Edelbrock Alum. intake painted(!?)

[Daubs]

PO installed Edelbrock performer dual p. intake...and then painted it chevy orange. I'm putting in new crate 350 and wanted the aluminum intake look. So I powerwashed the intake and got 90% of paint off, then took to my engine builder for bead blasting the last stubborn paint and some grime.

Engine guy said the intake had been sandblasted before it was painted and that the blasting basically ruined the look. I said go ahead and blast it and we will see...only $40.

Will I need to coat the bare aluminum? Clear coat? Or should I hit it with Aluminum paint? Or just leave it as is?

Suggestions?

[william 70 c/20]

now that it's been blasted twice you need to spray it with orange paint...J/K i know Eastwood makes some great aluminum finishing products..

[franks72]

If the glass bead in the beader is new the intake will come out looking new ..If the bead in the machine is old it will look dull

[special-K]

Raw is fine.That`s what the new ones are.I think they get bead-blasted after casting as well.If I did anything,I`d get it ceramic coated.

[70c10]

I agree with the ceramic coating idea. That would look good.

[wolfthing2000]

Paint it or coat it! Aluminum does not do well under the hood, unless you clean every other day. They all look greyish black given enough time if left bare.

[68Stepbed]

I painted mine with engine paint. The color is Cast Coat Aluminum. I bought it at Advanced Auto. Looks real close to cast color, but it's alot easier to clean It's made by Dupli-Color.

[Daubs]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

I painted mine with engine paint. The color is Cast Coat Aluminum. I bought it at Advanced Auto. Looks real close to cast color, but it's alot easier to clean It's made by Dupli-Color.

I was thinking about painting it aluminum color. Not really interested in ceramic coating...kind of like polishing a turd (my truck).

[Billla]

If it was sandblasted with aluminum oxide or something other than glass bead, it won't hold up bare. I've tried a number of diffferent products on bare aluminum that's been abused, including Eastwood's clearcoat without what I would consider great success. I think once it's been blasted, it needs to be coated - paint, powdercoat, ceramic - whatever floats your boat

[Putter]

Why not powder coat it in the aluminum color? I have some powder that is called "Chrome", but it comes out the color of polished aluminum (like wheels) and is slick as glass. I have done older (classic) aluminum valve covers with it and they look great. I might do my intake next time I unassemble the engine.
Just a thought.

[kelsfine69]

I took mine out of the box and mixed up some car clearcoat with a little bit of pearl in it for sparkle. Then sprayed it. Cant complain been on ther 10 years now, holds up realy well. Ask a bodyshop for a quote. They all have leftover cleacoat laying around after they fix a repair.

[72armyswbtruck]

Hey, that clear coat idea looks pretty good, better then just plain stock edelbrock.

[wibilly]

i've used just clear it turns them kinda grey i've also used aluminum paint and then clear. this method looks much brighter and more the coler of a new intake but much easeir to keep clean

[Daubs]

Haven't seen the intake just yet, still at bead blasting. I'm planning to paint it with "cast-coat Aluminum" paint, then possibly clear coat it. I'll post before and after pictures when I can.

[gfcsteve]

powder coat it, it will look great and hold up. the powder is chemical resistant,gas doesn't seem to bother it its easy to clean and you can get it any color you want. ceramic coating s are designed for high temp applications your intake is not going to get hot enough to hurt the powder, and powder is cheaper than ceramic

steve
wwww.gforcecoatings.com