Orange Exhaust Manifolds

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

I've always noticed that the majority of folks with restored cars don't seem to like to have their exhaust manifolds painted. I scanned this photo of the engine compartment of a 1959 Corvette from the 1960 sales brochure. Most vintage pics are b/w, but this nice color shot clearly shows what a newly installed engine looked like and the exhaust manifolds are as orange as any other part of the engine.

Some say that GM didn't intend the exhaust manifolds to be painted, so they are restoring their car the way GM intended. However, the only way for the exhaust manifolds to not be painted would be for there to be a large area surrounding them where the engine also was not painted and this was certainly not intended.

However, saying that GM didn't intend the exhaust manifolds to be painted makes no more sense than saying GM didn't intend the water pump to be painted. It is clear that all these items were put on before engine painting and GM intended bare metal surfaces to be painted so as to not rust.

I am told that there is a place that puts on a really good, cast-iron appearing coating that doesn't rust. Someone could do that, paint their manifolds as did the factory and, eventually, all would burn off except on the bosses and other cooler spots. This would be a great option and your restoration would be correct!

Bob

[Michael F.]

Re: Orange Exhaust Manifolds

I would say GM didn't intend on the painted exhaust manifolds to hold their color and they didn't. It burned right off.

Unless you are reporting your Vette to be a no to extremely low mileage example? The paint would need to be mostly burned off with only traces of the orange remaining.

You will see some restos with the orange paint just on the drivers side alt mount. The hotter surfaces burned off.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Orange Exhaust Manifolds

Hi all,

I've always noticed that the majority of folks with restored cars don't seem to like to have their exhaust manifolds painted. I scanned this photo of the engine compartment of a 1959 Corvette from the 1960 sales brochure. Most vintage pics are b/w, but this nice color shot clearly shows what a newly installed engine looked like and the exhaust manifolds are as orange as any other part of the engine.

Some say that GM didn't intend the exhaust manifolds to be painted, so they are restoring their car the way GM intended. However, the only way for the exhaust manifolds to not be painted would be for there to be a large area surrounding them where the engine also was not painted and this was certainly not intended.

However, saying that GM didn't intend the exhaust manifolds to be painted makes no more sense than saying GM didn't intend the water pump to be painted. It is clear that all these items were put on before engine painting and GM intended bare metal surfaces to be painted so as to not rust.

I am told that there is a place that puts on a really good, cast-iron appearing coating that doesn't rust. Someone could do that, paint their manifolds as did the factory and, eventually, all would burn off except on the bosses and other cooler spots. This would be a great option and your restoration would be correct!

Bob

The manifolds were on the engine when painted so maybe the early SB'S were painted all over. After a few miles it would have burnt off. NCRS judges as a new car pick up at the dealership not as it rolled off the line. You can just spray them orange before showing if you want,
KEN