[dld]

I like the alum. look . I'm not leaving car outside or driving a lot in bad weather

I have washed alum. parts with wheel cleaner . That contains a bit of acid that cleans aluminum well. Don't over do the acid though if you mix your own muriatic acid

[Paul E]

Took a needle scaler to the faces on heads on the smooth surfaces (exterior) to look cast and painted them with catalyzed paint. They have held up excellent.
Paul

[jhein]

The only things on my motor that will be aluminum are the heads. I'm painting them blue. To me the pontiac metallic blue is the most beautiful engine color ever. Plus I want as close to stock look as possible. But that's me. I say finish it the way you like.

Good looking motors in this thread too, BTW...

[Gator67]

Blue for me...aluminum IAII

[ZeGermanHam]

Another vote for painting the aluminum parts engine color. It's a more classy look, IMO. That said, I don't find the appearance of aluminum parts unappealing - I just like the stock'ish look a bit more. It's always in style.

What I really don't care for in the engine bay is what I refer to as Jegs Syndrome. Sometimes you see owners who buy every possible polished or chrome doodad that they can get their hands on, from pulleys and belt systems, to brake boosters and master cylinders, to plug wire separators, to flexible chrome radiator hoses, and so on. Not my cup of tea.

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by Gator67

Blue for me...aluminum IAII

That's the look that I'm going to do on my new all-aluminum road race engine. I love the factory look, the silver blue is terrific and I want it to have a bit of a sleeper vibe. My garage is unheated so it's also a concern for bare aluminum to get oxidized.

Eric

[67Fbird]

Originally Posted by Vid

I also thought about that VHT clear coat if the consensus was that painted parts clean up easier. On my ‘67 clone wagon, it seems like I was frequently having to touch up the engine paint especially over the exhaust ports.

So far from everyone’s insightful comments (which I greatly appreciate, thanks guys) I’m leaning toward unpainted. The block and a few minor parts will be sporting the team colors to represent, but maybe I’ll try leaving the aluminum be just to see how I like it. Couple of mock up photos attached. Still waiting on back ordered parts of course, especially my ARP main studs. Can’t do much without those.



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PSST VID....don't forget to tap the front 2 oil galley holes 3/8 NPT...

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by Elarson

That's the look that I'm going to do on my new all-aluminum road race engine. I love the factory look, the silver blue is terrific and I want it to have a bit of a sleeper vibe. My garage is unheated so it's also a concern for bare aluminum to get oxidized.

Eric

My shop is not and with the Houston humidity condensing in the shop I think it is worse than if they were outdoors!

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Elarson

That's the look that I'm going to do on my new all-aluminum road race engine. I love the factory look, the silver blue is terrific and I want it to have a bit of a sleeper vibe.

Eric

This is really only a mental exercise but I've wondered if it would be possible to anodize the aluminum parts in Pontiac blue...I think anodizing can be done in most any color, but it probably wouldn't be practical to spend the time and effort required to come up with the correct shade.

[Steve C.]

Anodizing of cast aluminum is VERY tricky and will depend on the die cast alloys used. In addition the quality of the die casting is critical to achieving a good anodized finish. The basic problem is that aluminum castings have a high percentage of non-aluminum material in them and only the aluminum portion anodizes so discoloration and blotchiness is often inescapable.

More often than not aluminum extrusion alloys are used for decorative anodizing. Also color variation in finished products can be complex.


.

[rwfisher]

And put at least one head bolt in place each side. No way would I have dropped a manifold in place trusting just the short dowel pins. Wouldn’t want a $1K + head hitting the floor!

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by Vid

Getting ready to start my 455 build soon. However I’m completely on the fence about if I should paint my shiny, brand new aluminum heads and intake manifold with Pontiac metallic blue, or leave them “raw”.

What’s the general opinion? If I do paint them, am I going to wish that I didn’t, or is the topside easier to keep clean and maintain if it’s unfinished?

I’ve always been a “Hand-me-down, Craigslist used parts” kind of guy. Obviously I’m not used to these fancy brand new parts. I feel so spoiled! Oooooooo! Shiny objects hahaha


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Why don't you ask 64speed what he would do. He's great at making decisions.

[69Nok]

Painted the cast iron and steel parts metallic blue. Used Eastwood diamond clear on the bare aluminum parts.

[Nick72Birdy]

I love the look of the block, heads, timing cover, and water pump in blue and aluminum/chrome/black everywhere else!

[djustice]

I am about to fit edelbrock heads, i am planning to paint the whole engine. I am going with bill Hirch Engine enamel, but should i primer the cast iron first or the alu heads or both?
Maybe just apply enamel to bare iron and alu.
I did som youtubing and came across uncle Tony's garage and he prepped the block by using mapp gass torch and forcing out all moisture, you could see the block change color to a much ligther tone.
Oh by the way i will not torch my alu heads! dont worry.