Air Gap intake back form media blast.. clear.. paint or run as-is?

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74Scooter

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Had the Edelbrock "endura shine" coating removed as previous owner ruined it. It's bare now and seems like it would suck up any oil like a sponge without a coating of some sort. What say ye.. paint it aluminum color, clear satin or run it as-is?

fetch
 
Clear powder coat. Most clear paint products are going to yellow over time. Other option is paint it aluminum color or match the block and heads.
 
Add some info... this will be installed with a new set of aluminum heads. I'm leaning toward satin clear or paint aluminum.
 
Engine color or a high temp "aluminum" color paint. Raw stains and oxidizes in some climates.
 
Add some info... this will be installed with a new set of aluminum heads. I'm leaning toward satin clear or paint aluminum.
Again just my $0.02, but I dont advertise aluminum heads either....all engine color....nothing to see here....just beat em by a fender...
 
Again just my $0.02, but I dont advertise aluminum heads either....all engine color....nothing to see here....just beat em by a fender...
All opinions welcome.
Like the contrast of the aluminum on a blue or orange block myself. Nothing to hide on my mild 360 LA.
 
Any kind of clear will yellow. Even powder coat. It'll be easier to touch up on down the road if you paint it. It needs to be coated with something, otherwise the bare aluminum will get stained quickly.
 
I have two cars with air gaps. Both painted engine color. One blue, one hemi orange. They really blend in well and make it look more stock.
Btw, clear powder coat will certainly yellow. I have a brand new 340 six pack intake that I cleared and after about 6 months it was yellowed. Never bolted it on the engine.
If clearing I would go with a 2K automotive clear. Never tried it before but I hear it holds up well.
 
Use automotive clear with a hardener. It doesn’t yellow. If it did all the cars would change color in a few months.

It is that garbage rattle can clear that changes color.
 
The problem I would have is how do you spray the under side of the runners? That would drive my OCD side nuts.
 
I rattle canned mine silver, don't remember thr brand, what ever was cheap. Headers I used vht high heat and they are peeling like a crazy after almost 3 years and 2500ish miles. None of my stuff is painted to a professional level, but it looks pretty clean.

20220324_215818.jpg
 
Whatever you decide @CudaChick1968 can give you ideas as to what makes aluminum resist the elements (as in longevity) from a professional standpoint.
 
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Add some info... this will be installed with a new set of aluminum heads. I'm leaning toward satin clear or paint aluminum.


Here's what I used on the same intake.

Looks fantastic!

shopping



img_0597-jpg.jpg
 
To me engine color pait looks more findshed.

Just a thought... Way outside the box....What if you soaked the intake in oil, then it would be uniformly stained, new oil drops would be less likely to absorb or discolor
 
To me engine color pait looks more findshed.

Just a thought... Way outside the box....What if you soaked the intake in oil, then it would be uniformly stained, new oil drops would be less likely to absorb or discolor

Only problem is that dirt from under hood would quickly pile up on the intake. It would look like crap in no time!
 
I hear good things about Shark Hyde. Amazon carries it. You have to reapply it every 3 years or so depending on it exposure to the elements.
 
I'd paint it "aluminum" color, I did that with my non-Air-Gap RPM intake and it's held up great for almost 4 years and 8,000+ miles. Still looks "painted" when you look closely but it's far better than natural raw aluminum covered in dirt and oil stains; ran an Air-Gap raw on my previous 360 and it looked horrible after not very long at all (<1 year).
 
Here's my 40-year-old manifold, I just use brake cleaner and a clean wire brush and rags. I think the secret is to never let it get too dirty.

IMG_20210404_103227858.jpg
 
Any kind of clear will yellow. Even powder coat. It'll be easier to touch up on down the road if you paint it. It needs to be coated with something, otherwise the bare aluminum will get stained quickly.

Yep. Always painted mine with VHT alum. Lasted very well, even on daily drivers. But, I usually pulled them before they needed a new spray job...lol
 
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