TPI Intake Finish
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 538
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From: Long Beach CA
TPI Intake Finish
I'm in the process of piecing together a TPI intake. What have you guys done to get that "like new" look without powdercoating? I wouldn't mind powdercoating, but I'm trying to look at this from a budget standpoint. I thought about bead blasting, but I want to make sure the upper plenum and the runners match (not exactly, but pretty close).--And I really don't want to break out the rattle-can with the "Aluminum finish" paint--unless that's what everyone else is doing. Anyone have any suggestions? :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: TPI Intake Finish (Bitter Knight)
When I had my engine built I had them dipped in the tank along with my block, they looked good. I ended up getting them painted to match the car, but I think tanking them might be an option.
Powdercoating, depending on color, shouldnt be too bad, run around $100 is the quote I got. Just make sure to tape them off good, dont trust them to do it, alteast not without inspecting it first... (Bad brake experience)
Matt
Powdercoating, depending on color, shouldnt be too bad, run around $100 is the quote I got. Just make sure to tape them off good, dont trust them to do it, alteast not without inspecting it first... (Bad brake experience)
Matt
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: TPI Intake Finish (Bitter Knight)
I did this last winter with a spare plenum and new large tube runners, I mention this because it does take some time and having the car together caused me to take my time working on the new parts, but wet sanding brought these pieces to an unbelievable mirror finish.
Once I put them on the car, all the hours in the sink were worth it.
Once I put them on the car, all the hours in the sink were worth it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 8
From: Drag racing junkie Va.
Re: TPI Intake Finish (1MoorTym)
The "resto" guys tumble them to get the factory finish, but you'd have to have the correct media in the tumbler & it's most likely not cheap!
Good luck, Dave :thumbs:
Good luck, Dave :thumbs:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: TPI Intake Finish (Bitter Knight)
I bead blast an TPI intake this weekend and it came out pretty good. I will take some picture tommorrows. Its take a while, but it does look new and shiny. I am not sure exactly what the factory finish is though, or if what I did made it too shiny. The plenum/runners/base are pretty much dead on for color matching.
[Modified by dgoodhue, 10:59 PM 4/7/2003]
[Modified by dgoodhue, 10:59 PM 4/7/2003]
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: TPI Intake Finish (Dougs 90)
Try this as an inexpensive alternative. I did this on my '89 TPI system.
First, if you don't mind spending the money, have all your TPI parts sand or bead blasted to clean them up. If you don't want to spend the cash, most machine shops will put your parts through their parts washer for free (or very little money). Next head on over to the Home Depot, and pick up a couple of cans Rustoleum Textured Finish nickle colored spray paint, and a couple of cans of Rustoleum High Heat silver colored spray paint. Once you've got the parts and the paint at home, mask off all areas that you don't want painted (mating surfaces, bolt holes, etc...) and paint everything using the Textured Finish paint. Don't worry about the color - it'll won't look like the clean aluminum of the castings, but it's OK. Once you've given everything a couple of good coats of the textured finish paint, go over it with the high-heat silver paint. The silver closely matches the original color of the bare castings of the TPI system, and with the textured finish below, you get the 'feel' of the original casting.
Good luck with what you decide.
First, if you don't mind spending the money, have all your TPI parts sand or bead blasted to clean them up. If you don't want to spend the cash, most machine shops will put your parts through their parts washer for free (or very little money). Next head on over to the Home Depot, and pick up a couple of cans Rustoleum Textured Finish nickle colored spray paint, and a couple of cans of Rustoleum High Heat silver colored spray paint. Once you've got the parts and the paint at home, mask off all areas that you don't want painted (mating surfaces, bolt holes, etc...) and paint everything using the Textured Finish paint. Don't worry about the color - it'll won't look like the clean aluminum of the castings, but it's OK. Once you've given everything a couple of good coats of the textured finish paint, go over it with the high-heat silver paint. The silver closely matches the original color of the bare castings of the TPI system, and with the textured finish below, you get the 'feel' of the original casting.
Good luck with what you decide.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Rolla Mo
Re: TPI Intake Finish (Jim85IROC)
:iagree:
I still have the passenger side runners to go, and my alternator case(if I do it!) other than than, all the aluminum in my bay has been polished and it looks so much better than chrome!!! When I wash the car, i just wipe it down and polish with a bit of aluminum wheel polish and it looks great!
Doug
I still have the passenger side runners to go, and my alternator case(if I do it!) other than than, all the aluminum in my bay has been polished and it looks so much better than chrome!!! When I wash the car, i just wipe it down and polish with a bit of aluminum wheel polish and it looks great!
Doug
