Exhaust Manifold Coatings?

[Fiat88]

Was wondering what you guys have done with your stock cast iron manifolds? I've used the Calyx manifold dressing it looks good and haven't touched it up for over a year but hate everytime I touch it the silvery powder gets on my hand and I start looking like the Tin Man.

I'm looking into ceramic coating. What's involved with doing that,though. Is it easy to get the manifold off? Is eastwood's stuff any good or should I just have a shop do it? Thx.

[baltobernie]

First thing I guess is to make sure you've got a good manifold to start with; a 4-2-1, not the 4-1 of later years, which is horribly inefficient. I used Jet Hot out of Nashville, their cast iron look, and it has held up very well. (Photo in "distributor leaking oil" thread). About $150 + UPS

You'll of course need new manifold gasket(s), I got new hardware, too. Don't forget Permatex or other copper-based sealant for the studs going into the block; two of them are "wet". Block studs are not all the same length; photo and label them. Must use torque wrench to reinstall.

It is not uncommon to break nuts or studs during this type of project. I needed two HeliCoils on the manifold, and had the machine shop flatten the flange while they were at it.

Ya gotta really want the OE look to go thru all this; a set of Mark's headers would be cheaper! Maybe live with what you've got?

[htchevyii]

I've used Eastwood's high heat paint and although it's no ceramic coating it is 10x better than anything you'll get at the store. After 3 years y exhaust manifold still looks pretty good and I just painted my wood stove with it!

[Curly]

When I rebuilt and converted SPYDUH to right-hand-drive (back in 2003 ) It had to undergo stringent compliance tests prior to registration, that made it necessary to have the original inlet and exhaust systems fitted. I decided to use a standard 4 into 2 manifold, but opened it up inside and port-matched it against the head and the 2 downpipes it connects to. I also had it ceramic coated inside and out together with the heat shield which is especially useful in RHD cars where the power-booster and master cylinder are quite close by. The ceramic coating does a lot to reduce under-bonnet temperatures and is meant to have some performance gains as well. As these recent photos show, it has lasted the intervening years very well with no sign of deterioration.

[TulsaSpider]

Wow what a sweet motor!

[pininfarinabrew]

Hi,

It looks like the manifold cover/shield was completely removed. Aside from the bolt posts sticking out, is this a good approach (heat/safe?)

-Matt

[baltobernie]

His first photo shows the shield in place. Succeeding photos show it removed to expose manifold view.

[pininfarinabrew]

thanks - didn't notice the cover in the first pic...seems like it makes sense to recondition the cover and leave it on.