BPG_Austin

I've looked all over Austin for a shop that can ultrasonically clean something the size of an intake, just to test it out. haven't found one yet.. I don't 'know if it would really do the job as it doesn't Remove anything that's stuck. (read, bits of flaking off coating) Probably work great for removal of media.
That's expensive equipment, and I assume they charge accordingly, even do dip your part for an hour. would love to hear if anyone has tried this, and if it was a success.

Jhoffmann

Rob,

Thanks for the compliment on the car...
Yes, that is my black GTS you saw over at Greg's. I got her a few months ago after about a 6 month search. Michael Wilhoit found her for me at a reasonable price point and thanks to this site, I discovered Greg Brown. Now Greg is going through her to fix all the odds and ends - including the powder coating. Also having his fuel lines and GTS breather kit done why she is apart. And thanks to this site, now I just have to have a set of his headers, but that will have to wait until the fall when I have him do the Bilsteins and motor mounts.

Josh

Rob Edwards

Josh-

Let me know when you're going to be at Greg's shop next, you can have a listen to the exhaust on mine during a spin on the test track.

depami

Don't forget the stroker!.....

worf928

I know that there is considerable disagreement on the InterWebs about this subject, but most machinists call BS on that. The actual issue is that there are tolerances that must be known if your going to use a tap on a critical hole and 'Crapsman' taps and dies that may not be of good quality.

The holes we're writing about are not critical.

I would never recommend (hope I haven't in the past) that someone use a tap to 'chase' a hole that was not experienced in using a tap. If you do have the experience and use your calibrated hand and oil, the chances of screwing up a non-critical hole with a tap are very low, IMO.

Using a tap to clean out extremely torque-sensitive holes - for instance the holes for head bolts in a 32v block - would not be my first choice. And in that specific case if those holes are really messed up you've got bigger problems, probably.

illini-heel

In the world of automotive OEM paint, ultrasonic cleaners are effective for cleaning your paint equipment (nozzles, bells, needles, etc.), but not for parts. After pressure washing with detergent, a mild (5-6.5pH) acid wash is best for removal of carbon deposits, oxides and scale.

When looking at blast media, dry-ice doesn't leave any residue and works in many cases.

Tony

Leave the end covers on. fabricate a bottom cover for the "intake ports" and plug the flappy bearing holes.

With a little time an ingenuity you can seal that intake up easily and should never have a mess like that to clean out.


thats scary.

Dictys

I used a company that specialise in soda blasting and the intake came back spotless.The soda dissolves in water so it very easy to clean. They advised me that once they had blasted they cleaned it out and then rushed it to the power coaters.

However, I still washed it throughly and used a hose brush on it to make sure.

Black Sea RD

+1 what Tony said.

We put bolts in all the threaded bolt holes of the torque tube bodies and mask certain areas before we send them for media blasting and P-Coating.

We found as Greg B. has that workers at P-Coater shops don't always take directions well and their promises of being extra careful with covering/masking critical areas is sometimes not done to your standards.

yardpro

why would they NOT soda blast?

as dictys said, it dissolves with water... no embedded media to worry about... walnut shells would also work great...

there are many options that can be used to eliminate these issues...

Why not cover the areas prior to blasting

Benton

I have never used soda blasting, but you guys talking about it have tried to blast an intake or cam cover, right? The factory coating is a BITCH to strip. I doubt soda is abrasive enough.

LT Texan

Cosmetics. Jeez.

SeanR

I tried it first in my cabinet and it didn't work worth a damn. Then tried walnut shells and took so long it wasn't worth my time. Then went to whatever medium cut media I've got in there now and it works very well. I just hate blasting the stuff so I just send it out to be done. Should probably just sell the cabinet since it just takes up space.

Imo000

+1.......well said!!!!

Dictys

There are different grades of Soda, the company I used specialise in blasting in soda so they had the correct soda grade and special basting machines to do the job correctly, they have now done two S4 and one GTS intakes and cam covers.

Obviously no use to anyone as they are based in Dubai and Cyprus!