Aluminum intakes, paint or don't paint?

Re: Aluminum intakes, paint or don\'t paint?

Does anybody have an aluminum intake?

/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Big Ed
'88 YJ, 4" susp,3" body,33's,283 Chevy V8,TH350,4.11's,D30,D35c

Re: Aluminum intakes, paint or don\'t paint?

Thanks for the reply mr elusive, I guess nobody else has an alum intake? I have heard that the clear coat could possible turn yellow after several months, anyone ever seen this happen? Right now I am leaning towards just leaving it plain.

/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Big Ed
'88 YJ, 4" susp,3" body,33's,283 Chevy V8,TH350,4.11's,D30,D35c

Re: Aluminum intakes, paint or don\'t paint?

I use some sort of high temp clear coat.
Tape off your gasket surfaces, and let the sucker have it!
I usually give all aluminum parts at least five coats, with plenty of dry time in between.
Try not to handle your intake too much or skin oil will muck things up.
If you have handled it, use lacquer thinner and wipe it down real good a couple of times, and then coat it.

The intake should have a factory clear anodizing, but that only protect so far. A few coats of clear or paint will go a long way to keeping the engine bay really nice.

The street rod guys have been painting all the hard parts in the engine bay 'cast blast' colors. Like the gray cast iron look, only but with high temp paint, and it really looks cool!
And you can do it with some lacquer thinner and spray cans...

I'm also partial to the look aluminum has when it comes out of the sand blaster, and then clear coated. I do just that a lot...

Clear coat is cheap, and easy to use. Just remember, if you got it a little thin this time, don't go back over it!! Get it on the next coat!
It's better to come back again than to have a run...

Just my $0.02 worth,
(it's worth what you paid for it...)
Aaron.

If Chris Columbus "Discovered" America (with 25 million already here), Can I Go "Discover" Florida?

Re: Aluminum intakes, paint or don\'t paint?

I found a company here that has "heat disapating" powder coating. The do engine blocks, headers, etc.. They also have a lubricating coating that they do cylinder walls and bearing surfaces with. Might be kind of expensive but when I get that far I am going to check it out more closely.

Cut to shape, hammer to fit, paint to match /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif
Project '51 willy's total rebuild /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif