polished LFX Intake Manifold? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

_Onyx_Wolf_ · 01-19-2015, 08:59 PM

Seeing how the LFX intake manifold is some type of composite plastic would it be possible to paint it a chrome or polished look? or would the paint not hold very well

Jason@JacFab · 01-19-2015, 10:12 PM

If you do some digging you can find some pictures of a few painted LFX intakes (normal colors)... I've never seen a "chromed" LFX intake, but if you can find the right place to do it, it can be done. There used to be a place here locally that had this magic spray chrome that could be applied to any material, but they went out of a business a few years ago, mostly due to poor organization.

This is the process I was thinking of:

I've seen it in person, and it's pretty amazing, some kind of chemical reaction, it seems to stand up real well too, a friend of mine had his welding hood done in it and granted it's got some burns on it from welding, it still looks chrom-ey, and it's about 5-6 years old now.

Something else you might think about is having the intake hydro-dipped... Lots of different patterns to choose from. I imagine it would stand up just fine if a high quality clear coat was used.

Maybe etmx183 will post a picture of his painted intake, it looks pretty cool.

_Onyx_Wolf_ · 01-19-2015, 10:16 PM

that looks good, and yeah i kinda wish the lfx manifold had the type of material the llt had it would be so much easier just to polish it lol.

Jason@JacFab · 01-19-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Onyx_Wolf_

that looks good, and yeah i kinda wish the lfx manifold had the type of material the llt had it would be so much easier just to polish it lol.

Yes and no... Yeah it would be cool to be able to easily polish it, but the LLT intake is quite a bit heavier, and it heat-soaks badly. The LFX intake is far superior, unfortunately it's not the prettiest thing to look at...

I posted one of etmx183's intake pics below. Hope he doesn't mind, it's probably the best looking LFX intake that there are pictures of right now. I don't think he's had any issues with paint at all. Several other parts painted as well shown.

_Onyx_Wolf_ · 01-19-2015, 10:30 PM

not bad, do you know how he was able to paint the metal underneath the intake manifold?

Jason@JacFab · 01-19-2015, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Onyx_Wolf_

not bad, do you know how he was able to paint the metal underneath the intake manifold?

If you're talking about the lower intake part that's aluminum, I'm not sure that it was even painted, have to wait for him to reply I guess. I've only seen pictures of this upper composite portion of his intake painted. The valve/cam covers are plastic also, so nbd?

This is the only LFX intake I've ever seen pictures of painted. I don't think anyone else has ever bothered, or just left the engine cover on.

etmx183 · 01-20-2015, 11:31 AM

I painted the entire intake with KRYLON FUSION plastic paint. I used their white as a base ( 3 coats ) than used their Sun Yellow as the top coat. ( 3 coats ). The black was done with a Sharpie. It was done 2.5 years ago and I did not use any top coat or clear. It lasted great until I blew the intake apart this past November. The paint still held on just in many pieces now. The valve covers were done with the same paint and look great even today. The clean up very easy too. The road dirt/dust 90% of the time I just used compressed air and it all comes clean. Every once in a while I'll use some Adams waterless wash and a soft brush to get every dirt particle out. Jason you are free to use any of my photos anytime. FYI I see the 2014 LFX now has aluminum valve covers.

etmx183 · 01-20-2015, 06:39 PM

Paint held up good I think. :-)

_Onyx_Wolf_ · 01-24-2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etmx183

I painted the entire intake with KRYLON FUSION plastic paint. I used their white as a base ( 3 coats ) than used their Sun Yellow as the top coat. ( 3 coats ). The black was done with a Sharpie. It was done 2.5 years ago and I did not use any top coat or clear. It lasted great until I blew the intake apart this past November. The paint still held on just in many pieces now. The valve covers were done with the same paint and look great even today. The clean up very easy too. The road dirt/dust 90% of the time I just used compressed air and it all comes clean. Every once in a while I'll use some Adams waterless wash and a soft brush to get every dirt particle out. Jason you are free to use any of my photos anytime. FYI I see the 2014 LFX now has aluminum valve covers.

how did you go about painting your valve covers and could you polish them as well?

etmx183 · 01-24-2015, 08:45 PM

Same procedure on the valve covers I used on the intake. No polishing the valve covers the are plastic and had noise covers on them. 2014 Valve covers I'm looking into because the seem to be cast aluminum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Onyx_Wolf_

how did you go about painting your valve covers and could you polish them as well?

etmx183 · 01-24-2015, 08:48 PM

A better picture of the valve covers when I was installing the JacFab lower intake spacers.

KMPrenger · 01-24-2015, 10:14 PM

Painted valve covers on the LLT/LFX look pretty sexy in my opinion.

Some of the LLTs with the polished intake (like mine!

) and painted covers (mine doesn't have this

) look pretty damned awesome and great for showing.

So why would they change to aluminum covers? I don't see any weight or heat advantages over the plastic....or am I missing something?

JantzenOKC · 01-24-2015, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Painted valve covers on the LLT/LFX look pretty sexy in my opinion.

Some of the LLTs with the polished intake (like mine!

) and painted covers (mine doesn't have this

) look pretty damned awesome and great for showing.

So why would they change to aluminum covers? I don't see any weight or heat advantages over the plastic....or am I missing something?

Idk but I have the aluminum valve covers and I've been to toying with the idea of taking mine off and having them polished professionally. I think it would look good.

etmx183 · 01-25-2015, 06:30 AM

Not sure on why they changed over. Maybe better sealing around the spark plugs holes. Over the next month or two I'll have a set of plastic and aluminum and maybe I'll be able to see a difference.

01-19-2015, 08:59 PM	#1
_Onyx_Wolf_ Onyx_Z7 <— Instagram Drives: 2013 2ss 1le Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 634	polished LFX Intake Manifold? Seeing how the LFX intake manifold is some type of composite plastic would it be possible to paint it a chrome or polished look? or would the paint not hold very well

01-24-2015, 10:14 PM	#12
KMPrenger Drives: 16 Camaro SS, 15 Colorado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 13,967	Painted valve covers on the LLT/LFX look pretty sexy in my opinion. Some of the LLTs with the polished intake (like mine! ) and painted covers (mine doesn't have this ) look pretty damned awesome and great for showing. So why would they change to aluminum covers? I don't see any weight or heat advantages over the plastic....or am I missing something? __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS - 8-speed - NPP - Black bowties 2010 Camaro 1LT V6 (Sold. I will miss her!)

01-19-2015, 10:12 PM	#2
Jason@JacFab Drives: 2016 1LT RS Camaro; 72 Chevelle Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Point, OR Posts: 5,685 View My Garage	If you do some digging you can find some pictures of a few painted LFX intakes (normal colors)... I've never seen a "chromed" LFX intake, but if you can find the right place to do it, it can be done. There used to be a place here locally that had this magic spray chrome that could be applied to any material, but they went out of a business a few years ago, mostly due to poor organization. This is the process I was thinking of: I've seen it in person, and it's pretty amazing, some kind of chemical reaction, it seems to stand up real well too, a friend of mine had his welding hood done in it and granted it's got some burns on it from welding, it still looks chrom-ey, and it's about 5-6 years old now. Something else you might think about is having the intake hydro-dipped... Lots of different patterns to choose from. I imagine it would stand up just fine if a high quality clear coat was used. Maybe etmx183 will post a picture of his painted intake, it looks pretty cool.

01-19-2015, 10:16 PM	#3
_Onyx_Wolf_ Onyx_Z7 <— Instagram Drives: 2013 2ss 1le Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 634	that looks good, and yeah i kinda wish the lfx manifold had the type of material the llt had it would be so much easier just to polish it lol.

01-19-2015, 10:30 PM	#5
_Onyx_Wolf_ Onyx_Z7 <— Instagram Drives: 2013 2ss 1le Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 634	not bad, do you know how he was able to paint the metal underneath the intake manifold?

01-20-2015, 11:31 AM	#7
etmx183 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 1,633 View My Garage	I painted the entire intake with KRYLON FUSION plastic paint. I used their white as a base ( 3 coats ) than used their Sun Yellow as the top coat. ( 3 coats ). The black was done with a Sharpie. It was done 2.5 years ago and I did not use any top coat or clear. It lasted great until I blew the intake apart this past November. The paint still held on just in many pieces now. The valve covers were done with the same paint and look great even today. The clean up very easy too. The road dirt/dust 90% of the time I just used compressed air and it all comes clean. Every once in a while I'll use some Adams waterless wash and a soft brush to get every dirt particle out. Jason you are free to use any of my photos anytime. FYI I see the 2014 LFX now has aluminum valve covers.

01-20-2015, 06:39 PM	#8
etmx183 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 1,633 View My Garage	Paint held up good I think. :-)

01-24-2015, 08:48 PM	#11
etmx183 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 1,633 View My Garage	A better picture of the valve covers when I was installing the JacFab lower intake spacers.

01-25-2015, 06:30 AM	#14
etmx183 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 1,633 View My Garage	Not sure on why they changed over. Maybe better sealing around the spark plugs holes. Over the next month or two I'll have a set of plastic and aluminum and maybe I'll be able to see a difference.