Manifold Paint \ Coatings

[Heylin]

Ive got a factory cast manifold for 3sgte which is getting some wastegate ports added it it.

Im on a tight budget now with my build coming closer to being finished and was wondering what the best option is for coating the factory manifold

$287 for HP Coatings

or

$20 for 3M Heat Proof Paint rated to 650 deg C

How good are those heat proof paints ? I would think 3M products were pretty good ?.

[Crucible]

Ive got a factory cast manifold for 3sgte which is getting some wastegate ports added it it.

Im on a tight budget now with my build coming closer to being finished and was wondering what the best option is for coating the factory manifold

$287 for HP Coatings

or

$20 for 3M Heat Proof Paint rated to 650 deg C

How good are those heat proof paints ? I would think 3M products were pretty good ?.

HP would be best if you have the money, I used the black VHT high temp paint on manifolds and its good stuff.

For best results with the paint, sandblast it and preheat it with hair dryer or oxy/acet torch. It seems to last the distance that way.

[Bling]

$20 option every time Its only a cosmetic thing.

Never used heat proof paint on a car, but have used it on gas fires with no problems. It's designed for the job, 3M should be sweet as. Just prep it well first.

[Heylin]

I talked to Procoat in East Tamaki, $150 + 2 week turn around at the moment, to long to hold up my build for some paint.

HPC do a 700 dec C option for $118.

So yeah by the sounds of it the $20 3M or VHT Flameproof is looking like a good option providing I do a good prep job.

I think my dremal tool with sand paper discs should strip the surface nice.

A couple of people have told me I dont need the manifold \ turbo heat sheild in the MR2 as the they are cast housings and retain heat well enough + I have 10" engine fan in lid + a 9" IC fan blowing direct onto the dump pipe \ turbo area.

[Dell'Orto]

People are idiots. The heatshield will help

[iOnic]

Heatshield also helps insulate the heat from the fuel tank on the other side of that firewall.

[Bling]

Add wax and grease remover to the list of prep items

[QikStarlie]

dunno if procoat have got any better, but my vht heat paint outlasted my mates procoat a few years back. good thing about the heat paint is you can just fire a bit more at it when it looks a little haggard.
other than the prepping as others have said. use a very light coat just enough to colour it and it'l work better

[Flannelman]

I have heard of some people who put the HPC coating on there manifolds have had the turbos fail due to the increased heat exposure.

This might be due to them not idling the engine for a few minutes after driving to cool the turbo. But I dont know if they did or not.

As with any chinese wispers it might be a case of hot air...

[jayray]

I came across this a while ago, they're pretty adamant about not coating or wrapping turbo manifolds
http://www.guy-croft.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=759

[Toymad]

I came across this a while ago, they're pretty adamant about not coating or wrapping turbo manifolds
http://www.guy-croft.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=759

I would not wrap even a manifold on an NA engine.
I'd done it on a six cylinder non turbo and the pipes hardened and cracked. The TIG welder looked at me and said no effective repair was possible apart from replacing them.

[Bazda]

Then everyone running turbo beanies will have turbo failures lol.

The coating helps a little to retain heat but its not like a blanket or heat shield.

I used the VHT stuff for a while on my old cars. I changed to ProCoat and its alot better. I've been working with Pro coat ever since to try get the coating right so it lasts forever.
After 6 months to a year it does start to wear off a little but holds up alot better on my car than VHT paint (prepped using a sand blaster).
Procoat has been through alot off different coatings. There was a batch that would come off very fast and he stopped using it. He has changed stuff about 3-4 times in the last few years. So depending on which one you got will determine how long it will last. Also different techniques on applying it also effects the outcome which Procoat was testing as well.

He recently is getting in some brand new stuff from USA thats highly rated over there to try on my manifolds. So will see how that goes.
I've tried 4 different types of coatings from him, amazingly the shiny Cerachrome stuff lasts quite long and looks really good! but when it goes off its a dull Grey colour.

As for the HPC, their satin black which is plasma blasted on (some crazy process not really sure) will last forever. But it will def sink your pockets! Quoted around $500 to do my manifolds in that stuff.

[1I1]

Should see BZR4AGE's FGK extractors where he had them partially wrapped. After an engine bay fire, the manifold is sweet except for the part that was wrapped! It's distorted slightly

[Bazda]

Should see BZR4AGE's FGK extractors where he had them partially wrapped. After an engine bay fire, the manifold is sweet except for the part that was wrapped! It's distorted slightly

Its wrapped on that 1 pipe so it doesn't heat up the PS pump and the oil lines . Other than that he prob wouldn't have wrapped that 1 pipe.

After time ex wrap will eventually crack your manifold, how long it takes depends on how well they were made in the first place.

[Bazda]

After a few hours running


After 1 year

[Helious]

solid, what's up with that ugly tape ;p ?

[Dell'Orto]

After time ex wrap will eventually crack your manifold, how long it takes depends on how well they were made in the first place.

Must take some years, I've had my Coby extractors wrapped for about 4 or so years now, they havent cracked yet. That said, they're mild steel vs stainless you mind on alot of Jap extractors.

[1I1]

After time ex wrap will eventually crack your manifold, how long it takes depends on how well they were made in the first place.

Must take some years, I've had my Coby extractors wrapped for about 4 or so years now, they havent cracked yet. That said, they're mild steel vs stainless you mind on alot of Jap extractors.

Is that on a particular car thats been sitting in the shed for four years

[Dell'Orto]

No, though they've been wrapped for probably 9 years

[Bazda]

solid, what's up with that ugly tape ;p ?

My temps there get far too hot, started to burn the paint away and the loom under it. So for Superlap sake I just wrapped it up as I'm going to chop that whole section out and replace it with an alloy bar.

Also the heat from the manifolds burns the rocket covers and hardens the seal under it, and also gets the VVT switch too hot so i'll be making a shield around that whole area.

Road/drag was fine. Soon as I started track racing then its a whole new game and more things to fix to get the car up to spec.

As for ex wrap, I think in a road/drag car no worries. Track car that has high HP esp Turbo manifolds then after X time they will eventually crack.