exhuast manifold paint/engine painting

danp76

danp76

Oldtimer
Have you guys found any paint that actually will hold up and look decent on cast iron exhaust manifolds? Also, what paint procedures have you found produce the best long-lasting finish for engine painting? I have been epoxy priming and then using single stage urethane on engines so far.
 
epoxy primer and urethane singlestage for the motor. My machinist coats exhaust manifolds and headers in black, grey, white, orange, and blue. I can't remember what the product is called but it gets applied with a touchup gun after the part is sand blasted, then he cures it in the parts oven. They seem to last longer than ceramicote. You could probably send the manifolds to him, he charges $80-$100 for a set of headers I think but manifolds are smaller. http://www.yellowpages.com/lanse-mi/mip/north-central-engine-1058796
 
I use polyurethane single stage on motors after sandblasting and a quick coat of Sikkens CR wash primer. The exhaust manifolds are done in POR 15 manifold gray

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Eastwood makes a high-heat ceramic engine paint...waste of money?...or is it better then using automotive paint?...., claims to resist heat up to 650 F.
 
if your looking for a real nice high heat matte black then the house of kolor hh-04 is super. good for 1400deg i think. i have used cerakote before and that is real nice as well but i dont like their black. it gets grey with a purplish tone to it. the tungsten color they have is killer. the hok looks great for years and stays nice and black. you spray it on. its 1k. you can handle it when its dry but it wont be durable until it gets hot. the heat makes the chem reaction and kicks it off. i do small parts and stick them in front of the forced air heater. they smoke for a few min and when cool its all done.

http://www.cerakotehightemp.com
 
HI Jim, I want to use a metallic blue, typical of olds 455 engines in the 70's. I'm restoring a 71 cutlass convertible, with a 455. I want to paint it the original blue color, or close to it. Is the Bill Hirsch engine enamel, por-15, or any of the other "engine paints" any better then spraying a single stage urethane, or a base/clear? Some of these engine enamels seem to contain silicones and ceramics.
 
dan, epoxy and a ss urethane is fantastic and the best way to go for an engine but for an exh manifold, thats gonna get too hot. your gonna need a high heat product. one that can handle 1200 deg or so. i really dont think your going to find something in a color match. its all going to be standard colors. was the manifold originally painted a color from the factory? my experience with exh manifolds that were a specific color were coated in porcelain but i believe that was pre 70's. that was more like 40's era.

you can try cerakote's gun coatings. same thing really, different website but there are a couple blues here.
http://www.cerakoteguncoatings.com/finishes/
 
I want to paint the block and heads metallic blue, and the exhaust manifolds are natural cast iron. I just want to put something on the exhaust manifolds that will hold up, but still look like natural cast iron. Thanks, guys...suggestions?
 
Hirsch, Fusick, and Supercars Unlimited all sell the correct color Oldsmobile Metallic Blue engine enamel. I have used Fusick's, and didn't have any burn through on the heads at the exhaust ports.
 
danp76;29289 said:
I want to paint the block and heads metallic blue, and the exhaust manifolds are natural cast iron. I just want to put something on the exhaust manifolds that will hold up, but still look like natural cast iron. Thanks, guys...suggestions?
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You can blast them and coat them with dry-lube graphite. It does make them a little dark, but won't peel or flake off.
 
1) Cast Iron exhaust manifolds can be FLAME SPRAYED (Google It) with molten aluminum to inhibit and corrosion/rust from forming
Then use 1200 degree VHT Cast Iron paint to cover the Flame Spray and replicate the Cast look.

2) I've also seen Powder Coated Cast Iron Manifolds that looked very much the same as original OEM.
Cant tell the mfg of powder or "color" name/number. This was on a show car that wasn't street driven.

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1) Cast Iron exhaust manifolds can be FLAME SPRAYED (Google It) with molten aluminum to inhibit and corrosion/rust from forming
Then use 1200 degree VHT Cast Iron paint to cover the Flame Spray and replicate the Cast look.

2) I've also seen Powder Coated Cast Iron Manifolds that looked very much the same as original OEM.
Cant tell the mfg of powder or "color" name/number. This was on a show car that wasn't street driven.
 
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