Exhaust Manifold Refurbish? What type of product to use?

[DJ8226]

Evening Gents can anyone advise me on how to refurbish my exhaust manifolds. If I paint them is high temp paint the best 'cheapest route'. What temp range can powder coat withstand or is this not suitable. Sorry if its a dumb question on the powder coating just not sure how much heat PC can withstand. All advice appreciated. Thanks.

[GreenV8S]

DJ8226 said:

Evening Gents can anyone advise me on how to refurbish my exhaust manifolds. If I paint them is high temp paint the best 'cheapest route'. What temp range can powder coat withstand or is this not suitable. Sorry if its a dumb question on the powder coating just not sure how much heat PC can withstand. All advice appreciated. Thanks.

PC will burn off within a few seconds. You need high temperature exhaust paint that will cope with around 800-1000C. There are various high temperature exhaust paints that go up to that sort of range. Usually they need the manifold blasting first to get a clean surface to bind to. I went for 'black satin' ceramic paint to try to reduce the amount of heat going in to the engine bay. The paint was quite expensive even as a DIY job but a fraction of the cost of a professional cermachrome style coating. I wouldn't claim the ceramic paint made a huge difference but every bit helps, and it looks quite smart (and lasts a hell of a lot better than the exhaust wrap which preceded it).

[phillpot]

Any of those "VHT" type paints won't stick unless manifolds are spotless, wire brushing is not sufficient, as Peter said sand blasting is required.
After finding that out the hard way I used some cheap 'n cheerful barbeque paint from B&Q, seems to be holding on quite well.
Not the best picture, they have gone a bit "mottley" I think its where I've splashed them (probably while still hot) when washing the car?



I know that clamp is a disgrace, I need a new one (actually need a lot more than just a clamp now but that's another story......)

[shoab]

Hi I have got these for my pipes. I get real fed up with how much the usual clamps distort the shape of the pipes especially when people tighten them out of all existence ! These should be OK and cause less distortion, not fitted them yet, just need to make sure the size is right first as I got the same size for both ends of the downpipes. I measured the pipes and these are in range. Will let you know !

Regards

Graham


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150632531830?ssPageName=...

[DJ8226]

Hi Thanks for the replies. Anyone tried Halford VHT paint?

[Griffinr]

DJ8226 said:

Hi Thanks for the replies. Anyone tried Halford VHT paint?

Yep, no good over rust, it fell off. I'm with Philpot, B & Q barbeque paint, its actually designed for rusty metal, especialy the Rustoleum brand. The manifolds look quite nice in charcoal black as well.

Rob.

[v8s4me]

I used the Halfords stuff on new metal and it fell off PDQ.

[shoab]

I'll just tag this quickie on to this thread if I may.

Just about to refit my exhaust...originally the centre mountings had two long bolts through the chassis brackets in and down through the silencer mounting brackets, in between the two steel brackets are two rubber "doughnuts". It seems to me that this arrangement will allow the exhaust to move around quite a bit as there is no positive location.

Has anyone used the larger type cotton reel mountings on the silencer. (It is a heavy system) !
The rear mounting, can, only, be a bolt and the doughnut method due to how the fixed nut on the tank is utilised ?


Regards

Graham

PS will report on the stainless clips mentioned earlier in this thread soon, they are a perfect fit for the header to downpipe, its just whether the same size will fit the down pipe to silencer, or, I need a smaller size, (hopefully not) !

[GreenV8S]

Those Mikalor T-bolt clamps are also a good way to save half an inch or so of ground clearance if you have trouble with the exhaust grounding out.

[gifdy]

Out of interest, I got a quote from Zircotec for their 'basic' primary black coating. Came in at £400 for both (V8) manifolds. They claim it reduces the surface temperature by 25%, their 'performance' range reduces by 33% but was even more, £580.

[greymrj]

I agree with Peter, those Mikalor clamps are much better: they dont distort the pipes as much and they have gained me an important little bit of ground clearance and I no longer have exhaust clamp bolts trying to dig into the ground or the sump! I also agree that the Halford HT paint proved pretty poor on my manifolds, admitted the manifolds were cleaned with the twisted wire type of power wire brush rather than blasting. Next time.....????

[TurboTony]

Has anyone tried stove paint? - aerosols used for painting wood burning stoves. It is available in a range of different colours and can withstand high temperatures(!). I have painted loads of stoves with this stuff but never used it on a manifold. Just a thought.

Cheers
Tony

[Barkychoc]

I had my manifolds shot blasted and painted them with the halfords vht paint and it stayed put - so blasting is clearly required. It covers really well but one can does not last long - I think I used at least one can per manifold (v8)

[shoab]

Hi Guys

just an update on the pipe clamps the size I used fitted the header and the downpipe end. The lower one clamped almost right up but clamped the pipes sufficiently so that was OK !

Regards

Graham