Aluminum Intake finish

[DarrenX33]

Worked on the intake today. Here is how it came out. I know it is hard to tell in the pictures but I will post anyway. This shot is half the intake blasted. The blasted half is the distributor end to center. The other side was really shiny.

[DarrenX33]

This is the finished product.

[RSSSL78]

Darren, what did you end up using to blast with?
John

[DarrenX33]

We did 70% media and 30% silica sand. It is really hard to tell in pictures how the finish looks. Whoever originally finished this intake made it way to bright. I wanted the natural aluminum look. Not sure if what I did is "Factory" correct but I am satisfied.

[Mr70]

Chuck S.
I saw this on Ebay,& was amazed at the finish of this NOS M22 case compared to yours.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4524616554

[crash]

So far I haven't seen anybody that is able to refinish or re-skin any of the Muncie aluminum castings back to OEM factory finish. The problem with these techniques is that the Muncie main case is of a different alloy than the rest of the castings, and when there refinished they all look the same, and they shouldn't. And they don't have the right shine to them
If you have ever had the chance to compare refinished castings to NOS castings you would see the difference immediately...
How I know this is I have a large selection of N.O.S. Muncie main cases, tail housings, mid-plates, and side covers to use for comparison. I also have a N.O.S. 1969 M-21 complete trans with the GM shipping box... Hope this helps...Crash

[427TJ]

The intake "re-skinning" thing has been discussed here before. I think one of the old-heads implied that the term "re-skinning" was, and I quote: "bull$__t" and meant to to get guys to spend big-bucks to have their manifolds restored. I'll try to search the database and cite the actual post.

("Old-heads" is used here as a term of respect.)

[Mr70]

Good points by all.
I am really interested to see a good untouched example today of what Aluminum parts originally looked like,Block,Heads,intake,Trans.(albeit 35 years or so after those days)
I like that Ebay M22 main case as an example.

Crash,if you have some original examples as well,can you please post some pictures here for us all to View?
I,& a few here could help you post them if possible.

[Mr70]

She looks a Lil dull..try rubbing it with some scotchbrite & water.
Is that the Intake your Car was born with?
If so whats the date code,now that it's off?

Harvey Edlestien in Glen Ellyn is a Good Distributor restorer too.

[DarrenX33]

Wrong. Thanks anyway.