Author Topic: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance  (Read 4149 times)

TJMart

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #25 on: December 21, 2022, 15:01:15 »
My 69 280SE 111 after lots of cleaning(oven cleaner works great on the cast aluminum), spray painting gold cad and replacing the plastic parts. Before and after photos.

Can you give some instructions on how you used oven cleaner on the cast aluminum? Your intake manifold looks great!

Tony
Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed

mdsalemi

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #26 on: December 22, 2022, 15:19:58 »
Can you give some instructions on how you used oven cleaner on the cast aluminum? Your intake manifold looks great!

Tony

Hi TJ—Sam’s Club sells a gallon of concentrated degreaser, similar to ZEP Purple. That does a good job too. There’s also a variety of wheel cleaners you can get at local auto parts stores. Pay attention; you want the kind that says “Do not use on aluminum”—that’s the kind that will work the surface and get it really clean. “HotRims” is one. You can also search online for “aluminum brighteners” as they are really the best. They work pretty fast…

The oven cleaner, and the degreasers, are caustic with a high pH. The aluminum brighteners  and the wheel cleaners are acidic with a low pH. So they both work in different ways, but achieve the same goal.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
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2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

TJMart

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #27 on: December 22, 2022, 21:42:23 »
Hey Michael!

Thanks for that info! Mine is not real bad but I had my Valve cover vapor blasted and now the intake manifold needs some sprucing up!

Hope all is well.

Tony
Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed

rwmastel

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #28 on: December 22, 2022, 21:46:11 »
Why not use the same treatment on the intake manifold?
Rodd

Did you search the forum before asking?
2017 C43 AMG
2006 Wrangler Rubicon
1980 450SL
1966 230SL

TJMart

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #29 on: December 23, 2022, 14:57:31 »
Do not want to remove the manifold just some minor cleaning.

Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed

BOTIGER1970

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #30 on: December 23, 2022, 19:07:35 »
Tony,
Curious where you had the vapor blast done and how expensive was it to have it done?  Are you satisfied with the results?
Happy holidays,
Mark

TJMart

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #31 on: December 31, 2022, 17:07:54 »
Hello Mark,

I had LMS Blasting Innovations in Gastonia do it about a year and a half ago. Patrick is a motorcycle guy but is one of the few that I could find near me that was reasonable. He charged me $75 and I was pleased with his work. He does have his own hours. My valve cover looked pretty bad but came out looking real good. I don't have his number must have lost it.

Hope all is well.

Tony 
Tony
1970 280SL, 4 Speed

mdsalemi

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Re: Under the hood (bonnet) appearance
« Reply #32 on: December 31, 2022, 17:16:20 »
I had LMS Blasting Innovations in Gastonia do it about a year and a half ago. Patrick is a motorcycle guy but is one of the few that I could find near me that was reasonable. He charged me $75 and I was pleased with his work. He does have his own hours. My valve cover looked pretty bad but came out looking real good. I don't have his number must have lost it.

https://lmsblastinginnovations.com
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid