When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Got my original Winters intake manifold off the engine (stuck a new Edelbrock on there for now.) The intake has some corrosion around the thermostat housing area. I read somewhere about a shop in Florida that refurbishes the manifolds and makes them look like new. Anybody have any suggestions on how to restore this manifold? What are your experiences?
I don't know about a shop in Florida, but Jerry MacNeish in Maryland restores and refinishes intakes. Jerry's work is fantastic, and he's also the foremost authority on first generation Z/28's in the world.
SHOT BLAST (Tiny Steel/Metal) in a Wheelbrator Type machine .....
Other Mfg's Like LS Industries make these machines also.........
Many Foundries ran new sand castings thru these machines to
remove ecess sand or slag...........Not sure what best oxidation
inhibitor to use to maintain the look
Only other good alternative is to have media blasted with recycled Glass
(or follow the directions) and Coat with closest shade Cast Aluminum
that CERAKOTE makes
Oh wow. You need to find someone that can braze up the thermostat area and mill it back to spec. That heater hose nipple may put up a fight coming out and damage the threads in the process.
Vapor blasting is available near everywhere. Google it in your location. The vintage motorcycle crowd is all over it.
heak, I found a vapor blasting shop out in the sticks outside of palmwoods Queensland. And I'm talking not the edge of the world, but you can see it from here!
It depends if you are just trying to restore the intake or put the engine back to typical factory production for judging. At the flint plant were the LT1 engines were built, the intake was on the engine at the time of engine painting. After the engine was painted there was a process to apply silver/aluminum paint to the intake to cover up any orange overspray.
It depends if you are just trying to restore the intake or put the engine back to typical factory production for judging. At the flint plant were the LT1 engines were built, the intake was on the engine at the time of engine painting. After the engine was painted there was a process to apply silver/aluminum paint to the intake to cover up any orange overspray.
I do recall reading that the manifolds were painted. Maybe that's the best way to go. A good cleaning and then coating with proper color paint. As 4-Vettes said, proper use of sealant on the thermostat housing area might be sufficient for that.
It sure would be nice to see it vapor blasted clean first
I do recall reading that the manifolds were painted. Maybe that's the best way to go. A good cleaning and then coating with proper color paint. As 4-Vettes said, proper use of sealant on the thermostat housing area might be sufficient for that.
It sure would be nice to see it vapor blasted clean first
Look up the pics I posted in a recent intake thread here.......I will never have any aluminum components restored any other way again......
The finish may not be NCRS......but the BIG bonus with vapor blast is the the blast and the water anneal the surface and peen it.....so any porosity on the intake surface is smoothed out (this is especially important for Winters castings)......this means corrosion protection is improved 1000% and you can't maintenance the intake with a light squirt of WD40 on a rag.......and the finish looks like money.....I had a 1968 Weiand WCQV intake done and it was beautiful......
As far as the intake repair around the T-Stat is concerned......this could be fixed with one weld bead and a couple of hours setup on a Bridgeport.......but the welder would have to be pretty experienced....Winters castings are notoriously porous.....the setup on a Bridgeport would take about 20 minutes.......for an experienced machinist.......
Do you say that sarcastically? I don't know that I would do that - I've tried to use JB Weld a few times in the past and haven't had good results. I would be worried that it would eventually break off and clog up the cooling system. It wasn't leaking before (at least not externally/visually) not sure it would really be a problem if I just sealed it up with a good quality sealer when putting the thermostat back in.
Unless you're a museum curator, why not get a new manifold?
I did. I installed an Edelbrock Performer for the time being while I take my time deciding what to do with the original manifold. The engine still has most of its original parts, so I'd prefer to restore it back to that state over time.
I did. I installed an Edelbrock Performer for the time being while I take my time deciding what to do with the original manifold. The engine still has most of its original parts, so I'd prefer to restore it back to that state over time.
I’m thinking LT1M21 is implying look for a date coded period correct replacement. May take a while, but eventually one may show up.
02-14-2024, 07:25 PM
72 LT-1 Winters Intake Manifold Refurbishment suggestions
