When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm in a hurry to get this newly rebuilt carburetor that Lars did for me and I'm in the middle of cleaning up the top of the engine. It's pretty grimmy and some of the ports on the intake manifold are half clogged. I'm considering removing the intake manifold to either sand blast or power wash it. Or should I just leave it on and keep scrubbing and then repaint it with a brush?
If there are no leaks or other issues I would leave it where it is and paint it. Masking with some cardboard and tape you can do wonders with a rattle can:-)
I'm leaning towards the removal because I just can't get into some of the small spaces. I've been at it all day and I cannot get those parts clean. :/ I've tried degreaser and it didn't seem to work well so I changed to Mineral Spirits which did make an improvement, but still not good enough.
I've never done this before. Any pitfalls I should watch for? Am I ok to sandblast it?
Just got it off. That was so bad and I feel better about it. Anyone spy any concerns? I'm going to clean all the gunk up, but should I be concerned about that carbon build up in the ducts?
i have seen far worse. i wouldn't sand blast as that stuff may get into the engine as it is hard to get it all out.a hot tank would be best but pressure washing may work.
If you mask off the carb ports, you can use [powered] wire brushes on a drill to break all that carbon loose. There's no way to 'degrease' it or chemically remove it in your garage (that I know of, anyway). But, that junk will just blow out the exhaust when you fire it up.
[Note: Don't start it up if the rear is aiming at anything 'nice'. ]
Removing it would make it easier to clean. But, then you have to get new gaskets and valley seals...AND get it all back together with no problems.
Choice is yours. I would probably do the best clean-up I could do at home, prep, mask, and paint it.
does your car need to go thru an emissions inspection? This is perfect time to upgrade the intake if you are so inclined.
If you wish to stay with what you have, preclean all the loose big chunks off that you can with you favorite normal degreaser (Gunk, mineral spirits, acetone). Buy 2-3 gallons of Purple Power at Walmart and LIBERALLY wash in a tub with a good amount of the stuff at full strength. WEAR GLOVES, as Purple Power will mess up you skin. Safety glasses are not a bad idea either. Get it into the ports well and really slosh it around. Let it sit a while, slosh it around some more, and then hose off well, air dry. You can remove the heatshield on the underside of the intake if you wish, kind of a pain, but some motors get a lot of cooked oil up in that area.
As mentioned, the major build-up you are concerned about is in the exhaust crossover and the EGR runners. Knock out what you can with a hammer and small chisel (or flat blade screwdriver). I wouldn't worry about getting all of it, just make sure there are no loose chunks that may fall into the intake ports on the heads when you reassemble.
You can sand blast the intake, but then you have to make sure it in emphatically clean prior to putting onto the engine, or bad stuff will happen.
Before cleaning the gasket surfaces on the heads, stuff the lifter valley with old towels to catch all the stuff that may fall in. May not hurt to stuff the intake ports with paper towels. If fine stuff does get in the valley or ports, vacuum them out with a wet/dry.
chevygod and everyone...thank you all for the advice. My project is moving along and is quite rewarding. I'll post some pictures when I'm done. Hopefully that won't be weeks. lol
04-04-2015, 03:20 PM
Remove Intake Manifold or just keep scrubbing?
]
