what to coat exhaust system with???

[Tom Tom Turbo]

I'm gonna buy the Hooker cat-back and I want some added protection for the aluminized system. Hooker offers ceramic coating on anything, but I don't wanna know what that costs. Is there anything cheaper that will hold up to year-round use in the midwest. Would just painting it with high temp engine paint be good enough? Any thoughts would be great!

 

[Tow Man]

The best high heat paint that I've come across ( and I've tried them all) is VHT 1600. It doesn't last worth a crap on headers which it's sold for, but it should be fine on an exhaust system.

Don't even bother trying to coat anything upstream of the cat. It won't last through the day!

If your area uses salt on the roads, nothing will last! I'd recommend saving up for a stainless system.

Good luck

 

[Nick Micale]

Originally posted by Tow Man
The best high heat paint that I've come across ( and I've tried them all) is VHT 1600. It doesn't last worth a crap on headers which it's sold for, but it should be fine on an exhaust system......

Maybe something different in the air in NJ? The VHT aluminum 1500 works well here on headers and downpipes. Have some over 2 years old, and a little touch up once in a while keeps them looking good.

The cleaning and prep is very important, as is heating them to set the paint. Easy to do now with our 110 degree days!

Actually powder coating the pipes works well too. [NOT downpipe!]

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

i have bbq grill flat black on my hooker d/p and it hasent burt up yet..i forgot the brand on it but i got it at walmart

i used red devil bbq grill paint on my headers and its still there but they have sold out and they new copany's stuff isnt as good.

 

[Tow Man]

Originally posted by Nick Micale


Maybe something different in the air in NJ? The VHT aluminum 1500 works well here on headers and downpipes.


Yea! High humidity, salt and calcium chloride in winter months!

I have had luck with the VHT on cast iron exhaust manifolds, but never on headers! I've even tried the POR15 high temp paint. Followed the directions to the T. It didn't even last though cam break-in It peeled off in big silver potato chips! LOL I took the header off and bought it over to the POR 15 lab here in Morristown NJ. They had no explanation and refunded my money!

Oh well, on exhaust pipes after the cat, I'm sure most of this stuff would hold up to the temps! Weather and ice melting chemicals are another story! Just my experience with this stuff over the years. There's no substitute for Jet Hot!

Ps. POR 15 rust coatings are the best! Just stay away from the flat black ( dries porous and rusts through) and of course the high heat stuff!

 

[Nick Micale]

Here is the method with which I have had the best success. Bead blast or sand blast the headers. I then use Dawn dish soap to clean them. Using a propane torch, heat all the moisture out. If they are very hot, let cool some. Paint when warm. After a 20-30 minute cure time, heat again with a torch mainly on the inside of the pipes.

Real key to this is a clean, DRY surface. POR works well like this too. Good luck!

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I had my THDP coated with Jet-Hot 2000 after an ill-fated attempt at painting it with Thermotec's high temp paint. (came out beautiful but flaked off within miles) The 2000 coating is a flat finish and it has held but perfectly for the 1000 miles I have put on it so far. I am probably going to do the headers and crossover pipe over the winter.

 

[Kevin Turch]

Yeah Jethot is nice, not too expencive either

 

[tom h]

Originally posted by Tow Man
I have had luck with the VHT on cast iron exhaust manifolds, but never on headers! I've even tried the POR15 high temp paint. Followed the directions to the T. It didn't even last though cam break-in. It peeled off in big silver potato chips!

That's worrisome about the POR paint ... I was intending to coat my headers and crossover pipe with the silver POR-20 Heat Resistant paint.

Did you bead blast the headers before painting them with POR?
I assume you used POR20 (hi temp) and not the regular POR15 ?

When I contacted POR about the best preparation, they strongly emphasized beadblasting to roughen the surface & remove all crud, and then ensuring the headers were BONE DRY (put them in an oven, or use a torch as suggested by Nick Micale).

Many people report headers glowing red after extended idling the engine at 2500 rpm (eg, after cam break in).
I wonder if POR20 is going to hold up to that

 

[Dave Simpkins]

Dn pipes an catbacks

I've had great luck with wrapping my Hookers with the Thermotec "bandage" ... also did the downpipe, and the underside crossover pipe. The bandage is very durable, protects the metal of what-ever your pipes are,(coated or not) from road junk ..rocks and stuff, and keeps nasty heat away from the eng. compartment, and to some extent under the pass. side floor. Once you get downstream from the cat... the vht paints work okay.