Cleaning Plenum
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
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Cleaning Plenum
I have a chance to buy a used plenum for polishing and installing on my 85 Corvette. Question is: How do you clean out a plenum? I mean, do you take and have it boiled out like a block? I'm told there is carbon build up inside. Any help? I plan on picking up extra valve covers also and polishing them as well, they in the next winter I will open it up and exchange all the old with new.
Chuck
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
If you have it off, just use spray carb cleaner and a wire brush. You can paint it. Sand it using finer sandpaper as you work on it and then polish. Or just use carb cleaner or lacquer thinner on the outside and polish with Mother's aluminum polish.
Port it while you are at it. Several threads in archives with pictures.
Port it while you are at it. Several threads in archives with pictures.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Check any cleaner to make sure its compatible with aluminum. I made the mistake of soaking aluminum parts in one that pitted the part. Carb or brake cleaner is what I use. It will remove almost anything, including paint and works great on oil and grease. Wet it down good, wait a little bit, work it with a brush, then complete with more spray until clean. After I have cleaned anything and before I paint it, I spray with Brake cleaner to remove any traces of oils, let dry completely, then paint.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,331
Likes: 1,141
From: Vermilion OH
i would have it hot tanked. a friend of mine works at a machine shop i've used their hot tank on a lot of parts and it cleans extremely well. a quick spray with hot water and simple green will remove any excess oils from the hot tank.
