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Aluminum motor. Paint it or don’t paint it ?

RyanSchoen

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My 572 KB Hemi is almost complete. Trying to make up my mind if I paint the motor orange or leave it natural aluminum?

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I guess it depends on what your going for. Probably not an original’ish car right? Resto mod, pro-tour, muscle machine?

I would probably leave it like that. No paint.
 
I guess it depends on what your going for. Probably not an original’ish car right? Resto mod, pro-tour, muscle machine?

I would probably leave it like that. No paint.

I guess thats a fair question.

It will look stockish from the exterior. Vinyl top, RT stripe , forgeline wheels that look like steelies with hub caps but are actually forged aluminum 3 piece wheels. 17" maybe 18"

If left natural I am worried about it ageing. Maybe it needs a satin clear ?
 
Paint, forest fires will tinge the natural aluminum; kinda kidding.
 
If your going for the stock look I would paint it in that case. If it’s any of the things I mentioned, I would keep it bare. Sorry for the flip-flop, you got a cool piece there.

The aluminum will age depending on how the car is kept and what weather it may see. Also fluid contact and stuff like that. I’m not sure what the clear would do, prep on the aluminum might change it.
 
A Hemi is cool either way, I still prefer Street Hemi Orange.
 
either works.... I like the way mine turned out with "Race Hemi Orange"
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If you go for natural, I recommend a metal protectant to preserve the aluminum from corrosion.
Mike
 
I had my aluminum intake powdercoated high temp aluminum color because of potential discoloration. IMO the aluminum really pops and looks really cool bare. Not sure if high temp pcoat can withstand the temp of a hemi block.
 
Normally I would say paint it, not because I am resto guy but because thats what you kind of expect to see, but if you paint it you are constantly going to be telling people its all aluminum. If you leave it natural it will be self evident and will be like jewelry inside the engine bay. I mean, not only is it a Hemi but its all aluminum!!! Given this I would leave it natural, perhaps put some satin clear on it.
 
There's another thread about aluminum heads paint or no!
They mentioned a product that will seal the aluminum so it doesn't oxidize over time!
I'd leave it natural if I could seal it ! But I hate seeing oxidation on aluminum if I couldn't preserve it as new looking id paint it !
Bad *** looking motor what kind of power are we looking at?
 
There's another thread about aluminum heads paint or no!
They mentioned a product that will seal the aluminum so it doesn't oxidize over time!
I'd leave it natural if I could seal it ! But I hate seeing oxidation on aluminum if I couldn't preserve it as new looking id paint it !
Bad *** looking motor what kind of power are we looking at?

Just a touch over 900 on pump fuel

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