Intake Manifold "ECI Multi" area looks ugly

[4gfun]

Every time I clean my engine bay, I can clean up the intake manifold pretty well with simple green.

The only area that does not want to seem to clean up is the ECI Multi area that is silver with a black surround.

I haven't figured out what that is about but I suspect that the black paint in that area just wears down.

I have the intake manifold off on one of my cars and want to clean it up but suspect that area will look like crap when I am done.

What do you all do to make that area look nice?

I'd like a few options.

Paint the intake manifold all black maybe?

Just paint that area black?

Not dogging this intake manifold, I just did a search in google images and found it on this site. It is a reasonably accurate example of what I am talking about:

http://www.mirage-performance.com/sonata/Painting/intakemanifold001.jpg

Thanks

 

[BurrowZ]

If you paint the whole manifold, you can take a sanding block with ~600 grit or possibly coarser if need be and sand down the area, moving up in grit as you go for a polished look. If you just want that area to be cleaner looking, tape it off and do as I said above.

 

[synthetek]

You could have it media blasted and it will look like new, or have it powder coated.

 

[4gfun]

Well I have a soda blaster. It is not cost effective for an area that large unless it were my valve cover....but just for that area it would be no big deal to just paint over I'd guess.

 

[NeverEndingProject]

you could have the ECI MULTI part on the intake manifold shaved off along with the lines on it to make it look real clean

 

[4gfun]

you could have the ECI MULTI part on the intake manifold shaved off along with the lines on it to make it look real clean

I'd love to, but would like to keep this a DIY job.

 

[Lazyboy]

I took my intake manifold off, cleaned it with degreaser, and painted the whole thing black. Then i sanded the eci multi letters so the stood out and it looked like it came that way from the factory.

 

[StarFawkes]

Detective Coating.

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[Turbogsxr1100]

That intake looks nice did you powder coat it yourself?

 

[synthetek]

That intake looks nice did you powder coat it yourself?

It says right above the picture where it was done

 

[TaLN91tsI]

Nice looking intake!

 

[98PaprikaAWD]

I had mine powder coated too. I added a little Paprika to the mix for the final touch.

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[Blurred Talon]

If you paint the whole manifold, you can take a sanding block with ~600 grit or possibly coarser if need be and sand down the area, moving up in grit as you go for a polished look. If you just want that area to be cleaner looking, tape it off and do as I said above.

If you want to polish it you need to start with 220 and work up. Although with something sand casted like the manifold, you might have to start with a lower grit to work out all the casting marks and then step it up, 120,220,320,400,600 and then polish with your compounds and wheels. When you get to 220 grit you should wet sand.
Polishing is a lot of work.

You could also sand the ECI Multi badge off.

 

[98PaprikaAWD]

Wow that looks really good :thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks Man!!!

I realized after I uploaded the last pic the valve cover isn't clear-coated yet.

 

[DSMFalcon1]

I used to run a stone over it and it would stay nice and shiny. I ended up painting over it and not caring after a while.