Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Napa cleans intake?

i have been looking to buy a SVT Contour since the demise of my focus and i came across one for sale. the owner said that the upper intake is no longer black because napa cleaned it and the way they do it removes the paint....anyone know about this?....i dont think the guy is lying but i have searched and searched this website and cant come up with any answers...thanks a bunch...i will include a pic of the intake

The SVT intake is powdercoated black.. not painted..

If the intake is a gray, flat metal color then it is a stock intake of a standard duratec. (would be rough in texture, too..)


There is a chance that it was powdercoated, but the odds that a guy had someone powdercoat it and doesn't know the term, and the odds that it could have been done at NAPA, are NILL, NONE, ZERO, and ZILCH..


Ray

It sounds fishy, but it is possible. Does it look like it has been stripped down to bare metal or does it look like it has a silver paint type finish?

Some metal cleaning processes will strip paint (even powder coat). If the NAPA store has hot tanking services, especially if they have a machine shop, it is possible that it got tanked to clean and the paint removed. If so, it would have a plain aluminum finish, not a paint like finish.

If the silver finish looks like it has a paint treatment it sure seems less likely that it is an SVT intake. The best way to see is to look at the inside of the intake through the throttle body. You may have to clean it a bit to tell. The SVT manifold will look highly polished when clean, and the non SVT intake will have a more pebble like casting finish.

I would say that it is very likely that this is not an SVT engine. They blew an engine and found a non SVT engine to replace it. It truly is fishy.

looks to me like bare aluminum... here is what he says in his ad..."For those who know about these cars, the upper intake manifold is no longer black because it was taken to be cleaned at napa and the solution took of the paint. I also still have the engine cover and will instal before selling."


and here is what he says in an email to me explaining it...
"The upper intake manifold gradually developes carbon
deposits and restrics airflow and hurts gas mileage. I am extremely
anal about how the engine runs so i decided ti get it cleaned. When
they put the peice in the tank, the paint was removed due to the heat
and chemicals. The part was NOT damaged in the process. I then replaced
the lower intake manifold becasue the deposits were to hard to clean so
I just bought a new one. To make this clear, the engine was never
running bad or was never damaged. This happens to ALL contours and
mechanics suggest this type of maitnance"



would either of you guys like to scrutinise the rest of the photos he sent me?...i would really appreciate it....I dont want to drive 7 hours only to find it is just a regular v6 sedan...thanks guys

Perhaps he didn't have the lower cleaned in that manner...


Though I do agree that he should be ale to provide the LIM receipt, or cleaning receipt.

Without VERIFYING the status of the interior of the UIM, I wouldn't buy the car.


Ray

oh man....this is starting to bum me out.....ok well...i think i will ask him for reciept of the cleaning and for the lower intake manifold....thanks so much for your help guys....

Thats a tough call...Look how smooth the UIM is, It sure doesnt liik like a SE to me....But I'm no expert.

Have it extrude hones just to be safe.....I know a guy selling a gift Certificate!!!

First of all, those pictures are very evident that the intake manifold is bare aluminum. Second, SOME NAPAS DO ENGINE DIPPING. What he's talking about is they dipped it in a solution that breaks down all the grime. It is a strong solvent, and most solvents of its kind have stripping agents, and would have removed the powdercoat without a doubt.

However, it may be a stripped SE intake. I can't tell that for sure. Just giving some input. I'm an engine builder and a powdercoater. Take that for what it's worth.

-Charlie