Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

5ABI VT · 11-17-2014

Ok so I just took my plenum to the bathtub and have been using a long bristle dishwashing bottle cleaning brush to get the runners .. And after an hour I'm still seeing minuscule bits of aluminum floating in the water :/ I didn't use soap and I will.. And I'm thinking to go to a coin op now to pressure the inside rear of the plenum to move any aluminum that may be settled there. Any other ideas ? I just want to be sure the plenum is clean before I put it together .

Tia!

XfireZ51 · 11-17-2014

Power washer

Paul Workman · 11-18-2014

Mike 100's avatar shows his solution...put it in the dishwasher!!

I'd use Simple Green (or the like) to get the oil/goo holding the chips into suspension first. Then head to the local car wash while it soaks and hit it with the pressure washer (or dishwasher if the little woman will allow?

)

5ABI VT · 11-18-2014

Thanks guys !! I did just that I mixed a strong solution of dawn with water and sprayed it in the plenum and IHs on the way to the wash. I sprayed again when I got there and brushed inside. Then soap spray and rinsed at the wash. With my fingers I was getting no silvery residue when I got home and dried so I'm happy now.

All done

Wife was wondering why the temp was up this morning

QB93Z · 11-18-2014

Nice pictures. LT5 porn. Ya gotta love a naked plenum!

Jim

A26B · 11-18-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by QB93Z

Nice pictures. LT5 porn. Ya gotta love a naked plenum!

Jim

I'm admiring his plenum de-humidifier in use during the photo.. Very resourceful.

mike100 · 11-18-2014

pressure washed with simple green outdoors and then a final steam clean in the dishwasher to melt out any oil and aluminum bits I couldn't reach.

Locobob · 11-18-2014

In my experience using a dishwasher is effective but has a high likelihood of damaging the original painted finish - if the exterior finish is a concern I'd avoid this method.

5ABI VT · 11-18-2014

That was one concern about the dishwasher but the others were that I wasn't sure if any of the water would get sprayed inside the runners as inside was my priority. The outside didn't need any cleaning it was well taped up. Not to mention I've never used a dishwasher before :/ so I really don't know how well it would work.

5ABI VT · 11-18-2014

I didn't want to make another post but.. Any reccomendations on thermal paste for the bottom of the plenum ? If I remember right.. CPU paste ?

11-17-2014	#1
5ABI VT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto Posts: 782	Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! Ok so I just took my plenum to the bathtub and have been using a long bristle dishwashing bottle cleaning brush to get the runners .. And after an hour I'm still seeing minuscule bits of aluminum floating in the water :/ I didn't use soap and I will.. And I'm thinking to go to a coin op now to pressure the inside rear of the plenum to move any aluminum that may be settled there. Any other ideas ? I just want to be sure the plenum is clean before I put it together . Tia! Last edited by 5ABI VT; 11-17-2014 at 10:45 PM.

11-17-2014	#2
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,669	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! Power washer __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Former Membership Chairman Former ZR-1 Registry - BOD 1972 Corvette 4speed base Coupe SOLD long time ago 1984 Corvette Z-51/4+3 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Aqua/Gray #474 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Black Rose/Cognac #458 2014 Honda VFR Interceptor DX

11-18-2014	#3
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,493	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! Mike 100's avatar shows his solution...put it in the dishwasher!! I'd use Simple Green (or the like) to get the oil/goo holding the chips into suspension first. Then head to the local car wash while it soaks and hit it with the pressure washer (or dishwasher if the little woman will allow?) __________________ Good carz, good food, good friendz = the best of timez! 90 #1202 "FBI" top end ported & relieved Cam timing by "Pete the Greek" Sans secondaries Chip & dyno tuning by Haibeck Automotive SW headers, X-pipe, MF muffs Former Secretary, ZR-1 Net Registry

11-18-2014	#4
5ABI VT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Toronto Posts: 782	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! Thanks guys !! I did just that I mixed a strong solution of dawn with water and sprayed it in the plenum and IHs on the way to the wash. I sprayed again when I got there and brushed inside. Then soap spray and rinsed at the wash. With my fingers I was getting no silvery residue when I got home and dried so I'm happy now. All done Wife was wondering why the temp was up this morning

11-18-2014	#5
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,687	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! Nice pictures. LT5 porn. Ya gotta love a naked plenum! Jim __________________ If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right! 1990 Black ZR-1 - sold 1993 Quasar Blue ZR-1 1994 Competition Yellow ZR-1 1995 Dark Purple ZR-1 Maryland State Coordinator WAZOO Member

11-18-2014	#7
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! pressure washed with simple green outdoors and then a final steam clean in the dishwasher to melt out any oil and aluminum bits I couldn't reach.

11-18-2014	#8
Locobob Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,057	Re: Cleaning a plenum after porting ?? Looking for some ideas ! In my experience using a dishwasher is effective but has a high likelihood of damaging the original painted finish - if the exterior finish is a concern I'd avoid this method. __________________ Robert ZR-1 Net Registry Oregon State Director 91 ZR-1 #431 Black/Black LPE 368