Muffler heat shield : paint it?

[Bukowski]

rhett got me thinking - if the muffler heat shield is painted with appropriate high T paint, it shouldn't rust to death.

Bad idea?

[mreid]

Better to have it ceramic coated.

[rhett]

I caught mine just before the rust really started to be a problem, wire brushed it, rust treatment where required, zinc paint and then a coating of high temp paint. It is just a piece of tinwork so I wasn't going to spend too much time or money on it - result is OK though, you can just see it in this photo:



You could of course apply all sorts of finishes such as powder, ceramic.

[mytrplseven]

Yeah, unless it's a show car, VHT is a more reasonable way to go, IMO. The only person who gets to see under my car is me.

[Gawernator]

VHT spray ceramic flame proof primer. Good for 2k degrees F or some **** and it makes my exhaust look cool

[rhett]

Originally Posted by Gawernator

VHT spray ceramic flame proof primer. Good for 2k degrees F or some **** and it makes my exhaust look cool

2000 degrees - what you running through your engine Gaw - Plutonium? Dilithium crystals?

[Bukowski]

another thought :

regarding the opposing argument "don't paint it, it wasn't painted for a reason, it was plated for a reason." this side likely reflects heat back down away from the shield, thus keeping the heat away from the gas tank.

however, the opposite side - the one facing the gas tank - would still in that case be reflective and plated. heat will still radiate away at the same rate as the other side.

so I am considering the idea of painting only the gas-tank facing side with a very-high-T (2000degF) silicate/ceramic paint, the idea being to insulate the gas tank side and also eliminate the reflective surface from that side, yet retain the reflectivity of the original coating on the muffler side.

of course if the heat shield just goes up there, it'll last 30 years anyways, so for the interest of it.

[djnolan]

Will painting it fix the rattle when I let out the clutch? Or is there another procedure to cover this? Should I fix the rattle before painting it?

[Bukowski]

Originally Posted by djnolan

Will painting it fix the rattle when I let out the clutch? Or is there another procedure to cover this? Should I fix the rattle before painting it?

... you are giving me a hard time, right?

[Gawernator]

Originally Posted by rhett

2000 degrees - what you running through your engine Gaw - Plutonium? Dilithium crystals?

Di-lithium Crystal

[djnolan]

Yeah, I guess so. The rattle is really an obnoxious noise. Sounds like it is about to blow up.

[djnolan]

Sorry I guess I was drinking. Painting the muffler shield would look nice considering how nice the rest of your car looks.

I was referring to the catalytic converter heat shield that rattles as it is missing some metal at the front flange due to corrosion. Other than removing has anyone seen a way to fix this problem? I can start a separate thread.

[jcommin]

Under hood heat shields are usually a laminate of sorts. Some are corrugated aluminum, some are a composite of aluminum and steel and/or fiber. Under body heat shields are usually a single sheet of corrugated aluminum. The intent is to isolate and disburse heat. If this heat shield had a coating, I would coat it as make it functional.

[mike leborgne]

DJ, not sure if this works on the catalytic converter heat shield, but I found some thin aluminum plate and reinforced each place where the gas tank heat shield had become broken or badly deteriorated. Drilled 1/8 inch holes in the shield and aluminum and use pop rivets to connect the two pieces. In this case the sound of silence is golden, no more clunking and banging each time I step on the gas to go uphill.
Frenchy