Exhaust Manifold Painted Engine Color

[rklewis1005]

All, I'm reading through the ICCA Restoration and Judging Guidelines Reference Manual by David Wise (fun reading). I'm not looking to be uber-crazy about dip lines, overspray on undercoating, etc; however, I want to get the colors and textures correct or very close. For engine colors, it indicates the exhaust manifolds are painted the engine color (street hemi orange for my 1970 Charger / 383 4 barrel). I don't ever recall seeing orange exhaust headers. Is it because it burns off fast and only leaves some orange around the mounts? If so, it seems like a waste of time.

 

[pnora]

It burns off.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

If you ever watch Graveyard cars Mark Worman paints the exhaust manifolds. But they end up cast color shortly after running the engine. I suppose the bolt hole tabs and the nuts probably remain painted but the majority of the surface the paint burns off. You can just skip to the last 5 minutes of this video.

 

[rklewis1005]

If you ever watch Graveyard cars Mark Worman paints the exhaust manifolds. But they end up cast color shortly after running the engine. I suppose the bolt hole tabs and the nuts probably remain painted but the majority of the surface the paint burns off. You can just skip to the last 5 minutes of this video.

Thanks - that's a lot of orange for the first few minutes. I don't mind that they'd burn off, but then they turn brownish over time. Wondering if I could use something like XTC from KBS in Cast Iron Grey to color then and then just "overspray" some orange around the mounts/bolts to keep them looking cast iron.

 

[MWbirdLOVER70]

Thanks - that's a lot of orange for the first few minutes. I don't mind that they'd burn off, but then they turn brownish over time. Wondering if I could use something like XTC from KBS in Cast Iron Grey to color then and then just "overspray" some orange around the mounts/bolts to keep them looking cast iron.

That’s what I did

 

[53cbcborm]

What about Powder coating, I think may work?

 

[gtx6970]

I use a hight temp cast iron paint on the manifolds

Then once bolted on the engine.
Just spray a little engine orange around where it attaches to the head.

 

[gtx6970]

Ps. Any and all exhaust shields and plug wire brackets are / remain engine color

 

[CudaChick1968]

What about Powder coating, I think may work?

It will but not for very long. Even high temp powders aren't formulated to defy exhaust heat which can reach 1800+ degrees (especially at the heads).

High temp liquid ceramic coatings are specifically engineered for exhaust applications. You can do them yourself with basic shop equipment and an HVLP gun with a .08 mm tip.

This is where I get them.

Cerakote Projects & Photos | Cerakote Gallery

Here's some heat shields for an Indian motorcycle from a couple months back, from rusty Before to After. Smooth as a baby's backside and protected from everything the road and Mother Nature can throw at them.

Tadahhh!! This is Glacier Black: