Clear coat Intake manifold

[tomatocity]

Can there be a problem with clear coating an aluminum intake manifold? I have heard that some clear coats can yellow. I plan on bead blasting the intake manifold whether I clear coat it or not but I wanted to hear the opinions of the Board members.

[HeavyD]

I had one yellow, but that was back in the 80's..maybe clears are tougher now?

[cowboy33713]

Howdy;
If you block the heat crossover (if your truck will tolerate the "cold" intake set up,not a problem here in Florida), yellowing or even paint burning off won't be a problem. I used VHT brand clear, which they rate as clear engine enamel.
Felpro has an intake gasket set with metal block-off plates at the heat riser for those wishing to do the block off thing. Used to have the part number, but need to look it up again myself. If you use composite gaskets w/o the plate (and your heads and intake have the heat passages) the gasket will burn through there in short order.
cowboy33713

[cdowns]

for a long term one time application i prefer powder or ceramic coating

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by cdowns

for a long term one time application i prefer powder or ceramic coating

Good idea but I will not be keeping this manifold so I want a less expensive method.

[ed455]

Originally Posted by cowboy33713

Howdy;
If you block the heat crossover (if your truck will tolerate the "cold" intake set up,not a problem here in Florida), yellowing or even paint burning off won't be a problem. I used VHT brand clear, which they rate as clear engine enamel.
Felpro has an intake gasket set with metal block-off plates at the heat riser for those wishing to do the block off thing. Used to have the part number, but need to look it up again myself. If you use composite gaskets w/o the plate (and your heads and intake have the heat passages) the gasket will burn through there in short order.
cowboy33713

Those metal blockoff plates burn through pretty quickly.

[72MARIO]

I would not reccomend doing it. I cleared mine and I di dnot have the block off plated installed by the engine builder. Now my intake is yellow and burning where the heat crossover passages or what ever they are called.

I wish I would have left it raw at least it's cleanable.

[67_C-30]

I had have much better luck with Duplicolor's Cast Aluminum Engine Paint. It has a metallic base (it probably is aluminum) and I have never had it turn yello. It doesn't really change the appearance of an aluminum intake, but it makes it much easier to keep clean.

[Brewski*]

DON'T CLEAR COAT THE INTAKE~! I did my Edlebrock 2101 Performer with POR-15 Glisten PC which is the strongest hardest clear I have ever found. It yellowed bad near and around the cross over tube areas on both sides of the carb after about 1k miles. I did the valve covers and they still look fine (2 years) I just did the intake again with POR-15 chevy orange this past week. Looks INSANE nice.
Brew

[masterbeavis]

I thougt I posted in this thread already, but I guess I didnt hit the post button. Oh well. I would not clear the manifold. Like previously stated, it will yellow. Ive seen some clears turn soft when they get hot, and crap will stick to them. Paint it your color of silver, and call it good. Espeicially if you are not going to keep it.

[PICKMUP]

I haven't seen anything that will not burn off that center heat port, if it is not blocked, except ceramacoat. Powder coat will burn off. I still powder coat some of them silver and them reshoot the center port with silver header paint, after it burns off. Not too bad.
The concours vette guys ceramacoat their intakes and then paint over the top. They say the paint then won't burn off. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Green Machine]

I used Eastwoods exhaust manifold paint on my cast iron intake, hasn't burned a bit or turned color, and looks like an aluminum intake too. Don't know if that paint will work over aluminum though. My crossover passages are open, not blocked.