Here's what I did:
• 1200º BBQ black paint on the block fins
• Head left in bare aluminum
• Aluminum bearing plate and cam cover in natural finish with clear coat
• Valve cover and throttle pivot wire brushed and clear coated
All the parts left in natural finish were done this way because they showed a high level of paint chipping when I tore it down. Also, aluminum does not hold paint all that well.
HTH
