Manifold Paint \ Coatings

[salival]

There's a rule of thumb on Honda-tech in the fabrication section where some of the big fab shops over in the states post..

Never wrap stainless manifolds.
Coat inside and out mild steel manifolds.

There's alot of information on there about the pros and cons

[Bazda]

Never wrap stainless because when it gets hot it goes soft.

[Crucible]

I heat wrapped the manifold on my old car, Mild steel steam tube, joints were fusion welded with a tig, good as penetration and it blew a chunk out by the flange!.

pulled the heat wrap off and it had really bad corrosion, Its like it sweated and turned all rusty. I wouldnt use it again, the VHT black finish looks way better anyway IMO.

[Heylin]

Painting this next week, decided on POR20 at $46 for 250ml brush on product, brilliant aluminium colour and rated to 720 deg C.

Quite a few good reviews in the states, and brush on makes touch up really easy, not that it will be required going by the reviews.

On the 3SGTE cast manifold the consensus on the interweb seems to be that cast iron manifolds retain heat very well during operation and only benefit slightly with a ceramic coating serving only a cosmetic advantage.

So I wont worry about my lack of heat sheild for now. If anything the fact ive got a 10" 800CFM fan in the engine lid coupled with my hurricane strength 9" ATS Intercooler fan the underhood temps should be kept within the stock limits anyway.

[Heylin]

yikes, seems for every good review there are plenty of bad reviews for POR20, nothing bad about VHT Flameproof so looking like thats the option.

Curing is much easier as well with the VHT.

[Bling]

If POR20 is anything like the POR15, it will be good if you prep correctly. I'd just go with a heatproof spray though for easiness

[Heylin]

Do I need to use the full 3 step system with VHT Flameproof ?

1) Primer SP118
2) Colour SPXXX
3) Clear SP115

Will it be any more durable and will the clear make it look less matt ?

Or should I just stick with the colour coat and cure as per instructions on can.

[Bling]

Not sure sorry, never taken that much care as parts weren't that important

But i'd go by can directions

[Quint]

Used the VHT flameproof on my dumpie.

Just sanded surface rust off, gave it a good wipe down with acetone, then sprayed it, didn't bother with primer, cured it in the oven (nearly caused a domestic ). Does the job. Havn't had any problems yet.

[Heylin]

Used the VHT flameproof on my dumpie.

Just sanded surface rust off, gave it a good wipe down with acetone, then sprayed it, didn't bother with primer, cured it in the oven (nearly caused a domestic ). Does the job. Havn't had any problems yet.

LOL I know what you mean, I had fun curing my valve cover, stunk the house out and got the evils from the girlfriend.

They just dont understand the bond we have with our cars do they.

Ive scrubbed the primer and clear off my list as well, seems the clear may go yellow over time, and the primer only helps on smoother surfaces.

Cast manifold is rough as so as you say provided its clean it should stick.