Tarting up my engine

[bill_face]

Hello all.

I'm restoring a 1979 GS550, and am wondering about how the engine would have originally been treated. The bottom end is in fairly good nick and I think is original (matt aluminium colour), and I'm thinking i'll leave it as is having cleaned it. I am getting the head and side covers blasted (by a local firm with a good reputation) as they have previously been painted non-standard colours.

Would the head have orignally had been a lacquered? or sprayed? All the VHT spray paint seems to be matt (and seemingly not that good)
I'm guessing the side covers would have been a polished and lacquered finish.

I'll attach a pic of the pre cleaned state of my bike, and what I'm aiming for is here:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjb0uaL6ofcAhWDXhQKHUfLB3gQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorcyclespecs.co.za%2Fmodel%2Fsuzu%2Fsuzuki_gs550%252077.htm&psig=AOvVaw2iCa_pGGOqTr_P10QOT8ZR&ust=1530875581903747

Any thoughts anyone?

Cheers

[Nessism]

The head, cylinder, valve cover, and upper crankcase half were all painted silver from new. The bottom crankcase half was raw aluminum, and the engine side covers had a brushed finish applied and were then clear coated. VHT paint is popular but it's nowhere near as tough as the original paint. Unfortunately, I have no recommendation of anything better.

[red1100]

I didn?t think the org finishes were all that good. I had a 74 GT 750 that ended up losing most of the clear and tarnished in the open areas. Haven?t done it yet but my guess is some of the new clear paint formulas are going to last a lot longer.

[posplayr]

Por 15 have a satin clear I have used on wheels. You still have to prep properly. They have And recommend a commercial degreaser and metal prep for aluminum. If you don’t use the prep the corrosion can still form under the paint. I did a silver motor and used s silver paint.