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Piant the valley pan or not?

themechanic

Oklahoma is OK
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I've seen so many silver valley pans with aluminum intakes. Some like to paint their pan engine color. I'm installing an Edelbrock Performer RPM on my orange block and heads. What do you guys think? Paint the valley pan silver, orange, or just install it as is?
 
I didn't. No rust yet.

You could get away with out it in the desert.... they rust out from condensation from underneath in cold start weather.... granted Oklahoma is known for rust like New jersey I would paint it
 
Factory had them painted with the engine. Most likely it was for easy of painting the engine and it was just covered cause it was there but it all depends what look you are going for. If you have natural aluminum heads or intake, I would leave it silver. If you have it painted engine color, go with that.
 
I paint mine just to make it easier to clean. I would imagine with the humidity you have in FL it might be a good idea. If you tape off the ports it only takes a few minutes to do one side. If anything it will make the aluminum intake stand out more.
 
I etched mine a little with sand paper, then painted it the same color as my brackets & pulleys on the engine. But I have left them plain with no problems.
 
Mines not now but am considering the same thing. About time to replace it as it has a very minor leak from the drivers side front corner. It does look better natural with the rpm but I am soon to have a 6 bbl air cleaner an wonder it will look better with that or even notice it, hmm painting it may even give more depth? hmm

Photo bomb time :)

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I paint mine just to make it easier to clean. I would imagine with the humidity you have in FL it might be a good idea. If you tape off the ports it only takes a few minutes to do one side. If anything it will make the aluminum intake stand out more.

I also think panting the pan a contrasting color like Hemi orange would make the aluminum intake stand out more than a silver or natural unpainted finish. I'm undecided. I may test fit the pan and intake to see if I like it unpainted or not and just paint it orange if I want later.

Anybody have a photo of an Eddy Performer RPM and a painted valley pan?
 
I have painted ugly pans with some rattle can enamel sprayed into a cup. If you leave it bare and change your mind the paint will flow out fine with a small, quality brush.
 
unpainted

I never thought of doing it like you have yours. Interesting contrast.

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painted mine.makes the manifold pop out at ya.

That intake would pop out on its own but I get your point. Still, I'm undecided.

Maybe if someone posted a pic of an Eddy Performer RPM on a painted and unpainted pan?
 
i painted mine black, it makes the polished aluminium dual quad intake stand out more
 
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Next time the intake is off, I'll paint it orange. I too like the contrast.
 
I painted mine on my old 440 with 906 heads. Ron

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Also painted the Indy valley plate on my new eng with Indy EZ heads. Ron

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I'd paint it it helps a lot all the reasons have been posted ,they do rust over a long time , they get very dirty so paint makes it easy to clean ,I would paint it a contrasting color it will make it stand out better ,I hate when everything is sprayed the same color , and if you decide not to just paint it silver so you have the protection and it will be very close to the natural color
 
I think I will paint it engine color (hemi orange in my case). Thanks for all the replies.
 
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