Thinking about painting my intakes, any reason not to do it.. Options

[JOE M]

I am almost done putting my engine back together.I had it out so I decided to repaint my tins and fan housing. It looked like crap so I said what the heck. I kind of like the way the engine looks but the intakes for the carbs look horrible in my oppinion. They are cast and have an unfished look. Is there any reason why I would not want to paint them. I am thinking about flat black. In my oppinion it would be a cool conbtrast to the blue engine tin.Le t me know what you think!!!

[Rand]

This is a context sensitive issue. Yes, without question, black absorbs more heat.

My question is, when intake air is rushing through there at the velocity it does, how much is it really going to get heated up in the time it takes to pass through those few inches? Just from the difference in temp created by the coating? I suppose it is possible under some extreme situations to measure a difference in performance, but you aren't going to notice it on this motor in a 914.

Cheap paint is just going to look worse in short order. Some powdercoats will hold up. Anodizing is interesting. Smooth and polish? I would just clean them up and leave them be. That looks pretty good. Goes with the carbs.

[SirAndy]

My question is, when intake air is rushing through there at the velocity it does, how much is it really going to get heated up in the time it takes to pass through those few inches? Just from the difference in temp created by the coating? I suppose it is possible under some extreme situations to measure a difference in performance, but you aren't going to notice it on this motor in a 914.

I'm more concerned about heat soak at idle or low rpm.

At high rpm, the venturies in the carb make the carbs and runners cold to the touch, but at idle there's just not enough velocity to keep things cool.
That's when you get heat soak.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy