To paint or not to paint
To paint or not to paint On the fence about cleaning as best I can and leaving natural or painting. If I paint, I am thinking Eastwood's Alumablast. The engine is an all aluminum LS-1 going into a 68 Camaro.
I've had the same question, & I've been on the fence about it. The concern about heat retention is valid, but in the great majority of cases, that's not a problem that can't be managed.
The thought that I have is that after the first few months of use, the bare aluminum is going to start oxidizing & weathering, & generally taking on a more "beaten" appearance - which, if the rest of the car exhibits a kind of a patina finish, that would probably fit right in with the rest of the car.
But if you have a nice interior, & decent paint on the sheetmetal, then an oxidized engine might not be such a good fit. (Huh - I think I just answered the question - at least for myself...)
I hope this helps a little bit.
The thought that I have is that after the first few months of use, the bare aluminum is going to start oxidizing & weathering, & generally taking on a more "beaten" appearance - which, if the rest of the car exhibits a kind of a patina finish, that would probably fit right in with the rest of the car.
But if you have a nice interior, & decent paint on the sheetmetal, then an oxidized engine might not be such a good fit. (Huh - I think I just answered the question - at least for myself...)
I hope this helps a little bit.
I've had the same question, & I've been on the fence about it. The concern about heat retention is valid, but in the great majority of cases, that's not a problem that can't be managed.
The thought that I have is that after the first few months of use, the bare aluminum is going to start oxidizing & weathering, & generally taking on a more "beaten" appearance - which, if the rest of the car exhibits a kind of a patina finish, that would probably fit right in with the rest of the car.
But if you have a nice interior, & decent paint on the sheetmetal, then an oxidized engine might not be such a good fit. (Huh - I think I just answered the question - at least for myself...)
I hope this helps a little bit.
The thought that I have is that after the first few months of use, the bare aluminum is going to start oxidizing & weathering, & generally taking on a more "beaten" appearance - which, if the rest of the car exhibits a kind of a patina finish, that would probably fit right in with the rest of the car.
But if you have a nice interior, & decent paint on the sheetmetal, then an oxidized engine might not be such a good fit. (Huh - I think I just answered the question - at least for myself...)
I hope this helps a little bit.
I didnt paint my 4k mile LS1 in my '33 Ford which doesnt get driven in the winter, and it looked great at first, but now 80k miles later, it looks like a used "junkyard" engine. I wish id painted it the old Ford green like I wanted at first, but it just looked too nice to paint at.the time.
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Thanks for the input guys. For Project Gattago, did you clearcoat a new engine or one that you cleaned up. I ask because even cleaned up, my parts still look weathered. That's why I was thinking of an aluminum color. I actually don't mind the weathered look for the engine even though my exterior paint is really nice.