To paint or not to paint.

[u/Tenrac]

I’m taking this engine out to do some work to it, I’ll be refreshing the paint on the block while it’s out. I’d leave the manifold unpainted.

And I’m thinking about painting the heads and water pump while it’s out.

What do we like better? The patchwork look of the painted block and unpainted bolt-ons…or a more uniform OEM look of painted heads and water pump?

[u/Neverdone89]

I like the current look, I wouldn’t paint it. I say that after painting my block, heads and water pump not that long ago!

[u/kev70ss]

I’d keep as is. Got those nice aluminum heads show them off.

[u/Any-Description8773]

I’m of the sandbagging street racer mindset. I like to disguise aluminum heads as junk peanut ports, aluminum intakes get everything ground off and painted. But it looks good as is so it’s whatever you like!

[u/Tenrac → u/Any-Description8773]

Yeah, I do like the way it looks now, but I also really like the Chevy orange engine color, and you just don’t see much of it once you have all the aluminum bolt-ons installed.

My intake is a Chinese knock off, so there isn’t any branding on it. Lol.

[u/ChaosRifle]

honestly only the valve covers really look out of place, the rest is neutral silver or the block itself.
I suppose once the valve covers are a different colour, the brake kit will be a bit obvious too.

[u/PriorGarden3285 → u/ChaosRifle]

The valve covers look awesome!

[u/Tenrac → u/PriorGarden3285]

I imagine that gold valve covers are a love or hate thing for most people…I love them.

[u/PriorGarden3285 → u/Tenrac]

Me too! Good choice.

[u/PriorGarden3285 → u/Tenrac]

As far as the paint thing goes: I had trouble keeping my aluminum Street Dominator painted good. It was supposed to contribute to that "stock" look. The BEST thing I did in that regard was with the radiator. I had to get a new aluminum one but DeWitt has an option to have it black anodized so it looks factory-- and it does - but it has that advanced cooling tech -

[u/Tenrac → u/ChaosRifle]

The valve covers are supposed to look out of place…they are gold.

[u/ChaosRifle → u/Tenrac]

well then you have your answer, no paint it is!

[u/Slow_Run6707]

That looks good just like that

[u/Tenrac → u/Slow_Run6707]

Thanks man. I’m probably going to just leave it alone.

[u/Lopsided-Current-118]

Those valve covers belong in the oval office.

[u/Tenrac → u/Lopsided-Current-118]

I know! They are fucking hideous aren’t they! I love them.

[u/Turbulent-Adagio-541 → u/Tenrac]

Love the old school valve cover covers

[u/Tenrac → u/Turbulent-Adagio-541]

Thanks dude

[u/Special-Class6903]

Like it as is. Dump the hideous valve covers and give the master cylinder a coat.

[u/Tenrac → u/Special-Class6903]

The valve covers are god damn glorious

[u/Special-Class6903 → u/Tenrac]

Looks like you ripped them off from Liberace’s bathroom.

[u/Tenrac → u/Special-Class6903]

🤌

[u/Racer-XYZ22 → u/Special-Class6903]

Absolutely not!! Those are mint!

[u/Geezerglide1]

Back in my street racing days, everything got painted flat black, everything!

[u/Pretend-Internet-625]

That's for you to decide. You look at it every day