The Ford Barn

rhphotord · 06-05-2015, 10:27 AM

Picked up this old Edmunds twin carb manifold for my AV8 build. Got the "brilliant" idea that I'd polish it up. Shouldn't take long...laughing now!
Well I have in the area of 10 hours into this bugger and it's as polished as it going to get by me. I looked like I worked in a coal mine circa 1920 when done. Had more black residue on me than the floor! Safety glasses,respirator and all. Had to scrub down in the garage before the wife would let me in the house. Seems I have history of ruining her good bath towels...make great polish rags I might add!
Started with emory paper,flap wheels,scotch bright pads,400 grit paper and power buffed it with rouge. Add lots of fine detail work by hand. Finally polished and buffed using Aluminum mag polish.
Man are there a lot of small crevices and holes that are tough top get to. My fingers ache and after all this work I know it will oxidize again....still laughing!
Can't wait to get the manifold and Edelbrock heads on the motor. Car guys must be nuts!

Vic Piano · 06-05-2015, 10:36 AM

Yes, we are nuts...

and, that looks very cool

JSeery · 06-05-2015, 10:42 AM

Nice!

Henry/Kokomo · 06-05-2015, 10:43 AM

You say "must be nuts!" like its a BAD thing!!!! Couldn't agree more. Really nice looking manifold.

CT AV8 · 06-05-2015, 10:45 AM

Very nice! Thanks for posting. Metal polishing is truly an art.

Tim Ayers · 06-05-2015, 10:46 AM

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Love it. Those old Edmunds intake are certainly cool looking. Good news is they came polished from the factory. Imagine what it would have taken if it was just a plain cast one!

rhphotord · 06-05-2015, 11:17 AM

If it had been cast as suggested I'd have painted it! Well maybe sent it out to be done.

FL&WVMIKE · 06-05-2015, 11:31 AM

That really looks nice !
I know how much hard work that you have put into that thing. It is very frustrating work.
It is an early one, being made for the early V8 engines, which take the higher generator mount.
MIKE (mikeburch)

Fredb_ · 06-05-2015, 11:33 AM

Nicely done!

Gumpy · 06-05-2015, 11:49 AM

very nice!

ford38v8 · 06-05-2015, 12:10 PM

It's more fun when you do it because you just want to.
Just think, it you had a Continental, it would be required labor!

Eckler's · 06-05-2015, 12:50 PM

Dang! that's awesome work

firerod · 06-05-2015, 12:59 PM

Good job, it looks nice.

B-O-B · 06-05-2015, 01:26 PM

Looks great but isn't there a spot you missed? Casting looks a bit rough back by the fuel pump curved area . I can't remember the name right now but there is a vendor that sells a sealer for polished aluminum. you try a google search.

B-O-B · 06-05-2015, 01:32 PM

I thought it might be Zoops seal & see where they closed their doors. I did run across ShineSeal.com but have no more info on them . You might want to check out their site.

dean333 · 06-05-2015, 02:47 PM

Spray a coat of CLEAR engine temp rated paint, it will protect it without looking painted. I did on my stock 36 3 yrs ago still looks clean.

roadster36 · 06-05-2015, 03:56 PM

When I was in my teens and early 20's I purchased my first house with money earned by doing polishing on the side. Wheels, intakes, blowers, rhino cases,etc. It was a lot of work, I also looked like I worked in a coal mine. It was worth the effort but now I have arthritis in my hands so maybe not so much.

Planojc · 06-05-2015, 04:45 PM

It will put a smile on your face every time you pop the hood.

47Merc · 06-05-2015, 08:23 PM

Looks great. Now that you are experienced I supposed you'll be doing the two carbs as well. LOL

rhphotord · 06-05-2015, 10:52 PM

Yes there are a few rough casting spots remaining but I'll call them character marks. Polish the carbs...you kidding right? Mmm... would look pretty cool though!
Manifold is going on my newly rebuilt flathead, circa 1942 along with a set of Block letter Edelbrock heads. All will end up in my 1930 roadster traditional build.
As a side note I was planning on polishing the heads as well until I looked at the deep ridges between the fins. Might be a good job when the snow falls. Going to polish the fin tops only for now.

06-05-2015, 10:36 AM	#2
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Polished this old manifold Yes, we are nuts... and, that looks very cool __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-05-2015, 10:42 AM	#3
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Polished this old manifold Nice!

06-05-2015, 10:43 AM	#4
Henry/Kokomo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kokomo, Indiana Posts: 1,731	Re: Polished this old manifold You say "must be nuts!" like its a BAD thing!!!! Couldn't agree more. Really nice looking manifold. __________________ Henry

06-05-2015, 10:45 AM	#5
CT AV8 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cos Cob, CT Posts: 295	Re: Polished this old manifold Very nice! Thanks for posting. Metal polishing is truly an art.

06-05-2015, 10:46 AM	#6
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: Polished this old manifold Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Love it. Those old Edmunds intake are certainly cool looking. Good news is they came polished from the factory. Imagine what it would have taken if it was just a plain cast one!

06-05-2015, 11:17 AM	#7
rhphotord Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Salem, Wi. Posts: 281	Re: Polished this old manifold If it had been cast as suggested I'd have painted it! Well maybe sent it out to be done.

06-05-2015, 11:31 AM	#8
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: Polished this old manifold That really looks nice ! I know how much hard work that you have put into that thing. It is very frustrating work. It is an early one, being made for the early V8 engines, which take the higher generator mount. MIKE (mikeburch)

06-05-2015, 11:33 AM	#9
Fredb_ Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Coos Bay, OR Posts: 640	Re: Polished this old manifold Nicely done!

06-05-2015, 11:49 AM	#10
Gumpy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sf bay area Posts: 1,464	Re: Polished this old manifold *very nice!* __________________ "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in Charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about". Quote by Henry Ford

06-05-2015, 12:10 PM	#11
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,635	Re: Polished this old manifold It's more fun when you do it because you just want to. Just think, it you had a Continental, it would be required labor! __________________ Alan

06-05-2015, 12:50 PM	#12
Eckler's Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 132	Re: Polished this old manifold Dang! that's awesome work __________________ MACSAUTOPARTS.COM Email me direct at [email protected]

06-05-2015, 12:59 PM	#13
firerod Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 413	Re: Polished this old manifold Good job, it looks nice.

06-05-2015, 01:26 PM	#14
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: Polished this old manifold Looks great but isn't there a spot you missed? Casting looks a bit rough back by the fuel pump curved area . I can't remember the name right now but there is a vendor that sells a sealer for polished aluminum. you try a google search.

06-05-2015, 01:32 PM	#15
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: Polished this old manifold I thought it might be Zoops seal & see where they closed their doors. I did run across ShineSeal.com but have no more info on them . You might want to check out their site.

06-05-2015, 02:47 PM	#16
dean333 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Shorewood Illinois Posts: 860	Re: Polished this old manifold Spray a coat of CLEAR engine temp rated paint, it will protect it without looking painted. I did on my stock 36 3 yrs ago still looks clean. __________________ Tim Carlig

06-05-2015, 03:56 PM	#17
roadster36 BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sonoma,Calif. Posts: 877	Re: Polished this old manifold When I was in my teens and early 20's I purchased my first house with money earned by doing polishing on the side. Wheels, intakes, blowers, rhino cases,etc. It was a lot of work, I also looked like I worked in a coal mine. It was worth the effort but now I have arthritis in my hands so maybe not so much.

06-05-2015, 04:45 PM	#18
Planojc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 840	Re: Polished this old manifold It will put a smile on your face every time you pop the hood.

06-05-2015, 08:23 PM	#19
47Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 362	Re: Polished this old manifold Looks great. Now that you are experienced I supposed you'll be doing the two carbs as well. LOL

06-05-2015, 10:52 PM	#20
rhphotord Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Salem, Wi. Posts: 281	Re: Polished this old manifold Yes there are a few rough casting spots remaining but I'll call them character marks. Polish the carbs...you kidding right? Mmm... would look pretty cool though! Manifold is going on my newly rebuilt flathead, circa 1942 along with a set of Block letter Edelbrock heads. All will end up in my 1930 roadster traditional build. As a side note I was planning on polishing the heads as well until I looked at the deep ridges between the fins. Might be a good job when the snow falls. Going to polish the fin tops only for now.