Wow Anthony, you gave me an early birthday present today for sure! Thank you for showing it off and for the sweet compliment!
Just quickly addressing a couple comments, everything I restore here is powder coated.
Yes, these powders flow out and cure between 300-400 degrees. There are powders now for low temp applications these days too including wood, MDF and even a portable system for pool liners that cures in sunlight.
There is nothing to worry about as far as metal temper or tolerances go if you know what you're doing. Aluminum is in fact my favorite metal to work up, especially cast parts.
For the job to last a lifetime the metal must be properly prepared. I use media blasting and several other steps to ensure fantastic results and durable adhesion. On the intake gasket I only blasted the recess, not the flanges or underside, though I coated the entire top side for two reasons; it shows a bit between the heads and intake flanges, and any raw / uncoated metal subject to the elements will oxidize over time if it isn't protected. No powder is on any internal engine surface.
Thank you all for putting a big smile on my face today!! You can get in on my exclusive 13% off FBBO 13th Anniversary Sale like Anthony did if your parts arrive by October 31!
Here are a few Before Pictures of the parts above. It all needed a lot of resto/reconstruction work.