I want to coat the exhaust on the modified. I am leaning toward white VHT paint. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Not sure how hot your pipes get but you might be able to get away with white BBQ paint if you are having a tough time finding the VHT. How's your '55 doing?
Deyomatic, Good to hear from you. I tried some black BBQ paint before and it all just burnt off. I am pretty sure I can get some white VHT. The pipes are starting to get surface rust and I need to do something soon. I will have them sandblasted before I do anything. The '55 is running real nice. I took it up north on a long trip recently and cruising we got 25 miles to the gallon. Geez, I love that O/D trans. I am fitting a tow bar to the '55 to enable me to tow the modified to runs. So now I will get all the flack about trailer cars. How's your '55 going? Alfster
I tried to use black BBQ paint on my headers, and it failed miserably. But on the plus side, now the pipes match the body. Jake
I've been using POR-15 High heat stuff and it seems to work fairly well. They don't have a white color, but there is a bright aluminum that might suit your tastes. Here's the link http://www.por15.com/subcat.asp?id=4
Good to know, sounds like the VHT is the way to go, then. I think it's funny (ridiculous) when people****** about a tow car when the tow car is old, too. Oh well. Mine is under snow right now. As soon as I get the motivation I'll dig it out and start on my "to do" list. Unfortunately, item 1 on that list involves drilling for a new grounding strap, and I don't feel like braving the single digit temps to do that. Oh well... soon enough! Good luck with the headers. send me some pics of the towing rig with trailer/modified on back. I think they make cool pics....
I like that kind too Good luck with the headers. send me some pics of the towing rig with trailer/modified on back. I think they make cool pics....[/QUOTE]
I'm trying some new stuff on mine from DEI its called Hi-Temp Silicone coating. Supposed to be good to 1500 degrees. We'll see I guess. I've had pretty good luck with VHT but I've never been able to keep paint on one with mufflers.
Alfster, I have had headers Aluminium metal sprayed and they came up really nice. It comes out as a bright white finish. It's traditional as well - one of my early sixties Hot Rod yearbooks has a feature on it as a good way to protect your headers. Speaking of early sixties books, I got two of your sixties rodding books from David at the Kumeu swapmeet. What do I owe you for those ?? cheers, Simon
I have had exhausts and intakes Aluminum sprayed in the past and yes it does look good. I am still leaning toward VHT. Check it out at the Beach Hop. Dunno what the magazines are worth. David wanted to have a look and then he tells me he has given some to you and some to someone else. (can't remember who?) Catch up with you somewhere along the line and we will work out something. Gotta be worth less than a thousand dollars each (ha ha ha)
i thought you down undah types called em ,,,what was it, "extractors" ?? lol say, whats the cost on aluminum spraying, and what kinda shops do it? Thanks Traves
I have used VHT a few times. I have black on my dirtbike, and white on the headers in my Comet. It gets a little rusty after a year on the part of the headers that hang down under the frame, but that is driving it everyday in Oregon weather (rain). I once left some mud on the muffler on the dirtbike, and that ate through it. If you want white, go with the VHT. If black is fine, you might try http://techlinecoatings.com/Exhaust.htm . With the VHT, it pays to follow the directions to the letter. http://www.speco.com.au/vht_faq.html (scroll down a little). I used a BBQ to cure mine. They didnt fit in it, so I just did one half at a time and closed the lid as much as I could. You can get a BBQ/oven thermometer at the grocery store.
I used POR-15 on the headders on my flathead powered modified. used a brush to put it on and they have held up very well for the last 3 yrs, with 2 trips to Bonneville included. they are just starting to have a little rust show thru. now they have just the right patina to match the rest of the car. i used the cast iron grey color on them.
I have seen a white thermal coating that is good to at least 2400 deg that is by Swain Tech coatings, and the finish is rough like sandpaper. http://www.swaintech.com/
Whatever you do don't waste your money on the stuff Eastwood sells for exhaust manifolds. Did exactly per instructions (sandblasted etc.) and it still came off and rust started showing. The guy that suggested it to me come to find out had never even started his friggin engine! No damn wonder it looked so good after 2 years.....
The POR 15 coating is the best and longest lasting I have found, sandblasting first and painting right away after makes it even better
Alfster, Just thought I'd through in a comment here. I have done the "extractors" on my flathead in VHT paint. The car has been on the road a year eactly (got rego due in four days!) and I notices last week that rust is starting to show through. I generally don't run a bonnet though and the car does see regular rain,,, Later Adam F.
There used to be a company that did the ceramic coating in different colors. I remember black, white and red (how gay would red be!) I haven't seen anything on them in a while. Don't know if they are still doing it. Clark
Alfster, If u use VHT white or black heres a tip I found that works reall well and I believe adds to its longevity. After you sandblast your headers, hang'em up with hooks and make sure you dont touch them with your bare hands. Get out your gas torch and get some uniform heat into 'em across the part that your gonna paint. Dont get it super hot mind you but warm enuff to burn your hand if you leave it on too long. If you look closely at the metal you'll see moisture flashing off the surface you are about to paint. Once you get it warm all over....spray a LIGHT dust coat over the component and let it flash off which it will b/c of the heat. Then hit it with a slightly heavier coat and let it sit for 3-5 mins or so. Then give it a third coat and you're good to go. VHT is not the longest lasting but prepping it this way well help it stay put HEAPS longer... Ive done my whole exhaust this way and it came up real sano. Hope this helps Rat
depends on how much you want to spend... I found some rattle can high-heat exhaust paint, with ceramic, at autozone thats held up pretty good. but you could also check out Jet Hot... http://www.jet-hot.com/
I had the headers (extractors) sand blasted and painted them VHT flat white. They look good so time will tell how well they last. Then after I got it running I found an oil leak on the side plate on the other side of the motor. I fixed that and then it broke the waterpump pulley. Geez, don't ya just love hot rodding.
Well, the white VHT wasn't such a good idea. It marked and stained real easy and was all but impossible to clean. So, we changed it to silver Pro Coat. Along with getting the rocker cover chromed. It is now in storage awaiting a magazine photo shoot on Friday morning.
There are a lot of high heat powders for powder coating out now, in all kinds of crazy colors... and the big secret to ceramic coating is to have them do the inside as well as the outside....
We found a local powder coater that could do white and silver. Didn't ask about any other colors. Fatabones car was the first we had done. Cost was about $280 for the whole exhaust system. It seems to be holding up pretty well. Alfster...still love your car!! Even though I love white headers the silver does look better on your car. Clark
Just by way of comparison, it cost me about $200 to send my headers to Jet-Hot and have them done-but they look really good.
Just a quick note this stuff failed misserably. I usually don't just out and out badmouth a product but this stuff didn't last 15 minutes on my headers and I did it all by the book, MEK, cureing at 400 degrees etc.
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