Restoring a Ram Air Cleaner

What's the best way to restore the fiberglass/plastic components of a ram air cleaner? Mine has some very light scratches (no gouges) and lots of grime, etc. Someone told me that they bead blast the fiberglass parts. Has anyone here tried this?

Thanks,
Donny

 

I`ve bead blasted some plastic before and it`s never hurt it.I use the glass beads.Try it out on the inside and be sure you like the results and then do the outside.

 

Yep, Jarrod will fix you right up. He did a fantastic job on my parts.

:TU:

 

Brett, after reading your past threads and trials, YOU sound like you have the ideal experience to tackle this job! Maybe you should offer your personal expertise! :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

Thanks Brett. I read the thread, nice job on yours. I appreciate the lead on Jarrod, but I want to do my air cleaner myself. I just wanted to see what procedure folks have had success with on the fibereglass parts. Mine are in good shape with just some light scratches. Not sure of the best way to remove the scratches and prep the parts.

 

i glassbeaded mine,use a fine glassbead,turn the air pressure down & dont overdo it or it WILL gouge the plastic.

 

Thanks. Any suggestion on the PSI to use?

 

50-60 MAX,its degreased first,all your doing is preping for paint at that point:TU:

 

Did you actually paint your fiberglass or just clear coat it?

 

honestly...i forget:error: its packed in a box awaiting the cars completionp

 

Seems like you guys are talking about two different things. The fiberglass parts do not get painted.

I buffed one of my underhood seal plates last summer, and it looks like new. Nice and shiny. I'll be doing the rest of the fiberglass parts soon.

I see no reason to resort to bead blasting unless you need to remove something that a buffer won't (ie. old paint).

 

I have restored a few 69-71 Ram Air cleaners. The metal parts clean up with sand / bead blasting, prime and paint. The fiberglass parts clean up in a dish washer, or if a previous owner painted them, a brillo pad and soapy water usually takes the remaining paint off. I had one that was stubborn paint and paint stripper worked. Another usual item requiring attention are the screw holes are stripped in the fiberglass parts. That repair an be acomplished using a fierglass repair mixture carefully filling the stripped hole(s). When hard, redrill accordingly for the correct self tapping screws to be re-installed. Buff the fiberglass parts when cleaned up and that's that.

Good luck!

 

When you say buff the fiberglass parts, do you mean by hand or a mechanical buffer? what about a small buffer wheel on a dremel?
do you use any kind of paste or compound?

Thanks

 

You can this thread out too if you want. In regards to the snorkels, I hand sanded them with a red scotchbrite pad (medium) and cleaned them off with 3M plastic cleaner to prep. I them then cleared them with a satin clear coat. They have held up great for 2 years. Do not use any kind of power sander!

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=64454

 

Ya, Brent, you are an idiot...NOT. I remember someone telling about my GS on Ebay. Hmmm, I wonder who that was? o No: Thanks again brother.:3gears:

 

I used a buffing wheel on my bench grinder. It took very little effort and I used very little compound on the pad. If you are starting with a new pad, you'll want to use some, but if your pad a well "seasoned" you probably won't need any.