Would like to strip my mercruiser 496 manifolds down down to bare aluminum. Has anyone ever done this and how did they turn out

You can have them media blasted, use Permatex 80646 Gasket Remover and do it yourself, or send them out for bake removal or dipping. As for how did they turn out part, what are l you looking to do? Change the color?, they will turn out fine. If you want them polished, it depends alot on the original casting and who you have polish it.

Raylar did a few sets of these manifold strip and polish a few years ago and it worked but the metal aluminum alloy that Mercury used for them does not polish up very well like regular aluminum.
I atached a couple of pictures from our files so you could see the finished effect with them polished with the stainless risers polished also.

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Thanks for the replies, not sure what im gonna do yet.