What do I use?
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,850
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From: Winston salem, NC
Car: 1987 1SICIROC.....1999 TransAm
Engine: 385 HSR.....LS1
Transmission: 700R4 with Midwest 3400 2.4str...M6
Axle/Gears: SLP Zexel Posi unit 3.42's...3.73's
What do I use?
Im about to take apart my Plenum, runners and intake to replace the gaskets. Onc they are removed what do I use to clean all the carbon out from inside all pieces?
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wishmister@yahoo.com
1987 White IROC-Z
305 TPI LB9
700-R4 auto tranny
87,000 miles
Very Clean car
Performance Resource Chip
Flowmaster Muffler
Throttle Body Coolant bypass
TPIP air Foil
K&N's
Gutted air box
Accel 8.0 plug wires
Moroso Super Coil
Blue Streak Cap and Rotor
AC Delco Rapidfire plugs
Mobil 1 15/50 Synthetic motor oil
Mobil 1 synthetic Trans fluid.
------------------
wishmister@yahoo.com
1987 White IROC-Z
305 TPI LB9
700-R4 auto tranny
87,000 miles
Very Clean car
Performance Resource Chip
Flowmaster Muffler
Throttle Body Coolant bypass
TPIP air Foil
K&N's
Gutted air box
Accel 8.0 plug wires
Moroso Super Coil
Blue Streak Cap and Rotor
AC Delco Rapidfire plugs
Mobil 1 15/50 Synthetic motor oil
Mobil 1 synthetic Trans fluid.
Supreme Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 1
From: Reno, NV
Car: yep
Engine: uhuh
Transmission: sure does
Simple green...?
Carb Cleaner...?
Just about any degreaser will work.
I've heard that oven cleaner works REAL good but I don't know what it will do to aluminum (as far as staining)
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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech
1999 NBM Trans Am, flowmaster,FRA,Pro Kit,BMR STB, polished calipers.
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up,flowmasters,4.10s,
1981 corvette FOR SALE
1995 ZX6R,Yosh,D207s
GO #3
Carb Cleaner...?
Just about any degreaser will work.
I've heard that oven cleaner works REAL good but I don't know what it will do to aluminum (as far as staining)
------------------
ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech
1999 NBM Trans Am, flowmaster,FRA,Pro Kit,BMR STB, polished calipers.
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up,flowmasters,4.10s,
1981 corvette FOR SALE
1995 ZX6R,Yosh,D207s
GO #3
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,668
Likes: 314
Wish,
The buildup inside the plenum and runners is not carbon - it's varnish and gum from evaporating fuel and dirt. It really isn't an impediment to flow, unless you have a very unusual circumstance. The first time I ported a plenum, matched runners, and intake base, I cleaned everything thoroughly. I tried carb claner, solvents, soaps, mild caustics, and gasoline. I finally had the best success with a home-made fly tool in the die grinder. In the split in the tool I could wedge Scotch-Brite pads to scour the inside of every crevice and tube. After a thorough polishing and reassembly, I was satisfied with myself. A few thousand miles later (the next season) the plenum came off again to service the injectors. The buildup was already forming again, and I was beginning to realize what was happening. This time I had found butyl-cellusolve cleaner that removed the deposits very easily after a thorough soaking. The same thing happened the following season (another 3,000 miles) and I fully understood what was happening. I don't waste my time cleaning the deposis any more, other than to soak/flush with the butyl cleaner to be able to see inside well enough to contour the ports if necessary. You can clean everything if you want, but it will look the same next year, and won't cause any performance problems.
While the parts are disassembled, wouldn't this be a good time to clean up the ports behind the throttle body and match the runner tube openings? Just a thought. It might also be worth considering installing a remote MAT sensor, since the wiring is now more accessible.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
The buildup inside the plenum and runners is not carbon - it's varnish and gum from evaporating fuel and dirt. It really isn't an impediment to flow, unless you have a very unusual circumstance. The first time I ported a plenum, matched runners, and intake base, I cleaned everything thoroughly. I tried carb claner, solvents, soaps, mild caustics, and gasoline. I finally had the best success with a home-made fly tool in the die grinder. In the split in the tool I could wedge Scotch-Brite pads to scour the inside of every crevice and tube. After a thorough polishing and reassembly, I was satisfied with myself. A few thousand miles later (the next season) the plenum came off again to service the injectors. The buildup was already forming again, and I was beginning to realize what was happening. This time I had found butyl-cellusolve cleaner that removed the deposits very easily after a thorough soaking. The same thing happened the following season (another 3,000 miles) and I fully understood what was happening. I don't waste my time cleaning the deposis any more, other than to soak/flush with the butyl cleaner to be able to see inside well enough to contour the ports if necessary. You can clean everything if you want, but it will look the same next year, and won't cause any performance problems.
While the parts are disassembled, wouldn't this be a good time to clean up the ports behind the throttle body and match the runner tube openings? Just a thought. It might also be worth considering installing a remote MAT sensor, since the wiring is now more accessible.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0