So with the engine I bought came a holley contender intake that I found out is a pretty good intake so I want to keep it. Its in good shape but I want to clean all of the carbon buildup out of the inside of it. The machine shop down the road said they wouldn't hot tank it because its aluminum. I heard that glass blasting is a pain and jet spray doesn't get all the carbon off. How should I go about cleaning this?

 

B12 spray can and rags

 

Do you have a power washer ? If you do try this,go to the parts store and buy some etching aluminum wheel cleaner,it is a mild acid. Get enough to submerge the part,let it soak for a few minutes then power wash it,repeat if needed. I have a place by me called DW DAVIES they sell a wide array of chemicals,they even have DW 40 not WD 40 but any way I bought their wheel cleaner and it is called wheel bright it was about $10 a gal. I submerged my brake calipers and an enderlie fuel injection manifold for a 426 hemi in this acid. After a few minutes you could see black stuff only in the low spots of the textured surfaces and I couldn't get it off. My buddy said POWER WASH IT ! So I tried that and WOW like brand spankin new. Again this stuff is acid you must wash very well to remove all the acid or it will keep eating the aluminum. My brake calipers were dirty,painted,caked with brake dust,just plain nasty,your typical used calipers. now they are like new.

 

Some results.

 

Carb and choke cleaner will get the big stuff cleaned out fast. then you can pressure wash it. whan all the oil is off you can use muratic acid from any big warehouse type lumberyard. be VERY careful with that stuff. thick rubber gloves and eye protection is a must. put some in a squirt bottle and spray your intake a lil let sit and rinse.
itll look nice an brite if done properly..

 

you might try aircraft cleaner.