valve cover,intake cleaning and paint

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newshofan

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I want to pull my valve covers and clean all the oil off them. And also clean the surge tank and intake runners. I pulled one of the intake runners last weekend and used a whole can of throttle body cleaner on it. It was full of carbon. The surge tank looks worse. I was wondering how most people cleaned them and what the best way was. brake parts cleaner with some scothbrite pads for the valve covers maybe?

Also for those who have painted there valve covers and intake runners what type off paint needs to be used and what sort of preperation needs to be done. I also can't seem to decide what color or colors to paint them id like something that would look good and match with my medium graphite paint.
 

SHO U UP

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I want to pull my valve covers and clean all the oil off them. And also clean the surge tank and intake runners. I pulled one of the intake runners last weekend and used a whole can of throttle body cleaner on it. It was full of carbon. The surge tank looks worse. I was wondering how most people cleaned them and what the best way was. brake parts cleaner with some scothbrite pads for the valve covers maybe?

Also for those who have painted there valve covers and intake runners what type off paint needs to be used and what sort of preperation needs to be done. I also can't seem to decide what color or colors to paint them id like something that would look good and match with my medium graphite paint.

Have the intake powdercoated. I've painted one set and p/c'ed ALOT of 'em. The regular paint chips off and doesn't hold up. P/C'ing is the way to go bud.
 

sandrew

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For the intake runners & surge tank - parts cleaner & lots of elbow grease for what I could reach, dremel with flexible attachment & wire wheel (soft wire, they didn't last long but were good at chipping off residue without scratching) for what I couldn't and a good rinsing followed by a ride in the bottom rack of the dishwasher (wash only, no heated dry cycle).

Although I will deny that last bit since it was obviously done while I was at home alone. :)
 

newshofan

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Easy off? As in oven cleaner?...lol I actually thought of a dremel but figured you would have to have just the right grit of sandpaper and wire brush. When I did the one intake runner last week I discovered that my. Tire brush seemed to work well. Id just hate to ruin my nice brush. I was just curious as how the majority off people dedided was the best way. Or for the people that perform the cam weld service how do they clean them?

A lot off people see to deny things that happen when their alone.:laugh_ti:
Also what could I expect to have them poder coated. And as I forgot I tried using brake parts cleaner on the vanity cover and it seed to be to strong for the finish and striped the paint so I need to figure out how to paint it as well.
 

Racer X

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Berrymans b12 for the inside
Yeah, Berryman's B-12 is like 14 kinds of toxic. I try to stay away now.

Get the EasyOff that doesn't require you to turn on the oven, and follow the directions to let it work. Does just as well as Berryman's does, and won't give you cancer/ malformed kids/ Ebola/ whatever other horrible things it does. :)
 

newshofan

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yea I seem imune to most toxic things...lol but considering I have some easy off and plenty of carb cleaner. I'm going to try the to and compare which one works best.
 

kevinspann

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Yeah, Berryman's B-12 is like 14 kinds of toxic. I try to stay away now.

Get the EasyOff that doesn't require you to turn on the oven, and follow the directions to let it work. Does just as well as Berryman's does, and won't give you cancer/ malformed kids/ Ebola/ whatever other horrible things it does. :)

The things that work the best are the ones that can **** you the easiest, duh :p
 

stephen newberg

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Yeah, Berryman's B-12 is like 14 kinds of toxic. I try to stay away now.

Get the EasyOff that doesn't require you to turn on the oven, and follow the directions to let it work. Does just as well as Berryman's does, and won't give you cancer/ malformed kids/ Ebola/ whatever other horrible things it does. :)

On target. EastOff is very effective. But you want to avoid breathing in the fumes from it also, as they are caustic. Otherwise, the best way to go.

pax, smn
 

newshofan

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As mentioned the easy off worked great wish I had more than one can. Carb cleaner goes fast. Discovered engine degresser works well also. Also if you use easy off and let it sit depending on the amount off build up the run off got really thick and I had to use a hose to wash it out. But I also let it sit for awhile. I ran out of cleaner so their still not perfect but atleast there's not a thick wall off gunk anymore. Mine had probly never been cleaned before.

When I bought the car the gas pedal stuck real bad. Now that I've cleaned the throttle body several times and now the surge tank the pedal feels great. Oh just a reminer make sure you tighten all your bolts down. I got a horrible vacuum leak that threw four codes. Today after taking it apart to see what the issue was I discovered I forgot to tighten one of the intake runners down. Runs awsome now.
 

nothingtoseehere

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When I had my V8, I took the intake completely apart and bead blasted it inside and out. Then had it powdercoated inside and out. Cleaning was easy after that. Vanity cover was painted by the NESHO body shop guy body matched. Fonz likely has some pictures...
 

calvin0325

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Does this also work for the lower intake?? Getting rady to do mine as I just got my coils (all 8) in today and probably do mine in the next week or 2.
 

newshofan

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Calvin0325 did you ever get your intake clean?
Just an update on mine she's all clean and pretty now I've just got to finish painting my intake runners and surge tank. Will post up pics later.
 

calvin0325

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Actually when I pulled mine apart it was already clean, I was suprised, I expected the worst and came away smiling.
 

newshofan

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The oven cleaner worked good for me but I thought it was a pain to rinse out.

Well took a bit longer to post the pics but here they are.

Photobucket 3771 1328598873391

Photobucket 3710 1328598871988

I left the rods in but drilled out the screwes and tossed the little plates.

Photobucket 3935 1328598873841

Photobucket 3932 1328598872457

And here's my valve covers I used a wrinkle type paint they are still curing hopefully will wrinkle a bit more wish I had an oven to toss them in.

Photobucket 3785 1328598872925

Photobucket 3924 1328598871533
 

newshofan

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Any ideas on a fancy oil cap?

I'm still debating on how to paint the runners and the tank. I was thinking of having the first set of runners black and the second set the aluminum finish and the tank black. Id have the vanity cover black with silver SHO letters. I'm thinking the aluminum finish I have may be a bit bright to do the whole thing that way. Would still have the black vanity cover to help dull it out. Every intake I've seen have all been solid color except for some v6 ones.

I don't have access to a photo program if anyone could mock something up for me in either way id appreciate it. Any thoughts or opinions?
 

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