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I'm borrowing a friends garage to install my LUV's offy and headers, and we just ended up doing all sorts of necessary work to it. I didn't want to dirty up my intake, so I decided I'd get an engine gasket set and replace all my gaskets, since who really knows where all that grime comes from.

Anyway, one of the guys who lives here works at a Porche Performance shop! While working on my engine he offered to take a few parts and work on sandblasting/cleaning them up during his lunch breaks. Today, I got the front cover back, and I am totally sold! He is still going to do my valve cover and oil pan. I went to the auto-parts store to get some engine paint, and I painted it today, All I have to say is WOW! I never thought a part could be so clean!

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-1979 LUV 4x4

all I can say is WOW too!!! The part looks great. I wish I could do some sandblasting to my A-Arms. A friend of mine has his front suspension for his '64 pontiac sandblasted and powdercoated black and it looks nice.

what ever you do dont sandblast internal engine parts or intakes.

the sand will embed itself in the pores of the metal and during the heating and cooling cycles of running then the sand falls out, and is either breathed in by the engine or it enters the oil stream ...........either way it spells death for an engine.

same goes for rears, trannys, transfer cases...etc.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

thanks for the advice. I did not know that.

I would think he is bead blasting. A Porsche guy should know that. Too much aluminum on Porsche engines.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

yup...sand blasting aluminum!!!

Its probably bead blasting or soda blasting or something

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I'll ask him today. All he is sandblasting of mine is the oil pan, front cover, and valve cover, and he is only sandblasting the outsides, not the insides, then he cleans them up good and brings them back for me to paint up.

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-1979 LUV 4x4

boil the part if your in doubt as to its cleanlyness. Boiling or Vatting will alow the metal to expand and contract letting the media out.

If sensitive or critical parts (internal engine or machined area) are to be blasted - then use Walnut Shells. There soft enough to break down during blasting and wont harm other parts if media isnt entirely removed.

Cheers!

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

Are the walnut shells strong enough to get the parts clean? Also what would be the best for blasting body parts?

There is a plastic media... It's supposed to look like little balls. Some people feel you should not blast body parts. I have seen box trailers and horse trailers warped so bad, all you could do is replace the parts. I think it all boils down to the person doing the blasting.

Sanding, paint removers, dippings in vats of strippers all work. Some are inexpensive, others cost $$$$ bucks

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

Walnut media I hear is good for body parts too. Still comes back to the guy blasting.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.