Shining up the tpi intake
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,110
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From: JUPITER FLORIDA
Shining up the tpi intake
I was wondering what you guys think would be a good product to shine the tpi intake manifold with. What im looking for is a way to get into the pits of the glass beaded like surface. I have a dremel tool with polishing brushes, anything else you guys use? Im not taking the intake off the engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The intake is aluminum and has been anodized. You polish it, you remove the anodizing and now have bare aluminum exposed and it will begin to corrode and you will be continually polishing it. But....do what you want, its your car.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
High Temp Aluminum Paint if you want it to look clean! or you could have it polished professionaly as well as you doing it, just make sure you seal the job when done! Call a local shop,if any, and ask what they use to seal after the polish is done!
Thanks, Matt
Thanks, Matt
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
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Cruise-In II Veteran
Sanding-then polishing the parts in steps can bring a chrome like luster finish..but the up keep is alot of work.Cant do that with the parts on the car.That being said,no way to shine up aluminum on the engine without tedious work...if the manifold is super clean and spotless,youre next step is painting it with a color of your choice.Maybe a bright aluminum engine paint can give you the luster youre looking for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
I've taken my spare plenum and runners in to the powder coaters and they are doing a chrome treatment that is polished after application then clear coated, similar to what is done on headers, I'll post when i get them back in 2-3 weeks.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by jfb
The intake is aluminum and has been anodized. You polish it, you remove the anodizing and now have bare aluminum exposed and it will begin to corrode and you will be continually polishing it. But....do what you want, its your car.
I did these pretty much by hand.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by vinnies87
I've taken my spare plenum and runners in to the powder coaters and they are doing a chrome treatment that is polished after application then clear coated, similar to what is done on headers, I'll post when i get them back in 2-3 weeks.
I can't wait to see it. I have a 2nd tpi setup I'd like to try the almost chrome on. It should be really easy to keep clean that way.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
I can't wait to see it. I have a 2nd tpi setup I'd like to try the almost chrome on. It should be really easy to keep clean that way.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Snatch BC
Definetly go ahead and polish the plenum and runners its a lot of work but looks unreal when finished, a lot of sanding involved if you want it to look right. Take a look at page 2 on my cardomain site thats what mine looks like. www.cardomain.com/id/black_vette and I have only simply kept it clean since I polished it like a year ago and it still looks perfect.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: JUPITER FLORIDA
Originally Posted by Black_Vette
Definetly go ahead and polish the plenum and runners its a lot of work but looks unreal when finished, a lot of sanding involved if you want it to look right. Take a look at page 2 on my cardomain site thats what mine looks like. www.cardomain.com/id/black_vette and I have only simply kept it clean since I polished it like a year ago and it still looks perfect.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
No, the TPI is bare aluminum from the factory. It won't corrode if you polish it either, worst that'll happen is it loses some luster and needs to be shined up every now and then.
I did these pretty much by hand.
I did these pretty much by hand.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
No, the TPI is bare aluminum from the factory. It won't corrode if you polish it either, worst that'll happen is it loses some luster and needs to be shined up every now and then.
True. I use Mother's Aluminum polish with a micro-fiber towel every now and then.
I outsourced the job. Too much time and labor involved to achive a true shine doing it yourself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
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From: Santa Maria CA
Originally Posted by corvette_crimson
TTT
I also would like to know what sand paper # to use.
I also would like to know what sand paper # to use.
http://www.gmtips.com/3rd-degree/dox...m/pol-plen.htm
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: CV ca
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
No, the TPI is bare aluminum from the factory. It won't corrode if you polish it either, worst that'll happen is it loses some luster and needs to be shined up every now and then.
I did these pretty much by hand.
I did these pretty much by hand.