Solex Dual Carb Manifold - to paint or not to paint

[Whaanga]

I’m prepping a set of Solex Dual carbs to replace my single Weber on my ‘73 bus. When these were new, did they come painted (if so, what color), treated in some way, or left to slowly rust themselves into oblivion?

Thanks,

Jeff

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Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[old DKP driver]

They are cast iron and came without paint but, You definitely can paint them
High heat paint.
Black ? Silver ? Will look good with the carbs.
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V.W.owner since 1967

[busdaddy]

They were once painted grey like mufflers or single carb manifolds IIRC.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

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[old DKP driver]

Bus daddy,
I could only find 1 picture of the painted intake manifolds and that was on
Richard Atwell’s website of his old 72 bus.
Literally found at least 50 unpainted in 10 minutes
I started working at a VW dealership in April 1971 and did quite a few
P.D.I. Inspections that had the manifolds unpainted
My 1972 that I purchased in August 72 also had the manifolds unpainted
I still have them in the garage. Just saying what I have seen.
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V.W.owner since 1967

[busdaddy]

[old DKP driver]

I’ll take the same answer as location probably is the correct answer.
I really didn’t pay much attention to the color until I started thinking
About all the egr valves that failed in 1973-1974 on the god awful
Setup with the freeway of pipes and the smog pump 🤬
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V.W.owner since 1967

[Whaanga]

This is what I love about this forum - there is a great sense of community where folks help one another. Thank You for the chance to learn.

Now I have a big decision: to paint or not to paint.
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Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[orwell84]

Mine look just like that. I can just smell that old gasoline metal dead oil smell. It’s the smell of a junkyard on a hot day. It’s the smell of...victory.

[Xevin]

[quote ="Whaanga"]

[/quote]

My 72s look just like that, with less orange coloring in your picture. Maybe a little green or red Scotch brite pad rub and tug to clean them up. Then roll them as is Perhaps a little oil or something to season them like cast iron pans. Something that doesn’t attract dust and dirt. Brake cleaner comes to mind for those. Thinking out loud.
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Keep on Busin'

[old DKP driver]

Damn Xevin,
If I was a youngster I would paint them too!
My old sheet metal in the Chilada is Red and the fan housing is black
Sounded good to me and, looked good too,
But, now since the pandemic has brought me back to the Samba
I’ll be making my 110 hp. Engine purrdy Goin back to
Black tin and a silver fan housing.

P.S. hoping we can meet @ Clatters sometime soon.
Chris
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V.W.owner since 1967