Newbie question about painting exhaust

[Dwight Romberger]

Hi All,

Even though my old exhaust was usable, In a moment of madness, I bought new exhaust pipes and muffler. It is the common "aluminized" steel type. If I am going to paint it, now would be the time.

What do you think?

Dwight

[FLYER15015]

Dwight,

When I replaced my exhaust manifold on my '40 LTD, I painted it black with VHT paint.

I have since wrapped the pipe from the heat riser area clear down past the steering sector and master cylinder to the muffler connection at the "X" frame hole.

Then I repainted the wrap with VHT paint again, to stop any "fraying".

My goal is to reduce the heat in the engine compartment, 'cause here in Colorado we have a lot of 6% grades that go for miles, and "vapor lock" is a way of life, especially with us having to burn corn-gas.

It took 50' of 2" wrap to do the job, and I watched Youtube vidieos on how to do it first. I used several aircraft clamps to secure the wrap,and soaked it in water first.

I am quite pleased with the results. Have yet to test it out on the open road.

I did paint the rear of my exhaust system with black VHT paint, and the mufffler is a gold anodized unit that looks quite new.

Just my $ .02

Mike in Colorado

[jpage]

Dwight, Eventually all exhaust parts will rust unless they're stainless. I used to clean and paint my Model A exhaust each year with Krylon high heat silver and it stayed nice for 16 years. I also painted the exhaust manifold with it and it kept the rust away for a long time and looked good too! I have painted systems with Hirsch stainless coating which also looks good and seems to work fine although it can be a little harder to brush. Both of these paints need the heat of exhaust to cure. If you chose to use a black high heat paint,read the can's instructions. Some ,like Krylon, require an undercoat of high heat silver under the black. If not,it just flakes off. I always paint my exhausts on antique cars simply for protection during restoration and it does help in the long run as plain steel parts rust very quikly!

[Dwight Romberger]

Thanks for the response guys.

Mike, That was a lot of wrap!

I have used Hirsch paint. It seems to be very high quality or at least I seem to get good results with my skill level.

Thanks again,

Dwight

[FLYER15015]

Dwight,

Yes it was, and the stuff costs about a buck a foot. Using 2" wrap and overlapping by 1" it costs about 6 1/4" to advance 1" on the pipe. C = 3.141xD.

If you remember the old Jaguar straight 6's their exhaust manifolds were black porcelain coated and it only lasted a few years before it started to chip off up near the cylinder head.

Best Regards,

Mike in Colorado

[Dwight Romberger]

Mike,

I always liked the XJ6's. But all I remember about the engines is the big puddle of oil under them!

I used the muffler wrap to seal the heat tube on my '30. I was expensive.

Dwight

[FLYER15015]

Dwight,

Jag's don't leak oil. Harley's don't leak oil.

Their just marking their territory...............

Mike in Colorado