I'm using an old work-bench parts washer that I found a yard sale a couple summers ago for a buck (brand new in the box). Knowing what I know today and with acid as the wash media I'd prefer to use a plastic bucket. The size you need to get is 14"Lx12"Wx10"D. Theses sizes are MINIMUMS, you can go longer/wider/deeper but for an intake manifold it needs to be AT LEAST these dimensions. If you go too much larger you're going to need to add more cleaner/degreaser or dilute the cleaner you choose which will take longer for it to do it's job.

Note: I'm not using the electric pump in my parts washer due to the acid I'm using for the parts soaking. I'd NEVER run acid thru the pump for obvious reasons. The manifold bottom in this pic is just soaking half in/out of the solution. When the other side is clean I turn it around and do the this side. Remember it would take a HUGE tub to completely submerge it all at once and over $100 in cleaning (acid) solution.


Cleaning Solution

I've used this media for years and aftervisiting 2 parts cleaning houses today who told me they didn't think they could make the manifold 100% clean and shiney-bright I'm glad I came home and gave this a try. I was shocked at how effective it is after a 4 hour soak for this purpose and how efficiently it worked. Five minutes with a toothbrush before removing the part and it's as clean as the day it was installed and it's EVERYWHERE, even in the runner where they can't be seen.

I get this from Champagne Motors as they always order it 6 gallons at a time. I buy 2 gallons from them for $21 per gallon. The manufacturer can be found by a google search and you can see it sells for $123.12 per 6 gallons (minimum order). For the size parts soaking tub I'm recommending you'll need 2 gallons. Or if on a tight budget 1 gallon and increased soaking time. Since this is going to be a long, drawn-out workshop you'll have plenty of time. But keep your tub covered with plastic all the time so you don't lose liquid due to evaporation.

No matter which way you go or how much cleaning liquid you buy use ALL of it. Then fill tub with water to a 7" depth. You need 7" of depth to be able to get complete coverage in 2 "dips" especially for the intake bottom.

I'll let you guys decide if you want to go in on purchasing this cleaning solution in groups or pairs or if someone will buy six gallons then re-sell and ship to some others.

I sure hope someone is keeping track of all this info and of the associated pics as it's going to be very pic-intensive and within the next day or two I will have to start deleting pics in my poster to make room for more.
 

Results of DIY acid-soak using Arrow-Magnolia Bulldozer Degreaser

As you can see this stuff is nothing short of incredible. This is right out of the soak then rinsed off at kitchen sink then dried in the oven at 200* for 10 minutes.

This is the same side that was gasket-matched in the pics yesterday which you can now see the grinding marks.

Not bad for home-made cleaning on the cheap huh!

This is it for pics today. I'm toast.