DougsL89

My intake has a riveted-on baffle on the underside of it. Can a manifold be glass-beaded with this still in place? I am afraid of the glass bead media getting trapped in it and subsequently contaminating my engine. Has anyone removed their baffle? If so, how did you reattach it? Drill and tap the rivet holes?

trw

I'd remove the baffle. Just use plyers to twist the pins out. Then tap the hole and use a lock washer and loctite on the bolt/screw.

Terry

vettfixr

You should remove the baffle or sand will find it's way underneath it. When you reinstall it the sand will work it's way out and into your engine. Not a good thing. Just remove the rivets carefully and then reinstall with locktite when the sandblasting is done.

Duke94

I drilled and tapped mine as was suggested. Still hanging on after 2 years.

Rowdy Rat

Doug,

I would highly advise removing the shield underneath the manifold prior to any restoration effort. You would be amazed at the amound of garbage that collects in there... Not the type of material that I'd want floating around an engine.

Bead blasting is an excellent solution for cleaning a cast iron manifold, but you may want to reconsider this option if you have an aluminum manifold. While it will clean the surface of the manifold, it also changes the appearance and texture of the aluminum. If you intend to show the car in NCRS or Bloomington Gold events, I'd definitely stay away from bead blasting.

The baffle is pretty easy to remove... I usually work a small screwdriver under the edge of the baffle and work the rivet up until I can grab it with a pair of pliers. I wouldn't bother drilling and tapping the manifold... The process I outlined generally removes the rivets without damage and even if you do, replacement rivets are available from aftermarket sources.

If you have misgivings about the rivets working their way loose, you can always apply some high temperature epoxy to the ends before reinstalling them... That should most certainly keep them in place.

Good luck with your project!

Regards,

DougsL89

Thanks guys! Stan - if glass-beading is out, what is the best way to restore an aluminum intake so it looks "factory new"? What methods do the restorers use?

Paul L

This is bead-blasted and painted. The plate is secured with SS machine screws and LocTite. I have fixed the dent ;) .

Frank75

Remove it for sure: someone had a post here a few months ago where they didn't remove it until after glass beading. It was loaded with beads!

edit: hey Paul - it was you, wasn't it?!


[Modified by Frank75, 7:41 PM 4/1/2003]

Rowdy Rat

Doug,

I recently started using Jerry MacNeish's service... http://www.z28camaro.com Basically the manifolds are tumbled which is most likely the process that was used to "finish" them when they were new. In any case, the finished product is about perfect and should fly right through NCRS or Bloomington Gold judging without any problems.

I have experimented with several procedures in an effort to do the job myself... While one method I discovered proved to be adequate for some parts, the industrial tumbler that Jerry uses produces a superior finish on intake manifolds (as well as other parts).

Your forum name indicates that you might have an L-89 car... I'd love to hear about it if you get the opportunity.

Regards,

70vetteinpieces

what purpose does the baffle serve? Any problems if you don't replace it? I know aftermarket intakes don't have baffles.

Twin_Turbo

the baffle is there to prevent oil from directly contacting the manifold in that area. That area is where the EGR feed from the head runs and it gets very hot. If oil contacts it it burns and becomes nice and cruspy. You do not want that to fall back into the engine and possible end up in a bearing or restrict an oil passage.