Painting Intake

[Doppleganger]

Years ago I saw an aluminum ecotec once that looked like the guy had spent months buffing. Turned out, all he did was paint it with aluminum engine enamel - cleaned the aluminum and sprayed it. Gave a much more uniform and clean look (even new aluminum can be blotchy). I do that on every cast aluminum part (heads, alternators, intakes, transmissions).

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[RedGeneral]

Years ago I saw an aluminum ecotec once that looked like the guy had spent months buffing. Turned out, all he did was paint it with aluminum engine enamel - cleaned the aluminum and sprayed it. Gave a much more uniform and clean look (even new aluminum can be blotchy). I do that on every cast aluminum part (heads, alternators, intakes, transmissions).

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This looks fantastic, from what I'm gathering, primer is a go AS long as all the preparation, cleaning is done prior to the first spray of anything.

 

[Doppleganger]

To be honest, I never primed any of it...and fwiw, years later, its all still there (I think the heat helps alot baking it). Sure is easier to clean.

Further lunacy.....

AC compressors always were the worst (finish wise) so I'd strip them down and repaint them....then re-pop the decals and replate the brackets. Better than new.

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[RedGeneral]

To be honest, I never primed any of it...and fwiw, years later, its all still there (I think the heat helps alot baking it). Sure is easier to clean.

Further lunacy.....

AC compressors always were the worst (finish wise) so I'd strip them down and repaint them....then re-pop the decals and replate the brackets. Better than new.

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That's interesting, not using primer.

 

[Doppleganger]

On really smooth surfaces (like the AC housing) I scuff it with a gray scotch pad....then wipe it down and shoot it. On anything else, its pretty rough to begin with. Its sandblasted first then wiped down with acetone or tuolene. Been doing it this way for about 15 yrs.

 

[DoubleDingo]

.....it wipes clean easily.

And he wipes it down a lot, he likes clean. Sometimes I wonder if he just keeps his truck in a big airtight bubble...lol...

 

[RedGeneral]

On really smooth surfaces (like the AC housing) I scuff it with a gray scotch pad....then wipe it down and shoot it. On anything else, its pretty rough to begin with. Its sandblasted first then wiped down with acetone or tuolene. Been doing it this way for about 15 yrs.

I don't have access to a sand blaster anymore but I have done that before with other items just not engine parts.

 

[Blue Ox]

That's interesting, not using primer.

For properly prepped metal surfaces I've never been a fan of primer either. I've had more paint come off of primer than bare metal. The same is true of fiberglass for those of us in the boating world.

I'd rather spend the extra $$$ for a better paint than primer.

 

[Battlac40]

Paint stores and even some auto parts stores have paint adhesion promoter. I like the spray version. For example, I had to paint the water pump for my 69' T-Bird resto-mod in a bind. My motor is ford power blue with a metallic clear coat. The engine compartment is 3 stage jet black PPG with liquid blue pearl. A rusty w.p. would be blasphemy, couldn't let that happen... The water pump came with the typical shipping grease smothered on it. Hit it with some lacquer thinner then wax & grease remover. Gave it two coats of bulldog promoter and sprayed it with old blue candy paint leftover from a customer's car. Then hit it with the blue pearl to color match. No Primer. 5-years later, one of my favorite details on the car.
I had good luck with the aluminum paint too and the transmission. And again on the transfer case on my 81'k10. In these cases, I use the one the transmission shops get in a can.

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[Doublenaughtspy]

I tried that too, but I must’ve bought the wrong aluminum color. I did the aluminum front drive brackets and intake manifold to match, but it looked super gaudy.

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Try "cast blast" for a better grey.

 

[cksquaredtrucks]

I always have my intakes powder coated. When you get a coolant leak, or oil leak, it wipes away with nothing more than a shop rag or paper towel. You won't regret spending the extra money.