Engine Paint

[wideglidejoe]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a high temp engine paint that looks like raw, as cast, satin, unpolished aluminum? I don't want polished, shiny, metallic, etc. I'm building an FE w/alum intake, heads, water pump, ceramic headers, etc., and I'm trying to decide whether to paint the block black, or make it look like an alum block. I'm not trying to pass it off as an alum block or fool anyone, just thinking of having contrasting alum color on the block and all the bolt on parts.

Any pro's/con's on shedding heat? Black vs. alum?

comments & suggestions appreciated.

thanks,

[olddog]

In theory, black is the best heat conductor. In reality, the block likely radiates little heat, compared to the water cooling. So it may be a moot point, but black is better from a heat perspective.

Aluminum is getting closer to the reflective colors, so it is toward the worse color.

As much trouble as some have had with cooling big inch engines in a Cobra, every little bit may help.