Old alum intake cleaning??
Thanks for the mentions gentlemen, and Rob for the pictures.
The thing about just cleaning and blasting it is that it won't stay that way on a driven car. The gunk you have now will eventually come back ... because aluminum is very porous and absorbes gasoline and road grime. Heat will make it leech out in addition to what gets put on top of it.
Powder coatings are available in thousands of colors these days. Most of my customers choose Alien Silver like Rumble up there did. Not only is it tough and easy to clean, it's UV stable with a clear coat (so you don't have to worry about oxidation or polishing) and closely replicates the sparkly look of brand new aluminum. It sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight.
But you can choose whatever works for you and your build. Just dream it up ... there are dozens of examples -- both factory style and one-off custom -- on my website (link below my signature line) and a few here on FABO in my Garage album as well. If you decide to upgrade to a Gold membership, it will also earn you a labor discount.
As an aside, I had to reload the page eleven times and edit this post over and over due to the inability to scroll within the typing box. I hate FABO on my phone now. By the time I find a photo, the page times out and the "webpage is no longer available." Ack!!!!!!!
* * * Edited yet again, but this time from my computer where stuff actually works. :D
Thanks for the mentions gentlemen, and Rob for the pictures.
The thing about just cleaning and blasting it is that it won't stay that way on a driven car. The gunk you have now will eventually come back ... because aluminum is very porous and absorbes gasoline and road grime. Heat will make it leech out in addition to what gets put on top of it.
Powder coatings are available in thousands of colors these days. Most of my customers choose Alien Silver like Rumble up there did. Not only is it tough and easy to clean, it's UV stable with a clear coat (so you don't have to worry about oxidation or polishing) and closely replicates the sparkly look of brand new aluminum. It sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight.
But you can choose whatever works for you and your build. Just dream it up ... there are dozens of examples -- both factory style and one-off custom -- on my website (link below my signature line) and a few here on FABO in my Garage album as well. If you decide to upgrade to a Gold membership, it will also earn you a labor discount.
As an aside, I had to reload the page eleven times and edit this post over and over due to the inability to scroll within the typing box. I hate FABO on my phone now. By the time I find a photo, the page times out and the "webpage is no longer available." Ack!!!!!!!
* * * Edited yet again, but this time from my computer where stuff actually works. :D
