The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Exhaust manifold paint

Is there any paint or coating system that really lasts for exhaust manifolds, or is it best to just leave them rust?

I used Eastwoods S.S. exhaust coating, so far I cannott comment as to how it work on the road, will be finding out soon and will post to its performance.

I used Por-15 product and got two results. I sandblasted both and baked them after painting.
The one that still looks good is probably due to the fact that I haven't fired up the motor, the other one showed rust in the first year, but I ran that motor.
I talked to a Por15 rep and he said sandblasting was not the best way to prep the metal for their product.
I sprayed the Exh. pipe with rattle can HiTemp paint and it did as well as Por15...showing some rust.
Moral here is, Don't fire up the motor or find a better product.
I'm looking for that product.
Dan

I've never tried this but I will try on something eventually. Sounds like a great idea. It's about half way down the page under manifolds.
Dan

I used the Eastwood aerosol spray hi-temp manifold paint and it looked great until it got wet -- then it rusted.

Here is the pertinent information from Dan's link, above:

Spray Manifolds Gray

Exhaust manifolds may not be the ultimate in flow, but they fit right, they usually seal well, and they look stock.

Unfortunately, they also usually look like hell, thanks to rust. You've probably tried to paint them only to have it burn off and look worse. Try this: Pull the manifolds out, strip them down to clean iron, either in a sandblast cabinet or with a wire brush, then get a can of spray graphite lubricant and follow up with a soft rag to rub it in. The spray is powdered lead in an oily binder, and it will make the manifolds look like fresh, bare, cast iron, but it won't burn off. When it eventually gets to looking shoddy again, get out the spray can and touch it up.

Sounds like good old high-quality wood-burning stove blackening; or, Calyx Manifold Coating

Does anyone have first-hand experience with this type of product?

I used Eastwoods on mine also. It burned off in about a year of use. So I sent my fentons out to get hot-jet coated. After three years they still look like the day they were coated. I think it cost me around $80 but it's worth it, not having to touch up the manifolds in the engine compartment when they start to look bad. Just my $0.02

George

What exactly are you refering to George? Hot-jet, is that a brand name, or do you mean aluminized or metalized or powder coated?
Can you be a little more specific as to what the process or product or vendor is/was?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

tc
Have you used the Eastwood product or graphite? Sounds like a great idea.........Am waiting on someone to try......Come on .....You know you wanta.....Ok I'll try it on sumtin.
Dan

I don't know how long it would last but someone here on the bolt suggested or had tried the old wood stove polish from a hardware store and if I remember right it worked nice. Just depends on your funds at the time!

Dan,

I am thinking of using the Calyx product on some Fenton headers this spring (unless I get them coated by Jet-Hot or AirBorn Coatings).

Tim

I have the info somewhere around here from Jet-Hot, and if my memory is still working, I think they wanted nearly $265 to coat my exhaust manifold on my 230. I thought it to be kinda high.

I use Eastwood cast iron gray on all my exhuast manifolds with good results. A pint will do many manifolds.

Back in the brown-shoe-days we used to wipe a hot manifold down with hydraulic fluid. It has the same effect as "seasoning" a cast iron skillet... and it works. Just freshen it up every so often.

I've used the Calyx product with extraordinary results. Bought mine from Eastwood but other suppliers have it and it's a little cheaper.

I've used it on intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, steering boxes, and master cylinders. I removed and media blasted some. Others I just wire brushed a little and applied the product with a toothbrush leaving the part in place on the vehicle. At $20 for a small jar I thought it was a bit pricey but after everything I've done I still have over 2/3 of the jar left. Just make sure you work the product into all the little crevices and continue to brush to a nice mellow shine.

I previously had exhaust manifolds powder coated but it was pricey and they didn't come out looking nearly as nice and natural. Plus you can touch up your work later if a problem arises (hasn't happened yet).

Arch,

Thanks for the information. It's always nice to hear from someone has has first-hand experience with a product. I am going to give the Calyx product a try on a set of Fenton headers that I had painted (brand new) with Eastwood's cast iron gray (for manifolds) but they show rust. This will be a cheap any easy experiment.

Tim

Oh I just gotta stir the pot a little Tim. I've been following a thread over on the VCCA chat on engine paint, not what color this time but what was painted. According to the "experts" the intake and exhaust manifolds and clamps and gaskets and bolts were all painted the engine color. This was based on archived photographs and first hand from one of the former heads at the GM proving grounds.
Which means that, for the exhaust manifold to be showroom original, it should be "caramelized dark gray"!!!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny, What are you saying...It isn't right unless it looks like the day it left the assembly plant?
If that be the case, why ? Does it look better ?
I find so many faster , easier, cheaper, ways the manufacturer used that does not look good I can't help myself from making an improvement to make something look better.
Take for instance the splash of inspection paint all over the truck frame and driveline. Red, grn,yellow paint and blu on the rear axle of some.
I realize why its there but I don't think it makes a resto job look better. Then there's the sloppy way adhesive was applied at the factory to W/S and to hide all the adhesive so it is not seen would not be factory like.
I'd rather it did not show and do a neat job, but there again....it's not factory like.
And the list can go on and on about how the factory did it.
It's all in what you want....make it look crappy like the factory did, or do it nice like they should have done,but were not willing to do because of cost.
Dan

Actually the gray painted exhaust manifold after a short time on the road turned white and then eventually rusted.

Hey guys, can I take my toungue out of my cheek now???
I was just kinda pokin some fun at this one!!!
Denny G

Here's a little follow-up. I tried Calyx Manifold Dressing (type that in Google, you'll find it) about a year ago now and it is great stuff. Gives the cast look you want, stays soft, won't burn off or crack, and real easy to redo a few spots if you need to. Great stuff.

I've driven about 1000 miles with it on. Only problem is when wash truck and water gets on (drips thru hood hinge), and let set a few days after, some little rust spots form. Probably because I didn't rub in the Calyx real good at first. But only takes about 10 minutes to make look like new again, right there on the engine, not unbolt the manifold. I've just learned to start up engine after wash, so manifold dries off quickly. Looks like new a year later.

I agree 46 panel. I rubbed it in/on my manifolds after I blasted them and they look really nice. I haven't started the engine up yet but they look nice. Thanks for the tidbit on water spotting. I'll make sure I get her good and hot right after a wash job. that stuff goes a long way to.

This is "two years into Calyx" all I did one day was wire brush what I could reach with a wire tooth brush. On the rebuild I'll "glass bead blast it" before applying the Calyx.
This stuff has to be some sort of graphite since it is still rubbing off after a couple of years. Here a picture of the manifold off the truck during the teardown this summer (2010).
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/124991344/large
I really like it better than paint as it does look a lot more original than paint.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

thanks for confirming it Denny. Your manifold still looks good. Its good to know I made a good decision!!

Denny,

Has any water touched the manifold since you applied the Calyx Dressing? Have you sprayed any water on the manifold, to clean the engine?

No Tim, I treat water like acid. I figure the old gal has seen enough water and mud in her life time. I have gotten caught in the rain a few times when I was away from home.
Like I said, all I did is a quick wire brush one day and them rubbed in the paste. I never reapplyed it after the first time.
Still like to know just what's in it.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL