ConcoursMustang Forums

Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Drivetrain => Topic started by: 65pon on May 18, 2014, 11:48:56 PM

Title: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: 65pon on May 18, 2014, 11:48:56 PM
Hey All,

I'm about to fit new repop HiPo manifolds to my car.
I don't want them to turn rusty brown in the future.
What's the best method/product to maintain the grey cast iron look?
Thanks,
Ben
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: Rsanter on May 19, 2014, 03:48:37 AM
They make a ceramic coating that looks a lot like natural cast iron

Bob
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: Twilight65 on May 19, 2014, 08:43:33 AM
+1 on the ceramic coating, have used stainless coating from Eastwood on one car and ceramic on my other, always having to touch up the stainless coating but ceramic looks like the day it was put on.
Dave
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: 67gtasanjose on May 19, 2014, 09:12:14 AM
... but ceramic looks like the day it was put on.
Dave
Eastwood or another brand?
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: Twilight65 on May 19, 2014, 11:56:20 AM
Hey Ben,
I misspoke I didn't mean ceramic I meant powder coated. I had a local shop do the gray powder coating and still looks like the day I picked them up (about 5000 miles put on car since). Cost me around $100.
Dave
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: J_Speegle on May 19, 2014, 06:33:46 PM
To me you can always tell if something is power coated since it normally adds to the thickness and reduces the details

The spray ceramic paints have done well for me so far - before that liquid graphite
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: lancelot66 on May 19, 2014, 07:32:23 PM
That's a very good observation and point to bring up Jeff. This is such a timely subject post for me here too. I was out in the garage yesterday, working on our left side manifold I bought used awhile back. The date code is better than what I'd obtained and put on there previously and this new(old) one is almost ready to go now except for the final finish. I too have wondered what would be best to use. The FoMoCo rectangle particularly was what I had the most concerns about, filling in too much with either ceramic or powder coating. We have a pretty good powder coater out here by us too.  I have this little half pint of POR manifold gray I had been saving for this project but I may look into a high temp ceramic spray, now that you've brought that up. I like being able to look in there at shows, in the sunshine when it's just right, and see that little rectangle, knowing it's like it ought to be. Simple pleasures and the satisfaction you feel that kinda embarrasses, sharing it sometimes...

There's still time for a good decision though cause I haven't pulled and prepped the driver's side yet!

-Lance
1-6-66
San Jose Fastback
Owned 27 years
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: lancelot66 on May 19, 2014, 07:37:35 PM
Correction, please forgive:

Yesterday's effort involved the right (passenger) side! Hard to forget when you're working that long to drill out a snapped off heat riser stud and install a new one....Might be the allergies again or something acting up....

-Lance
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: dave6768 on May 21, 2014, 10:40:02 PM
I have had great success with Bill Hirsch paint.  Sand blast, clean, paint, cure at 400 degrees for 4 hours.  My first set was done 12 years ago and I have probably 10,000 miles on them.  Still look great.

I just did a second set about two months ago, have ~ 50 miles on the and they still look new  ;D
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: 67gtasanjose on May 22, 2014, 07:01:05 AM
I have had great success with Bill Hirsch paint.  Sand blast, clean, paint, cure at 400 degrees for 4 hours.  My first set was done 12 years ago and I have probably 10,000 miles on them.  Still look great.

I just did a second set about two months ago, have ~ 50 miles on the and they still look new  ;D
Did you use the rattle cans or the pints?
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: 65pon on May 22, 2014, 04:09:33 PM
Has anyone had any success with the Duplicolor "High Heat" ceramic paint?
http://www.summitracing.com/dom/parts/shw-dh1614/overview/
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: J_Speegle on May 22, 2014, 06:11:05 PM
Has anyone had any success with the Duplicolor "High Heat" ceramic paint?
http://www.summitracing.com/dom/parts/shw-dh1614/overview/

Would not expect much from a $10 rattle can. Also don't think I would want to add an additional layer of paint on the manifolds by applying a primer

Just me
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: jwc66k on May 22, 2014, 06:42:29 PM
Just for reference, I painted the exhaust manifolds on my 66 "K" Fastback about two years ago with Eastwood Stainless Steel Coating Hi Temp 1200F brush on paint and here are a couple of pictures. I've tried McKay Graphite Spray that looks good but doesn't last.
Jim
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: lancelot66 on May 22, 2014, 06:57:53 PM
You're exactly right Jim. I was trying to remember what I'd used several years ago on ours and it was the McKay Graphite Spray. It's starting to let some rust through finally but appearance-wise, it stayed gray powdery in color & texture but looks pretty shabby now, especially compared to your Hi-Po. That would be another great option to consider, looks great!
-Lance
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: Bob Gaines on May 22, 2014, 11:22:32 PM
Jet hot is longest lasting and least amount of maintenance IMO but is a little pricy. It has a similar finish to the others which is to say it still looks painted.
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: jwc66k on May 23, 2014, 12:28:03 AM
A few years back the guy that does my powder coating told me that there was a problem in the 1200F powder coating material. I'll stop by tomorrow and ask about that.
Jim
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: dave6768 on May 23, 2014, 09:26:35 PM
Did you use the rattle cans or the pints?

Pint
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: jwc66k on May 24, 2014, 02:48:17 PM
There's another Eastwood exhaust paint, "Factory Gray High Temp Coating, Cast Iron Color" up to 1200F, Eastwood 34105Z, a 16OZ brush-on can. That I've used with good results.
The Eastwood "Stainless Steel Coating" is Eastwood 1256, also a 16OZ brush-on can.
(If I keep cleaning I may find more stuff I "lost".)
Jim
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: priceless on May 24, 2014, 09:20:08 PM
Just for reference, I painted the exhaust manifolds on my 66 "K" Fastback about two years ago with Eastwood Stainless Steel Coating Hi Temp 1200F brush on paint and here are a couple of pictures. I've tried McKay Graphite Spray that looks good but doesn't last.
Jim
+1...Have used Eastwoods stainless brush on coating for years on several different Mustangs and have never had any problems. On our '69 Mach1, I applied Eastwoods stainless brush on back in 1994. And up until 2008, when I had to pull the motor and rebuild it, it looked as good as the day I applied it.
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: midlife on May 24, 2014, 10:53:48 PM
I used Eastwood's exhaust manifold paint several years ago (34105Z), following directions exactly.  It burned off the first time I fired up the engine and now my exhaust headers are nice and rust-colored.  *sigh*
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: J_Speegle on May 24, 2014, 11:09:11 PM
I used Factory Gray High Temp Coating, Cast Iron Color on one set of exhaust manifolds - had creep from the machine face and within 12 months redid them with another product

Because of access and difficulty in removing the manifolds on some cars - not a job many of us want to redo

Definitely a good reason to share what has worked or hasn't worked here on the site
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: jwc66k on May 30, 2014, 03:14:18 PM
I would like to add some clarification on powder coating and ceramic coating, both for general use and high temperature applications.
First: powder coating materials and techniques have not developed a high temperature finish. Powder coating has a high temperature range of 600F to about 1000F with emphasis at the lower figure. In other words, powder coating should not be considered for exhaust manifolds (at this time).
Second: ceramic coating has a maximum temperature of about 1600F which will go well with exhaust applications. I saw some samples on smooth pipe and the gray was very close to what a cast iron manifold should look like, although there were no samples of cast iron available.
After consulting with Jeff, I was encouraged to enter a disclaimer, powder coating and ceramic coating were not processes used in the automotive industry when most of our cars were made. They would not be accepted in formal MCA judging.
On the other hand, on cars I've restored to the daily driver level, I've had several parts powder coated: bumper brackets; the front engine cross member; rear axle housing; mostly under body items that get a lot of road wear and tear. Brake backing plates and front springs could also be added to the list.
For more information about powder coating and ceramic coating, refer to the Processes section of this forum and feel free to contact them.
Jim
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: priceless on May 31, 2014, 08:07:52 AM
I used Eastwood's exhaust manifold paint several years ago (34105Z), following directions exactly.  It burned off the first time I fired up the engine and now my exhaust headers are nice and rust-colored.  *sigh*
Funny how some products work for some folks, but not so well for others.
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: gjz30075 on May 31, 2014, 08:01:34 PM
Any opinions on the Calyx product from Eastwood?    Looks to be a coating of sorts that is brushed on.
http://search.eastwood.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=calyx&pw=crylx&rt=spelling&isort=score
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: J_Speegle on May 31, 2014, 10:33:17 PM
Any opinions on the Calyx product from Eastwood?    Looks to be a coating of sorts that is brushed on.
http://search.eastwood.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=calyx&pw=crylx&rt=spelling&isort=score

Stuff is sort of a paste - or like Vasoline in texture and thickness. Bought some - played around on some exhaust pipes and didn't care for it. But that was only a limited experiment - your results may vary ;)
Title: Ceramic Coating Exhaust Manifolds
Post by: rcgt350 on August 10, 2021, 01:01:33 PM
I?m looking into coatings for a pair of exhaust manifolds, what are people leaning towards these days?
Spray paint, ceramic coating?
Randy
Title: Re: Ceramic Coating Exhaust Manifolds
Post by: carlite65 on August 10, 2021, 01:32:41 PM
neither for me. i like a product called calyx.
Title: Re: Ceramic Coating Exhaust Manifolds
Post by: jwc66k on August 10, 2021, 03:35:43 PM
I?m looking into coatings for a pair of exhaust manifolds, what are people leaning towards these days?
There is a high temperature rated powder coat that is available. I've not used it so I can't make any recommendations.
Jim
Title: Re: Ceramic Coating Exhaust Manifolds
Post by: J_Speegle on August 10, 2021, 04:53:35 PM
I've been using a ceramic paint applied with a gun then heat treated.  Some others have used it for cast iron transmission cases and tail shaft housings.
Stuff's not cheap but does not tale allot. Plus you don't want much on the manifolds both for looks and durability. Picture of the product I've been using that has been posted before

(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/5/6-240116181540-51212391.jpeg)


Consider that if your restoring the car and the cars in your signature, there will be engine paint on the cast exhaust manifolds as well as some of the hardware. Some coatings will not work well this this process or look

(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/15/6-100821154934-158292459.jpeg)


Since we already have an earlier thread on the subject going to merge them both together. Will help that thread and bring it up to date with some new or confirming information
Title: Re: Best finish for cast iron exhaust manifolds?
Post by: Morsel on August 26, 2021, 06:53:14 PM
Hey Jeff, long time, hope things have been well with you.

I'm actually about to do my exhaust manifolds again since my engine is out of the car and was wondering about what you said above about applying that stuff with a gun. I have the same stuff you show and was wondering if you thin it out or what your process is for spraying it. I know you probably want a pretty light coat, just enough to cover it so you don't fill in the manifolds casting details or have it look "thick" and painted on. Just curious if you thin it with something for use in a spay gun I guess is my question :)

Thanks,

Jason