intake manifold

Can the intake manifold be welded and ground on with a normal mig welder? I want to shave mine to get rid of all the old vacuum ports that are no longer in use thanks to my weber. Also, do Mazda's benefit from polishing the inside of the manifold? thanks!

If you have an aluminum spool gun for your mig and you take the time to drill out the holes (they have a steel sleeve in them for the port)then yes.

But you have to have a way to weld aluminum.

that's what I was afraid of. thanks!

Just take a dremel or grinder and cut off the the vacuum ports even with the aluminum, then go to wal-mart or the hardware store and get some Steel Epoxy, comes in a little black tube. Mix some up in your fingers roll it a ball and cram it down, you can either keep a cap over it or wait about 30 min or so and cut it off smooth with an exacto blade, if you wait until it is fully cured it is hard as hell to cut.

Quick easy and clean.

I'll get a manifold from the junk yard and try it. I wanted to get the manifold chromed, but smoothed and painted will be better than nothing. Thanks!

if you wanna drop the coin on chroming the intake manifold, drill out the inserts yourself, and find a fab shop that welds alum. proibably wouldnt cost a huge grip. just have them build up more than normal so you cn grind it down flush.

also, for port and polishing, you dont want the intake side super slick. the casting imperfections actually help atomize fuel in the intake plenum area. it would help to gasket match the intake to the head tho.

Yea, actually the most ideal finish is with about 80 grit sandpaper with a sanding drum or scroll, or if working on ferrous materials a stone. Getting a port as smooth as you can get it will never gain you anything.