when i got my greddy twin turbo kit used the intercooler came painted black, i was wondering what the best way to get rid of the paint is?? thanks

 

or would painting over it be a good idea?? my shop told me painting over it would affect the airflow.. so i was hoping i can get rid of the paint somehow, but i am not sure what kind of paint they used to paint it.. thanks

 

Are you sure it is regular paint or maybe it's anodized black. Painting over it with regular paint will have negative effects the cooling but there are benefits to anodizing an intercooler black is usually the end color. I'm not sure of how you would get the regular paint off

 

??I've never seen a Greddy intercooler in black.All I've seen have been "alluminum"/silver.
If its black,I'd think it would annodized.Your shop is right that painting over it would hurt your cooling.
If it is annodized,it is possible to remove the annodizing with a process involving oven cleaner(I sure would'nt want to do it).You can clean& buff the surface to a natural metal finish.
Just wonderin,why do you want to paint it?What color?

 

pics please

 

you can remove anodizing with heavy duty easy off (oven cleaner) or aircraft stripper. just be sure to work in a ventilated area cause that stuff is pretty nasty. oh yeah, and don't leave it on the surface you're cleaning for more than 10 minutes before rinsing it off.

 

I reread your post.Did you mean you bought the intercooler USED?
Then,the guy you bought it from painted it...right?If thats accurate,
depending on the paint,paint remover and some labor with steel wool to
polish it up will work.Its off the car,right?

 

lol, that aircraft stripper stuff will burn the hell outta you if you're not careful

 

ya.. lol he painted it black.. not me.. i just want it back to the original color.

 

Try sand blasting with the plastic pellets they use which wont damage the aluminum.

 

Yeah, take it some place that is a pro with media blasting. They can use baking soda which will strip off the finish but not take any metal with it. It is so gentle you can blast the finish off a soda can.

 

I would stay away from any sort of blasting. The air pressure alone will bend the fins, and then you are up the creek.

It should be removed with chemicals, as mentioned already.

 

Or just leave it.. Stealth rules!

 

Actually there's been no research/proof that painting an intercooler will reduce efficiency as far as I know.

I'd leave it black, but soda blasting is an option. Brake fluid removes paint, but then you'd have to figure out how to get the bake fluid cleaned up and what to do with all the brake fluid after the fact.

 

^esp if they did it properly and used Eastwood radiator paint.

 

Raw unfinished aluminum will oxidize quickly. It will get a powder-like white coating. Unprotected aluminum actually loses some of its strength over time.
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Most all aluminum trim and wheel finishes have a clear coat or paint or annodized finish. This protects the raw aluminum from oxidizing.
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I do not know what to advise you on removing the black paint, other than to tell you to be very careful. You may end up with something worse than what you have already.

 

i talked to a shop that does thermal coating, they say that can sand blast it which they claim to be very safe.. but i wanted to chrome out my intercooler after that.. has anyone done that before?? The new greddy intercoolers come in a polished chrome color i believe.. i think that looks sick...