Is this intake manifold salvageable?

Posted By: racealittle

Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 01:40 AM

I have a sb aluminum intake that seems to have been underwater or have developed an antifreeze leak on a previous motor. It looks like the leak occurred at one of the water passages and perhaps hydrolocked the engine; then sat there like that until someone got around and disassembled it.

The inside of the runners develops a grainy white growth,even after it was removed/cleaned. The intake manifold face at the waterpassage is coroded and dimpled for several inches. I know that someone is going to say post a picture. I just reformatted the computer and haven't got the picture size thing figured out yet.

Can the intake face be sealed with a product and given an epoxy skim or something? Suggestions? other than get a new intake. I am just looking for a short term fix for a year or so, until the new engine is ready.

Posted By: skrews

Re: Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 01:53 AM

Glass bead it clean inside and out. Use a good quality silicone around the water ports such as Right Stuff or Permatex Ultra Grey. Paint it to suit. One could have the intake milled also, but now you're tossing alota $ at it.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 01:59 AM

Like was said... bead blast it inside and out then
skin the mating surface with JB Weld... draw file it
smooth

Posted By: racealittle

Re: Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 02:03 AM

I spent some time doing a cleanup to see how bad things really were. I am going to glass bead (because I can), and I was going to paint it anyway (engine color). The re-occuring growth got me thinking that it needed to be sealed. I found a nice 1974, 50,000 mile temporary 360 for the time being to try and keep the car mobile.

Thanks for the suggestions. I just wasn't sure if the jb weld would hold if it was porous or compromised aluminum.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 02:14 AM

Quote:

I spent some time doing a cleanup to see how bad things really were. I am going to glass bead (because I can), and I was going to paint it anyway (engine color). The re-occuring growth got me thinking that it needed to be sealed. I found a nice 1974, 50,000 mile temporary 360 for the time being to try and keep the car mobile.

Thanks for the suggestions. I just wasn't sure if the jb weld would hold if it was porous or compromised aluminum.

I have JB Weld in one runner of a head where I went
through the PR area.. been holding fine

Posted By: Michael Ecks

Re: Is this intake manifold salvageable? - 03/09/13 03:39 AM

I got one off of ebay like that once. In the pics it looked brand new (SB dual plane M1), when I pulled it out of the box I found what you described on the underside, my guess was very old antifreeze that turned acidic. No experience with the fixes others mentioned, but if you like the manifold I took mine to a good head rebuilder. He bead blasted it, shot in some new aluminum with a tig welder and resurfaced the mating surfaces. Wasn't a cheap fix, but cost less than a new intake.

Good luck!