The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Recommendation High Temp Paint/Coatings: Manifolds

Going to Blast & Paint my Manifolds on my 1929 When I tear the top half town.

Based no my reading Here and Elsewhere Most people Paint the Intake the same color as the Engine, then the exhaust goes all over the color spectrum. Most seem to Go Cast Iron Gray, so it looks like a fresh Casting. Seen em all Colors though...

Question is what is the BEST & MOST Durable High Temp Paint/ Coating for an Exhaust Manifold.

Here are some that I Found:

Paint/ Coating for Manifolds
POR-15® - High Temp Paint
KBS Coatings - Xtreme Temperature Coating
Eastwood - Hi-Temp Coating
VHT - FlameProof™ Coating
Eastwood - Calyx Manifold Coating
Other - Post n Tell

Ive used Eastwood ex. manifold paint. It is real good.
Ive also used the VHT. It is not rated as high temperature as the Eastwood.
That stuff is very toxic. Do it outside or in a room you are not going to be in for a few hours.

I've found the the best solution is the Calyx coating. I usually touch mine up with a fresh application in the spring but it stays looking good all thru the driving season. The paint products do a good job but are almost impossible to touch up and usually will require taking the manifold off and starting over with a complete re-coat.

I used VHT and tried to cure it in a kitchen oven, which doesn't get as hot as the recommended cure. The top coat started coming off in less than a year. The prime coat is still holding up after 4-5 years.

eastwood has do it yourself ceramic coating, which is still shiny 3 years later.

I have never had good long term results with any paint for exhaust manifolds. Someone mentioned that barbecue paint works and is cheap. So far it seems to work as well as any other paint.
don

I have used POR-15 Exhaust manifold paint ( cast iron look) for many years.

I have a 49 Willys Jeepster with a Buick V6 & Hedman headers on it.
I put two coats of that stuff on them in 1999 and they still look fresh and silvery.

I also used it on the 455 Buick manifolds that are in my 51 panel truck. Did them
about 4 years ago and they still look like new. You HAVE TO make sure
that the surfaces are absolutely free of grease grime rust and foreign materials.
I spritz on a metal prep solution just before painting. Once that's dry brush the paint on and use two coats.

I've heard of people using John Deere muffler paint.

I've also used Calyx on my exhaust manifold for the past 2 years. Touch it up in the Spring using a toothbrush, and it's good to go until the next Spring. Brush it on, run the engine, and it cures itself. Folks here on the Stovebolt turned me on to it.

Calyx on my 261 original-intake and dual Fenton exhaust manifolds for about 5 years. 15-30 minutes of re-application/touch-up each Spring (as described by Rick and Don, above). No worry about chips/cracks/bubbling.

....and another that uses Calyx. A nice coat in the spring and it looks like it did originally. As mentioned, its a breeze to touch up in a few minutes. A small plastic cup of it will do two or three pairs of manifolds....or touch ups.

...I have noticed it will sort of dry out a little over time so I keep mine in a zip lock bag. No problems.

Jerry,

I'm sure you already know this, but I thought I'd mention it for other new guys. The manifolds were originally installed on the engine before the engine was painted at the factory, so they were the engine color.

Mike B

Yeah I figured that one out, and figured the Paint burnt off pretty quick.

I see n that most people have done either the manifold gray to make it look like new cast metal and keep that look or they go with a black. both of which i think look great.

even seen a few that done the intake the engine color and then the exhaust in either gray or black, looks really sharp.

just trying to figure out HOW to tackle mine.

Jerry,

Both manifolds were originally painted engine color.

I say paint it the way you like it, it's your truck!

Mike B

lol, yeah i agree....

So I am thinking, engine to be the Chevrolet factory blue-gray color, Dark. Exhaust manifold (maybe Intake Manifold as well) a nice satin or flat black, along with the starter, carb, generator, distributor, air cleaner & tube.

on the fence about intake.. do it black with teh exhaust OR paint it engine color ?!?

The intake won't get hot enough to burn off the dark gray (more like light black in my opinion) engine paint.
Carl

Well ordered some High Temp paint last night for my Exhaust Manifold...

Color Scheme:
Engine-> Chevy Grey
Engine Accessories-> Satin Black
Exhaust Manifold-> Satin Black
Intake Manifold-> Chevy Grey

Will see how it turns out