hey, was wondering if anyone knew adequate steps to fix up their shotty looking air intake chamber, mine is all pitted and discoloured from road salt. was thinking of a moderate sanding and then just using some engine paint, masking off the different information on it of course, so it looks new. im guessing its thick enough to take the sanding, but just want to be sure.

 

What part are you talking about exactly?
Intake chamber?

 

ok, ill get off my ass and go take a picture.



looking at it, sanding it shouldn't give any problems, ok.. anyone have any recommendations on what kind of paint to use?

 

Are you talking about the intake tube? The tube connecting the airbox to the throttle body? I'm still confused which part you're talking about. Sorry.

 

I think he's talking about the plenum. Yeah man, sand all you want. I recommend some engine paint, like you said. Lemme know how it goes, as my new rig's plenum looks pretty ugly too.

 

O rub mine down with steel wool every so often followed by about a half hour of alumnum polishing. Really does a good job but mine was never ever that bad so it will be hard to make it look like new. They alwasy look cool with semi transparent paint too.

 

hmm, good idea.. hopefully get to it this weekend.. thx for the feedback

 

If you remove it and take it to a shop to have it bead blasted, you can have it looking new again quick.
No worries at all if you prefer to just sand and paint.

 

Seeing your intake makes me think of two things:

1. If the intake looks that bad, what other decay do you have?
2. Dang I'm glad I live in the southwest.

 

yea.. road salt sucks.. im fighting a never ending battle with rust, my truck has seen $4000+ in body work in the past 3 years ($3500 from the previous owner)

its never been rust guarded, and i really need to get down there and get it done, better late then never, eh?

 

NAPA has an aluminum cleaner called White Light'n that works good. It is acid based so you will have to rinse well and I always spray with vinegar to kill any residue!!