I picked up an Edelbrock STR-12 aluminum crossram intake for my 340 and it has been polished sometime in the past. The finish is dull and doesn't look very impressive. I started to try brightening the finish with some aluminum polish but it is going slow. At this point I'm not sure I want to continue especially if I am going to have to repolish it over and over as time goes by. I'm up in the air about if I should keep it polished, media blast it to a raw aluminum finish or paint it orange to match the block. I've never ran a polished intake before and would like to know, will I have to repolish it on a regular basis? Also, what is your aluminum intake finish of choice?

What is your preferred finish for an aluminum intake manifold? single choice
	Raw aluminum
	Polished aluminum
	Painted to match the motor
Votes accepted starting: 03/28/10 07:33 PM
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raw finish or paint silver color, I personally like a contrast to all one color, but remember it's yours, go with your first choise, it's usally the right one (love the banna)

I like Flat Aluminum spray bombs

i like everything orange, hemi orange. but thats just me

with that particular intake, Id paint it. any other 4 bbl intake, Id leave it raw finished

If you decide on the polished look, I'd strongly consider having it ceramic coated at an "Airborn coatings" or equivalent shop. It'll look polished and stay that way for years and years.

I like'em painted, aluminum heads too .

ive got some str-15 intakes,they are all raw.i like that but when ive got one sorted out and i know that it will stay on the engine,then its going orange,i would never use any other paint on them than orange/same as engine,as paint scratches,flakes off and so on.im no fan of paint.also im using studs on mine,saves the threads.

I'm not a fan of leaving an intake raw. They get all oxidized and scummy looking over time, unless it's a garaged car that never sees a drop of water. I would paint it to match the block, I like that look better these days but I would sooner cover it with an aluminum colored engine paint than leave it raw, just to protect the aluminum from getting that scummy look at to keep the dirt and oil from getting into the grain on it.

I prefer painted, but it depends on what look you are going for? More stock appearing, paint it. If it's modified, polish or silver......

I wipe all the aluminum stuff down every few weeks with a WD40-soaked paper towel to keep it from oxidizing and getting white crusty oxidation on it.

This intake is painted with cast aluminum paint. The dyno operator did not know it was painted until I told him.

I had mine ceramic coated as I am planning on having ceramic coated headers, plus the fact I didn't want to have to keep up with polishing the intake.