

I did think sandblasting but wasn't sure if that could damage the mating surfaces of them..

[Supercharged 2]

Blasting is fine dude but it's absolutely critical that they don't go on with sand inside so if really oily I would try and degrease first...

 

Tim did his a couple of years ago now and the Fanimold still looks new!

[boost monkey 0]

i'd agree with that. I think you can "mask" off areas you don't want blasted, same way you can mask things you get powdercoated?

 

otherwise, a little elbow grease never hurt anyone :norty:

[Supercharged 2]

i'd agree with that. I think you can "mask" off areas you don't want blasted

 

You can but it doesn't last long, best tip tho is too put bolts in any threaded holes so sand doesn't get in the threads as it's a mare to get out - good way of cleaning up old bolts too as it's often just the head that corrodes...

[Yandards 0]

You could give the manifold a clean up first using some Autoglym engine and machine cleaner (both inside and out) that should shift most of the oily goo prior to sand blasting.

 

As for who to do it, just ring around or pop into a few places and see what they say, you might find someone friendly who does powder coating and galvanising too, useful contact to have.

[vwdeviant 0]

Brake cleaner FTW! Will shift almost anything! Just avoid skin contact! :lol:

 

Personally check if the blasters also offer Media-blasting... try walnut shells or similar as it's less aggressive...

 

But whatever you choose, make sure it's cleaned throughorly inside and out before putting it back on! Sand/media in the engine won't be pretty!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I did think sandblasting but wasn't sure if that could damage the mating surfaces of them..

 

I wouldn't use sand to blast soft alloy parts :lol:

 

Polyester microbeads are generally what bodyshops use to blast body panels, alloy wheels and other parts.

 

Personally I'd get them cleaned then powder coated, then it'll be permanent.

[vwdeviant 0]

:worthless:

 

:tumbleweed:

[Jim 2]

I did think sandblasting but wasn't sure if that could damage the mating surfaces of them..

 

I wouldn't use sand to blast soft alloy parts :lol:

 

Polyester microbeads are generally what bodyshops use to blast body panels, alloy wheels and other parts.

 

Personally I'd get them cleaned then powder coated, then it'll be permanent.

 

Well - this is the reason for me asking as I've got no idea what they do normally :)

 

What do Stealth do when they rebuild engines? I've seen nice shiny new 16v manifolds roll out of their workshops with the DOHC bit painted (which I also want to do) so would be keen to know what their process is for refurbing a manifold...

[DanVW 0]

Get some spray on "Gunk" from any good motorfactors that will get most of the grease/oil off and a coat of Nitromores from any DIY store, will clean off any crap paint a treat :-)

[davidwort 0]

Jim, I cleaned mine up ages ago when I had the engine out, the manifolds are relatively soft and I found the best way was with a manual wire brush or a large wire brush attachment on a slow speed drill, it's very messy but the result is a nice clean finish without looking aftermarket.

Just give a good wipe over with some WD40 every now and then and even the front part of the inlet that the salt spray attacks stays looking pretty good, mines been on for several years and probably over 40K now, I've only wiped it with WD40 a few times really and it still looks pretty good.

I just used some engine laquer from halfords to paint the 'DOHC 16V' with and that lasts at least a couple of years before starting to break up and come away.

[CorradoVR6-Turbo 0]

i used fine sand to blast my stuff off,used a low pressure kit so wont eat away the alloy or steal,got bucket of sand off ebay and i already had a kit.

 

I degreased the lot before powder coating painting etc.I left most parts in bare alloy,looks like new but i dont use the car over winter so you might have to laquer the part you blast.

 

pics...

 

 

 

[A1 VR6 0]

Jim, there's a product called Muck Off which I think is mainly for bikes which will get all the oily bits clean and if you don't mind a bit off elbow grease use scotch brite scouring pads to shine it up - I used to use these when I had a 16v golf and the give a good result without compromising the original finish.

[GlosterOx 0]

Jim,

 

We use at work Fine (180/220) Grit Aluminium Oxide in a Blast Cabinet mixed with water that has a pressure adjustment as well - I have a spare set of 16V Upper/Lower manifolds that I want to clean and then get powder coated to see what they look like.

 

I'm not too far away in Gloucester, if you dropped them down to me I could get them blasted at work for you - Might even be able to do it on a Saturday morning "while you waited" ?

 

Send me a PM if interested?

 

Ian :D

[Jim 2]

You, sir, are a legend. I'll be in touch! I'd see you right with some beer money or whatever else you wanted tbh.

[GlosterOx 0]

Jim,

 

I was up at Stealth recently having a KR Inlet Cam fitted plus a couple of other jobs and had my powder coated top/bottom manifolds fitted at same time - Am really pleased with the look of them.

 

Today it was remapped and had a new accelerator cable fitted, what a difference this cable has made as everything seems a lot smoother and progressive. Car now makes 156.0 BHP @ 6415 revs and138.3 lb ft of torque @ 4856 revs.

 

On journey home I could feel the difference and now really pulls when you hit 4 > 4.5K revs. Still thinking of powder coating yours black?

 

Ian :D