1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

[Bob B.]

I just got a set of correct dated exhaust manifold for my 67 350 hp

what is the best way to knock off the standard surface rust and preserve ? Yes, I understand "perfect" should be bare metal
with a week of rust for no point deduction. This is a driver, a VERY NICE DRIVER but a driver non the less so I will have to
give up a point or three and keep them from rusting. Is there anything I can do VHT, or what ever ZIP or the normal suspects are selling ?
Thanks
Bob

[Jim D.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

I glass bead the manifolds and then spray them with high temp cast blast paint - https://www.tptools.com/SEYMOUR-High...2-oz,6694.html
This is what they look like after the paint has cured.

[Leif A.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Bob,
I just did this last week. Glass bead blast and ceramic coating. The first and third photos best represent how they look in person...second pic is a bit dark.

[Gary S.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

I will try and find the link but there was a "before & after" photo set of one of our members who had his done. I am vague on the details but I think there were restored by Jerry MacNeish. I don't recall the process but they looked new.

http://z28camaro.com/restoration-services/

Scroll down and look at those manifolds.

Gary

[Gary B.]

[Gary S.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Gary B.,
I knew that I have read of the process here but chose not to trust memory, thus the less-than-illuminating comment. I was not, however, aware that he painted them too.

Thank you for that information.

Gary

[Bob B.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Seymour it is, I will give a few points looks like there is no easy way, even reasonable to keep them nice , fresh and perfectly original-
unless you like rust. Your looks great, congrats

THANKS ALL-
Bob

[Gary B.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Bob,

I think with just the Seymour paint and not the sintered aluminum underlayer, the manifolds may start to age with use and exposure to the elements, and likely wind up looking more "original" with time. Whereas the MacNeish-treated manifolds are reported not to degrade, i.e., they will always look new and nice, but unoriginal.

Gary

[Mark E.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

I like the look and ease of applying Calyx cast iron dressing. Rub it on, and it lasts a few years. It's easy to renew and touch up. Plus it can be applied with the manifold on the car.

Many in NCRS don't use it because judges look for it by rubbing the manifold. To my eye it looks like fresh cast iron.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Mark,

Yup. Calyx has its proponents. And its naysayers.

Gary

[Edward D.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Lots of options, all have drawbacks. Calyx is a graphite paste, looks great, goes on with a toothbrush, and is easy to maintain, but it will rub off on your fingers. Lots of drivers use Calyx. The hi temp paint looks great until it doesn't, expect it to last a couple years before you have to remove manifolds and redo. The Seymore paint is excellent, another good option is the Eastwood stainless steel paint (comes in a can) that you brush on and then bake to cure, color is a bit off from cast though, a bit too shiny. I've never had corvette manifolds ceramic coated, but I do know its costly and doesn't look like cast iron. High point cars should avoid manifold paint, they are supposed to be rusty. My own personal car uses the Seymore hi temp manifold paint thesis days, although I did use Calyx in the past.

[Richard G.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

I used this product;
POR-15 High Temperature Heat Resistant Paint (Manifold Gray)
I have almost 400 miles on the car and it still looks great.
Amazon sells it for $20. One can is enough to do 10 cars.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Rich,

A lot of people on the CorvetteForum like the Pro-15 High Temp paint. But there are a number of other brands of paint or specialty coatings in manifold gray or cast iron color that advertise 1200 deg capabilities. I can't speak to the durability of any of them. Different people have their pet favorites.

With the MacNeish option off the table for the time being, I'm going to use Tech Line Colorgard Cast Iron paint, which I put on one manifold years ago, but haven't gotten around to thinking about the 2nd manifold until now. It's been so long since I did the 1st manifold I can't remember how I found out about Tech Line, but I found the partially used can in my garage today and I found the 2nd manifold last week, so the stars are aligned to do side two. Unfortunately, Tech Line has changed their marketing over the years and now they make it hard to buy their Colorgard Cast Iron via any retail resellers, so I just hope my half-used can is still sprayable. But again, I'm accepting the reality that my painted manifolds will garner a small deduct on Finish.

Gary

[Bob B.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

That engine is just flat beauty congrats

[James G.]

Re: 1967 exhaust manifold restoration best way ?

Has anyone tried CERACOAT? You can custom mix whatever color you want...

IT is used on guns /barrels etc and is extremely durable/heat resistant.
The prep process is intense (soaking in acetone overnight, then blasting with garnet media at 120 lbs, then baking for a couple of hours ALL PRIOR TO COATING)

That being said the product cost is minimal - less than $50 would EASILY DO a couple of sets of manifolds.
PLUS you could mimic the look of manifold overspray on the big blocks by using chevrolet orange on the bolt bosses and misting it in.