Anyone here polish their as-cast intake manifold?

[beanhead]

If so, I'm interested in your techniques/materials used and how it came out. I imagine they need to be sanded with various grits until smooth, and then worked over with the polishing wheel until shiny...but that's my vague vision and I'd love to hear details and results if anyone has any to share.
Thanks!

 

[Don67Satellite]

 

[Dodge33]

I have done a few aluminum intakes, and they are/can be alot of work. I have used a few different vendors like Eastwood, Tip Tools and swap meets to get supplies. I would recommend that you check out this website, www. bright-works.com and they have a book or download a pdf of the manual
that they wrote. It is very informative, and will
help you a bunch. They sell all the buffing and polishing supplies that you will need. I believe they even have a tech line too! Check it out,
as I know you will like it. Good luck on your project!

 

[beanhead]

I have done a few aluminum intakes, and they are/can be alot of work. I have used a few different vendors like Eastwood, Tip Tools and swap meets to get supplies. I would recommend that you check out this website, www. bright-works.com and they have a book or download a pdf of the manual
that they wrote. It is very informative, and will
help you a bunch. They sell all the buffing and polishing supplies that you will need. I believe they even have a tech line too! Check it out,
as I know you will like it. Good luck on your project!

Thanks for the link!

 

[Dave6T4]

I cheat; I grind the maker's name off the intake and paint it factory engine colour. No point in advertising performance mods.

 

[1967coronet]

Polish a cast aluminum intake. I admire your ambition .
Trying to get to every nook and recess is going to be hard.
My 2 cents ..send it to cudachick on here for a nice bright silver powder coat job.
Pm her , I'm sure you will hear back.

 

[c.moo]

Done it , a lot of work and when it's done still a lot of work to keep it that way , there won't be a next time ,will leave as is or paint or powder coat.

 

[beanhead]

Polish a cast aluminum intake. I admire your ambition .
Trying to get to every nook and recess is going to be hard.
My 2 cents ..send it to cudachick on here for a nice bright silver powder coat job.
Pm her , I'm sure you will hear back.

Done it , a lot of work and when it's done still a lot of work to keep it that way , there won't be a next time ,will leave as is or paint or powder coat.

Thanks guys, and I believe it....
If I actually went for it, it would be a tunnel ram since I think anything sticking through the hood should be shiny! Still in the "maybe I will, maybe not" stages. Coating is always an option, and the CudaChick is one of the best however I go through a local shop here that's been around for ages...the man that started it knew and did blasting work for my gramps 'back in the day' when he was in the trucking business out there so their family knows my family...more importantly they still do nice work and are reasonably priced. They used to do the frames for OCCs frame fab side of the business as well as several other custom rod and bike builders.

 

[33 IMP]

I have one.
I don't know what the job cost, I wouldn't have commissioned it.
I know how much work it is, I sure wouldn't do it myself.
Eddie used to sell a manifold with a chromed/polished finish. I don't know if they still do....