Engine silver finish

On the V8s they used nothing. Its bare aluminum.

 

[QUOTE="Anyways what should I use to spruce it back up, engine paint? Thanks. Cal"[/QUOTE]

On almost all the alloy castings (trans, block heads), I just went for super clean with some Scotchbrite pad work were there was some staining. Belt covers and intake were low pressure bead blasted with ACF 50 oil to finish. The only parts I painted were the cam covers, which I shot with Eastwood Alumablast paint, which gives a durable, slightly textured finish that looks very much like sand cast aluminum. Because of that textured finish you can't just wipe it down, but it cleans up well with some Simple Green and water rinse.

The cam cover in the photo was a NOS die cast (smooth surface) piece which I prepped by low pressure glass beading the external surfaces before painting.

 

Bear in mind that 308s american versions have different cam cover finish than the european version.
AND on top of that rear and front cams finishes are different from each other, in the american version.

My advise is that you just clean them with non agressive method. And no paint at all.

 

While Brian is correct, some choose the easier way and I find that Duplicolor DE1650 Cast Coat Aluminum precisely good at imitation aluminium colors and texture.
If you select paint, please take a look at this lustered one

 

Copper wire brush and simple green to clean, then scotchbrite and mother’s to get the aluminium looking great.

 

The North American 2 valve motors have a sand cast valve cover on the rear bank. All other valve covers are die cast.

 

Nice video how to paint an engine (512TR)....

 

Chains to lift a Ferrari motor? Little wonder it needs restoration. Lifting it by the intake manifolds? These guys are morons.
They didnt disassemble the intake manifolds before painting. They painted right over the special hardware, and the old wrinkle paint? Then they hand paint the cavallino which is just bare aluminum. See the runs and sags in the paint? And this video is supposed to showcase the work they are so proud of. Thats pretty sad.

I have seen better work in high school auto shop classes.

Nice video in making it look like a junkyard steam cleaner/rattlecan restoration.

 

Brain, I was thinking likewise...would not hold it back for the forum.