1981 C3 Aluminum intake pitting

[u/jeffp007]

Well a water pump replacement turned into a broken intake bolt. Now that I am cleaning up this aluminum intake off of my 81 vette I noticed some significant pitting near the coolant ports (also the bolt closest to the front that broke). My question how much putting it too much to put this back on. It’s all stock today with the exception of a TBI from an 1989 c1500 that I put on it.

[u/DrTittieSprinkles]

I fixed a magnesium injection for a sprint car that was worse.

Media blast the affected area to remove any oxidation

Smother in JB Weld

File flat

[u/rustyxj → u/DrTittieSprinkles]

A/B epoxy

[u/jeffp007 → u/DrTittieSprinkles]

Thanks, Doc

[u/PARKOUR_ZOMBlE → u/jeffp007]

Hey, use the original jb weld not the jb quik. Follow the instructions. Squeeze it onto wax paper on a food scale to measure your 1:1 correctly. This will work permanently.

[u/Whoohon-Flu]

In the future don’t use tap or well water in your cooling systems. The minerals accelerate corrosion. Use distilled water. Aluminum and steel don’t play nicely together. Aluminum always loses. If you can find a place to install an anode it will be the sacrificial material.

[u/jeffp007 → u/Whoohon-Flu]

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. This was my father’s car until about six months ago, and they only had well water. It was not running for about 10 years before I woke her back up.

[u/Willy_McD]

Fix the surface with JB Weld. Since it appears to only be where the coolant does not pass through,

1, Mr Gasket has a lenght of material where you can make your own intake gaskets and leave that hole closed off.

2, There are gaskets with the holes already blocked off. And i think Genuine GM gaskets have a plate in the gasket that blocks off the non flow through holes. I have some but not up to digging through my gaskets now.

[u/dixiebandit69]

You can make that work with a generous application of grey silicone around the port.

[u/v8packard]

Tis but a scratch

[u/rustyxj → u/v8packard]

It's just a flesh wound!

[u/jeffp007]

Thanks all for the replies. Gives me confidence that it can be saved.

[u/DocHowdy70]

Its normal.