What are you guys using to coat your exhaust manifolds so they stay nice looking. I was looking at VHT Satin Clear Fire-Proof paint. What else is out there?

I had my manifolds ceramic coated a cast grey color. Painted them with the engine assembly and let the paint burn off.

Should be a few threads on this in the Archives, but:

I've used Eastwood's high-temp stainless paint on manifolds and headers, lasts pretty much forever.
Gotta start with an absolutely clean surface, and bake it, which an engine does quite well.

I blast them then coat with liquid graphite. Looks very much like bare cast iron and touch ups are easy.

https://www.ebay.com/i/182627664612...msclkid=4371e94a76b21844d771b63f5a404714

On this one I used cast iron 1500* paint.
I've also used 1500* satin clear on new or blasted manifolds.

I'm glad to hear this, I just used Eastwood on mine.

That's exactly what I did. I used the product Slip Plate, a graphite spray lube. I did my exhaust manifolds in February. They still look great. Came out much better than the cast blast.
I bought it at Grainger. However, I read that Napa sells it too.

https://www.grainger.com/product/1WVK7?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-8mdxsWU7AIVATiGCh3djASPEAQYAiABEgIKmPD_BwE&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMI-8mdxsWU7AIVATiGCh3djASPEAQYAiABEgIKmPD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!281698275537!!!g!472123448796!&gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4YUPY8:20500731

try this ?


https://www.grainger.com/product/1WVK7?

That Slip Plate stuff looks pretty good, and apparently it holds up well.
Not sure how paint can stick to it, but someone here posted a pic that indicated he'd painted over it.
It's also darker than the Eastwood stuff I referred to, and I like that.
Since manifolds quickly got a rusty look, I wonder if there's something like a "week-old" color ?

Eastwoods here also. Looks great and easy to touch up!!

Hey guys, thanks for all the replys! They all sound like viable avenues. My only question with the liquid graphite is that, once it dries, does it turn powdery and does it fly around like powdered graphite does?

No. It does not turn powdering and does not fly off. When slip plate is put on, it's rubbed on and buffed so it works it's way into the pores of the cast iron.

That's cool. All I could picture was graphite powder floating all over the engine bay after it dried out. Thanks!

Here is a pic of the exhaust manifold with Slip Plate. You can see how Slip Plate gets into the pores. There is no issue of graphite powder floating all on the engine bay.
This is done by spraying and letting it dry for about a day. Then, take a soft cloth or shop towel and buff the surface. As you see, there is no powder residue or flaking.

that looks very nice.
how long has that been done ?

How ofen do you put it on, or is it one and done? Thinking of powder coating as I'd hae to have to keep touching up every few months.

Thanks for the compliment. I did the manifolds last February. Have not retouched them since then.

I put it on once so far. Have not touched it up yet. If any parts do wear; you can simply spray on the manifold, let dry and buff or spray some on a sponge brush and sponge it on, then buff. It gets into the pores much better than paint will, so it will last..

Link on how to use Slip Plate.

http://streettechmag.com/2015/05/04/how-to-restore-an-exhaust-manifold/#prettyPhoto