Instead of VHT, I used Eastwood's High Temperature Exhaust paint. I first glass-bead blasted my manifold, then (wearing rubber gloves) washed it with hot soapy water, rinsed and blew it dry with compressed air. I applied a liberal coating of Eastwood's PRE paint prep, then sprayed a couple coats of the High Temp paint on. I've put over 1,000 miles on it since January 2009, and haven't noticed any flaking or rusting.