Projects Painting intake silver

I'm going to pull the intake off of my Y block so I can replace the choke heater tube and was thinking about painting it silver before reinstalling it. Thing is, I would like to brighten up the car a little, the car is dark maroon with a black frame and engine without a lot of chrome. Anyone out there done this? any pictures? I just don't want to look like a hack that wants an aluminum manifold but too cheap to buy one.

 

Guess a photo would help.

 

heat, leaks, exposure to weather, etc will quickly discolor silver paint

 

have you thought about powder coating it? maybe ceramic coat to match your headers?

 

I have painted intakes with success. I haven’t painted one silver though
I blast them clean and prep like painting a car. I use an epoxy sealer with automotive grade paint.
I wouldn’t recommend spary can silver

 

I'm afraid if you paint it silver your going to get the "I wanted a aluminum intake but was too cheap to buy one" look. HRP

 

I use VHT brand Cast Coat Aluminum. Has held up well for me, + if it gets a fuel stain or whatever, just touch it up with a quick spritz !!!

 

well I would use heat paint just like what's on the exhaust. but I think HRP put this one to rest.

 

What HRP said ∆. Good looking ride, I'd be more concerned with cleaner... Now a vintage caddy cleaner ( or period) , Boom.. Daddy's home! IM(not so)HO

 

Chevy Orange would look pretty cool.....

 

This one is aluminum but I had it powdercoated silver for easier maintenance. Well worth it.
SPark

 

I like the amount and quality of the bling you (the O.P.) have in your photo. A dark color cast iron intake makes a nice counterpoint to the brightwork.

 

You do have a good looking car. HRP

 

Think about sending the intake to the chrome shop, to get it smoothed and chrome plated.

That would be the right way to do it.

 

Krylon makes a color called Dull Aluminum.
We use it a lot for brackets, bolts etc. and on exhaust. It will not burn off of header collector pipes.
It also does not look like cheesy aluminum screen door silver and wont come off on your hands.

Bill

 

Been using Alumiblast for years. Looks like the real deal, cleans easily and is heat resistant (not header heat but top of engine heat resistant). Prep the manifold right and it'll last for a long, long time.
https://www.amazon.com/Seymour-16-055-Alumi-Blast-Paint/dp/B003V5BPKU

 

I agree with HRP, but if you must...

https://www.eastwood.com/ew-aluma-blast-paint-aerosol-12-oz.html

 

Just one guys opinion.....yuck.
I say the same thing every time I see a silver painted transmission case.

 

Now you said that, red rear end cover, an axle lights come to mind... Not that there's Anything wrong with that..

 

This is the good stuff... another vote for it. Cheap silver paint will look like hell in no time.

 

I’d have it ceramic coated. Low maintenance, easy to clean, gas oil and brake fluid won’t harm the finish.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Why not just put an aluminum manifold on it? Tumble it or polish it, call it done. It's a cool car, she deserves a present.

 

Don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Do what you want to.

 

Painted my aluminum one with the cast look paint from Duplicolor

OT manifold

 

Now that looks great, I did something similar on my master cylinder.
This is Rustoleum, I believe they have other shades also.



The metallic is vey fine and not shiny like in this photo, that was from the camera flash.

 

The exhaust cross over needs special care. When you have the manifold off you can get the inside coated too. Make sure to use and the "truck" gaskets which have smaller openings and a metal seal.

 

Cast Blast is the sister product to Aluma Blast it gives a raw cast iron grey look and is tough as nails. It may be enough to set it off without the cheesy Alumilike look

 

The issue I have with 'Cast Blast' is it contains iron as a pigment and that can rust....

 

I have an entire engine I painted with it 7 years ago that still looks good. My only issue has been around the exhaust ports, it will rust/burn off but I just touch it up every year or so. Intake has never had any issues

 

It got exposed to moisture here in the NW. Rusted on my daily-driver, also rusted on a motor while stored on an engine stand in my garage. Don't get me wrong, it's great paint (all SEM paints are) but it will do this.