Exhaust manifold paint or coating

[paul1969cars]

Hey

What is the best and most durable paint of finish I can do the exhaust manifolds to finish in cast iron

I did mine a few years ago in ceramic coating. They not holding up

I have seen cars with nicely restored and finished manifolds. Just don’t know what’s best

 

[copper67sat]

I sandblasted mine and painted them with Eastwood manifold paint over 30 yrs and 30k miles ago. They have discolored some but otherwise the paint held up very well.

Pulled the engine a few weeks ago to freshen it up.

 

[Budnicks]

IMHFO
Nothing from an aerosol can will look great for long

maybe if you never drive it much, it might last longer

a ceramic coating will look great for a long time
a professionally done set, like JetHot or someone like that, is best

I now wish I did it back then, spent the $250
I spent a lot of time porting, like 24 hrs worth/3 solid days
with a peanut grinder & templates I borrowed, time is precious I value my time
(for way better flow) to make them flow better/479cid low deck 6bbl stroker,
for real performance
& grinding/sanding on them on the outsides & have a good surface to even coat

I did the, heat them in the oven, get them to temp, like 100*s spray
paint with VHT hi-temp ceramic (2006 variety, like a natural cast grey)
exhaust paint/aerosol cans
some almost 20 years ago
3 coats & 3 heat cycles up to 250* each after the 1st coat, let them cool
like they recommended, between each coat
& they are flaking off pretty bad today
look better than the layers of rust that was on them though

2013 not the best photo (blur), they were painted 1st in 2006-ish

2016 sorry not any great photos of them, you can see them flaking even then

 

[cr8crshr]

I only used the Eastwood coating and was happy with the outcome and life of the painted manifolds...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[RJ Squirrel]

I used the POR-15 high temp gray manifold paint, put on 2 coats let it dry then bake them in the oven. Worked great have 900 miles on it and they look like they were just painted. Not cheap but the 1/2 pint can is still over half full.

 

[Don Frelier]

I had mine blasted locally and painted them with this the same evening I picked them up.
You don't want any flash rust on there.
This stuff goes a long way I just kept painting them probably put on 4 coats at least.

 

[72redbird]

Have always had them sand blasted and then brushed on Eastwoods coating. Always look nice and it holds up very well

 

[boboh1]

I brushed on Bill Hirsch exhaust manifold paint in a few of my cars over the years and with proper preparation, all have looked good and held up very well.

 

[1968rt]

Eastwood here also. My fourth motor using it, first was 7 years ago. Has been holding up great.

 

[69L48Z27]

I’ve had good luck with CastBlast high temp. I just looked up the Eastwood hi-temp manifold paint and I’ll bet it’s the same stuff.

 

[nitro_rat]

They were painted engine color from the factory. That paint usually turns white before it burns off and turns to rust. Maybe a white Jet Hot type ceramic coating? One could fog some engine color paint around the edges to enhance the illusion. Rusty manifolds don't really bother me. Rubbing transmission fluid on hot raw blasted manifolds or headers will kinda turn them dark without letting them rust. Smoky though...

 

[Hey-O]

I've used this several times. It's messy, but gets the job done.
Calyx Manifold Coating 3 oz

 

[nitro_rat]

In this video you can see what happens to correctly painted manifolds as they are run in on the dyno. They turn white and then the paint starts going away...

 

[Jerry Hall]

I use POR15 cast blast. That's what it was called 20 years ago. I believe it's high temperature cast coating today. The manifolds on my Superbird have been coated for 23 years and the rebuilt engine was first started 21 years ago. I let the engine heat and cure them. To this day there is no flaking, rust or issues.

 

[T Brashears]

Kbs

 

[T Brashears]

Follow the instructions

 

[1KoolBee]

I blasted mine and used Eastwood manifold paint probably 15 years ago and they still look great.

 

[LB0442]

I had mine done by jet hot coating about 15 years ago. The color is a little lighter than cast but that is all they had back then.

This is what they looked like then.

This is a recent picture from about 6 months ago, I had to change the A/C front seal. They are holding up very well, no peeling or chipping. Looks a little darker in the picture but I haven't noticed it under hood.