Painting Exhaust HE's

[daepp]

I know the muffler can be painted with high heat paint. What about the stock heat exchangers/headers on an early car? Are they difficult to remove? The engine was rebuilt 3 years ago.

[Gogar]

If the engine was rebuilt 3 years ago it shouldn't be hard to get the HEs off.

As far as paint goes, IMO it's LOTS of hassle, little benefit. Even the best high heat paint doesn't last very long, and the first time you hit your painted HEs with some degreaser or something to get at an oil drip, it'll destroy your paint job, that only lasted a month anyway. And you need to ask yourself the question WHO is ever going to see it?

When I have the chance again I will just media blast my HEs and leave 'em be.

Of course, SSIs are the glamour choice

[daepp]

Thanks for the info. Mine function great but look a pretty sad from the rear corners.

[RarlyL8]

The key is cleanliness and being thorough. My stock 930 exhaust was sand blased and then coated with paint specifically developed for exhaust systems.
This was done 10 years ago. The first picture is when they were finished and the second picture is current. They still look pretty good. The color has gone grey but nothing has flaked off.
Do not remember the name brand of the paint. I am sure there is even better stuff on the market today.
3 yr old exchangers should not be difficult to remove.

[911pcars]

I had my factory HEs and muffler powder coated in '98. they still look fine although not pristine. Surface prep is the key. Degrease and sandblast. However, after 39 years, they might be getting thinner (also lighter ) from the inside.

If new, I'd vote for ceramic coating, inside and outside.

Sherwood

[RWebb]

for a cheap 'n easy 'fix'...

slather on that Eastwood coating - bet it'll last a good long while

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

I had my factory HEs and muffler powder coated in '98. they still look fine although not pristine. Surface prep is the key. Degrease and sandblast. However, after 39 years, they might be getting thinner (also lighter ) from the inside.

If new, I'd vote for ceramic coating, inside and outside.

Sherwood

Really? I didn't know powdercoat could handle that kind of heat. Did you experience any downside to the powdercoating?

[KTL]

Agreed clean clean clean is the key to the paint sticking good. I did my factory exchangers about 5 years ago with POR-15 high temp stuff. It's still sticking very well. Lots of high heat cycling from track days hasn't peeled it off yet.

[rfuerst911sc]

Professional ceramic coating.

[RWebb]

Gogar -- ceramic coating # powdercoating

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Really? I didn't know powdercoat could handle that kind of heat. Did you experience any downside to the powdercoating?

Maybe not the typical powder coating material. No down sides.

Sherwood