Ok I need to get my exhaust manifolds on my project car to look as good as I can without taking them off the engine and sandblasing them.I seem to remember that there is a paste-like compound that can be applied to them after wire brushing them up that does the best job to making them look like new and staying that way;anyone know all the details? Ft cap is off car and need to do what detailing I'm going to do soon.
I'd like to know this myself - did a quick search and spotted this online: http://www.amazon.com/automotive/dp/B003D0R426
I used Calyx With manifolds on the car I taped up the block. Used a toothbrush to rub the paste onto the manifolds Could do a better job if the manifolds were off but it turned out alright.
POR15...factory grey, in my mind the only way to go for a driver. I'm familiar w/ Calyx, it's kind of high maintenance for a driver in my mind. Did the exhaust manifolds on my 442 maybe 15 years ago, didn't sandblast, just cleaned + scuffed them with a wire brush. I painted them on the car. They still look new w/ maybe 35-40K on them. I did my 67 GS400 the same, wire brushed and right over the rust. They look great also, I mean like Senior preservation great. Stuff does not burn off, you can touch them up every couple years or so on the car. It's what's going on my 70 GS455 manifolds also.
Thanks for the replys on this.Franks reply has me leaning towards the por15 hiheat manifold paint at this point.Frank did you brush or spray?
I brushed it on, goes on smooth, there are no brush marks at all. Bought 1 small can, I've used it on other stuff, too. It makes a great hood hinge paint also. 'Course...my can was bought years ago and they may have changed the formula now. Look at the recent post for Jim R's manifolds, they look like that. ---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ---------- Also...if you go that route, pay no attention to the expiration date on the can. Most POR products are good for a long time, a LOT longer then they want you to know. The black...the hardest part is to get the can open again! I also did not wire brush them to bare metal, painted right over the rust. You are a bumper guy...I like to use the POR silver on the backsides. It holds up fantastic, makes the back look like new, done forever, it will never rust. It may not be concours correct, but I've never been docked for it. Hey...I drive my cars, I don't own a trailer, I like them to look good for a long time. Forever is good!
Went through all my pix, and never found any of when I put on the paste. It looked great when new but needs to be done again. It's been a couple years. A little goes a long way too.
MMMM? I have 2 pair of BB exhaust hanging from the ceiling in my basement with all my restored parts. I had sandblasted them and then used Black Barbeque Grill Paint . Not liking it. Spun them around to look at them and they have rust spots appearing thru the finish already. (3 months or so hanging) I`m going to blast them again and go with the POR15 factory grey on all four and the manifold heat sheild as well. Live and learn. Neil said it best, " Rust never sleeps." Jim/Rott:TU:
I think that I know my next project for the Buick now ;-) Also, is there a POR 15 or similar product in a Buick red or close to it for the heads that can be brushed on?
I think I will brush some por15 on the heads to get the hiheat protection then topcoat with the Buick red and see how that holds up;can't hurt anything. Hey Rob what color is that on your manifolds looks darker than silver.
Yeah...that's darker than what I use, also. They make several colors of ex paint, a stainless silver, I think a black + others. Find that exhaust thread from yesterday and look at the color of those manifolds. It's a dead cast grey. It goes on light and will darken a bit. You need to run the car for like 20 mins, and shut it down. Then it's good. I suppose you could bake them in your wife's oven if she is a car person, but it will smell up the kitchen. I think Eastwood paint may be the same. I think I used a cheap foam brush to to mine on the car, and then a long artist like 1/2 to get the places I couldn't reach. Buicks, Olds and Pontiacs tend to burn on the head center ports. Chevies and others don't do that. I have read that Pontiac guys will paint the ex ports on the heads with the POR ex paint and then engine paint over wth good results. You can always tell when a BOP is trailered, if there's no burning on the head ports in the center, it's probably trailered. When i go to the Nats, I always bring a can of red engine spray paint and a long handled brush with me. I spray in the cap and touch up the center ports before judging.. I do it on my 442 + GS, never been docked for the manifolds or paint.
I'm having mixed results with the POR-15 paint. After 4 years it looks great on my garage kept GS with factory manifolds. Some rust on the headers of my GS after 5+ years, and a good bit of rust coming thru after 1.5 years on my driver Jeep. All were sandblasted, baked dry, sprayed with POR, and oven baked for cure (except the tube headers). Some have reported good results with the graphite spray avail from Graingers or hardware stores.
