Technical Finish for cast iron exhaust manifold

I seem to remember a thread that covered this topic but can't find it now. I've got some old rams horn exhaust manifolds for a 283. Is there any finish that will stand up to the heat (powder coat, paint, etc.?) Or should I just leave them the way they are since that is how they will end up anyway?

 

eastwood or POR15. The POR did good for me. I avoid anything from Eastwood

 

I cleaned up a set on my 57 Fuely and used the grey cast iron look from POR15-put on BBQ for a while and installed--looked great 4 yrs later.

 

Blasted mine real good, painted with VHT black and cured in an oven. They have been fine 5 years so far.

 

I used some Eastwood stainless steel paint for exhaust manifolds several years ago and it aged well and looked fine. Fast forward and two years ago I wanted to freshen them up, but had to buy more paint. Now they look like ****!

 

I always thought the rust color looked more natural than any of the paints or other finishes. I guess I'm weird.

 

I like the rust color on exhaust manifolds because it is cheap and easy.
My issue is the heat crossover on my Pontiac intake. I think that it looks ****py next to the nice paint. It would be nice to be able to paint the intake so that it all stayed the same color.

 

Sand blast to get the paint to stick
used vht for mine

Several years later


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I recommend a product made by Cerakote, it's a high temp. coating, I've used on several SBC ram horn manifolds as well a complete exhaust systems. It requires a oven that reaches 250-300 degrees. Most powder coaters have access to this product, it's available in many colors. Here are a couple of pictures of a manifold and exhaust I ground them smooth before taking it to the coater. I have spilled oil on them and it wipes off with no stains and also very durable, much thinner than powder coating.

 

I've seen threads on using brush or spray on graphite. Anyone done this? The graphite is supposed to burn in.

Always wanted to try it, but haven't used cast manifolds on anything for a long time.

 

Powder Coat Black..on the wagon,after 5 years they still look good. HRP

 

I'm a recovering corvette guy so bear with me. I used manifold dressing for years on several corvettes and it works good. Sold by Ecklers for restorers, you apply it with a rag, rub it in and it looks perfect. When the manifold needs touching up, no need to remove it. Works on M/C too. Calyx manifold dressing. Keep it on your touch up kit in the trunk.

 

Used Calyx dressing only during my Corvette Concouring years, worked great & would touch up with an old tootbrush as it's messy ****........

Have also used VHT paint on hotrod headers........no problems at all........of course, follow directions on curing paint applied..........no flaking off and cleans up well with Simple Green........

 

X2 on the messy **** comment. Great idea on the toothbrush,

 

I've used weld through primer in the past. It worked and didn't peel off.

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Jet Hot Coatings

http://www.jet-hot.com/

Do it once and forget about it.

Oldmics

 

Performance coatings in Georgia has a cast iron looking ceramic coating. Looks exactly like cast iron and never changes color or corrodes. Also great people to deal with.

 

I think the original color was the engine color anyways. I saw some 60s Chevy ***embly factory photos and that surprised me. Figures though.



Personally I like to sand blast them and rub bacon grease into them. Gives them a nice look and smell.

 

por 15 silver manifold paint.

 

I don't think I've ever owned anything that I could call a Hot Rod that had cast manifolds on it

 

It all baked off by the time we got ahold of them.

 

Mine are ceramic coated. Best $200 I have spent on my truck.

 

Then there's Porcelin like the Pre-war Packards & other high-end "Cl***ics" used : there are still a few shops that do it for restorers & it's EXPENSIVE!!!, but it sure looks GOOD, especially if the manifolds were de-burred first!

 

I have used stove polish on cast iron exhaust manifolds and it looks great.

 

Spray graphite from a can works! It goes on like paint...dries to a look like natural cast iron, and very easy to touch up.

 

How long does it last between touchups

 

X 2 thats what I did.

 

Cerakote is the way to go. I use GH Coating in Washington state.

 

Donut Dave is there somewhere here in AZ you are going too

 

I really like the Eastwood stainless exhaust paint. Have done a couple cars and they look like new many years later. Have had zero success with VHT and other paints. Actually, powder coating works great for exhaust systems down stream of the headers. Headers, do Jet-Hot ceramic for fancy look, Eastwood stainless paint for stock look, powder coat everything else.