Painting Aluminum Intake Manifold

[Gawernator]

Couldn't find this in search: Steps for painting the aluminum intake manifold?
I know you need to first clean it up and de-grease. I wasn't sure about primer, I am using VHT paints. I have one can of VHT gloss black engine enamel and one can of what was labeled at the FLAPS as VHT primer, the can says "VHT Flame Proof" 2000º F (lol) header paint - silica - ceramic coating.

So, are these compatible? Do you need to use primer?

EDIT: Apparently VHT Primer is # SP148

So what to do with the "Flame Proof" crap

[v2rocket_aka944]

clean the $#!& out of the intake. maybe even media blast it if you can, then clean it some more. use something thats actually labeled primer, should be in the same section as the paint. mask off all the holes on the intake and spray away.

years ago i hot tanked mine, scrubbed it some more and then just clearcoated it with the high-temp stuff. still looks good 8 years on and is very easy to clean.

[Gawernator]

So the primer is mandatory then.

[princej]

my understanding is that for aluminum, primer is very important.

[mikepellegrini]

I use VHT engine paints and have been very happy with the results. I've used their high temp primer as well.

For me, it seems like the results with and without primer were pretty much identical. Like the others said, the single most important thing is cleaning.

I always go down to metal with wire brushes (on a drill) then after its bright and shiny , clean off any residue with Windex. Seems to work.

Also, more coats is better.

[Chunkerz]

If you don't have access to a media blaster, try a wire wheel attached to a drill and lots of degreaser. It cleaned mine up beautifully with no scratches. It can't get into small corners, but a wire brush and some elbow grease will get those corners sparkling like new.

[curtisr]

In Canada we have a choice of Rust-oleum or Tremclad (owned by Rust-oleum) products. If there is a difference I couldn't tell you. But I can say that Tremclad makes a 'rust' paint for use on aluminum. There was no mention of a primer requirement; however, I did clean the pipes thoroughly.

Rather than remove the intake pipes (on a 928), I simply took the head off of a small foam brush, soaked it, squeezed the excess out and rubbed the paint onto the spider.

Here's how the first coat turned out:

[Gawernator]

That 928 looks like a beast. I have a feeling the fireproof primer is formulated differently so maybe the paints aren't compatible

[mikepellegrini]

Maybe it's got headers? The intake doesn't really get all that hot.

[kfanazini]

Boy you would think Porsche would have came up with a more elegant solution than all of those hose clamps....

Originally Posted by curtisr

In Canada we have a choice of Rust-oleum or Tremclad (owned by Rust-oleum) products. If there is a difference I couldn't tell you. But I can say that Tremclad makes a 'rust' paint for use on aluminum. There was no mention of a primer requirement; however, I did clean the pipes thoroughly.

Rather than remove the intake pipes (on a 928), I simply took the head off of a small foam brush, soaked it, squeezed the excess out and rubbed the paint onto the spider.

Here's how the first coat turned out:

[princej]

Rustoleum makes a professional aluminum primer , Ive bought it in the USA as Ive never seen it in Canada but I have used it for years on my boats,

RustOleum.com

[gacook]

Primer is always a must when you're painting bare metal. Paint doesn't stick to the metal all that well, and will eventually peel up/flake off. Get a self-etching primer; it will stick itself to the metal, and then the paint will stick beautifully to IT.

[Chunkerz]

Originally Posted by princej

Rustoleum makes a professional aluminum primer , Ive bought it in the USA as Ive never seen it in Canada but I have used it for years on my boats,

RustOleum.com

Do you know if Home Depot or Lows would carry that product? How many coats of primer would be necessary? Just one? My cam tower is begging to be painted while it's off the car.

[gacook]

Typically, you only need one decent coat of primer. The primary function of the primer is to cover the metal to give the paint something to stick to. The only thing you'll need more than one coat of is your color/clear.

[iplagolf]

To get your part really clean use TSP, tri-sodium-phosphate, Red Devil makes it. You can buy it at Lowes or Home Depot. Best cleaner de-greaser you'll ever use. Wear rubber gloves! You don't want it on your bare skin. On aluminum I always abrade the surface with 400/600 grit sand paper or a course 3-M pad. Clean it again with TSP, dry it with a heat gun, tape it off (wearing gloves to keep skin oil off the surface) and prime with a self etching primer. Two light coats are better than one heavy coat. Read the directions on the primer. Some I've seen need to be sanded before top coating.

[iplagolf]

I omitted rinse the part off very well in warm to hot water. Like my wife says, I can't see what you're think'n.