Exhaust Manifold Restoration

[Bob A.]

I have read the responces in the Archives regarding this subject. Are there any new processes that have been developed recently? What is the preferred method to achieve originality?

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

I have read the responces in the Archives regarding this subject. Are there any new processes that have been developed recently? What is the preferred method to achieve originality?

Bob,

I sent mine off to Jerry MacNeish for his new aluminum skin process. Then I used the rattle can paint he provides. I think they look pretty good. I plan to drive the car for a while before I restore it. So I don't know how well they will judge. I expect they will take somewhat of a hint. But to me it's worth it because they should never rust, at least on the outside. I was planning to include a picture, but I don't have my thumb drive with me. Hopefully I will have it for you tomorrow.

Which way are you thinking of going? Do you plan on having the car judged soon?

Joe

[John H.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Bob,

I sent mine off to Jerry MacNeish for his new aluminum skin process. Then I used the rattle can paint he provides. I think they look pretty good.

Bob -

Jerry MacNeish did my '69 Z/28 exhaust manifolds ten years ago; they haven't changed since.

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Bob,

Here's a couple of pictures of mine:






I see some darker spots in the pictures that I don't remember being on the real thing. Maybe that's just the lighting.

Joe

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

I see some darker spots in the pictures that I don't remember being on the real thing. Maybe that's just the lighting.

Joe

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. Some spots are darker and shinier than others. I assume that was due to poor rattle can technique. I guess I'm not a legendary restorer just yet (not even in my own mind)! What did I do wrong?

Joe

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. Some spots are darker and shinier than others. I assume that was due to poor rattle can technique. I guess I'm not a legendary restorer just yet (not even in my own mind)! What did I do wrong?

Joe

I'm sure that when you finish by painting the heads and exhaust manifolds orange it won't be seen. Small changes in the paint or coating tend to be covered up by the orange. Then when it burns off it really looks like (delivered from the dealer).

JR

[Michael M.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Joe, what type of paint does Jerry supply in a rattle can? Thanks

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

I'm sure that when you finish by painting the heads and exhaust manifolds orange it won't be seen. Small changes in the paint or coating tend to be covered up by the orange. Then when it burns off it really looks like (delivered from the dealer).

JR

Joe,

I agree that most of the exhaust manifold would have been painted orange at the factory. But I only plan on painting down to about the bottom of each individual runner. So do I need to strip them and start over or what? What should I have done to ensure a more even application of the paint?

Joe

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Joe, what type of paint does Jerry supply in a rattle can? Thanks

Michael,

Here's a crappy photo I took from my phone.



I can take a better one if you like.

Joe

[Michael M.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Joe, the picture is good enough but I do have one question. On the cap before cast iron what does it say? Is that a number or a word?

[Joe R.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Joe, the picture is good enough but I do have one question. On the cap before cast iron what does it say? Is that a number or a word?

Michael,

That part of the picture is really blurry. It looks like it might say "8P998" or maybe "SP998." I think I will edit my previous post to use a PhotoBucket version of the picture since the tech board compressed an already poor quality pic for me.

Joe

[Tracy C.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Joe,

I agree that most of the exhaust manifold would have been painted orange at the factory. But I only plan on painting down to about the bottom of each individual runner. So do I need to strip them and start over or what? What should I have done to ensure a more even application of the paint?

Joe

Just paint the orange right over the top of what you have there. When you light this puppy up, the look is going to change rapidly anyway.

tc

[Jack H.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

A key point here is whether you can see a color/hue difference between the surface of the 'painted' cast iron exhaust manifold and the un-painted portion of the cast iron cylinder head it's bolted onto?

If your answer is yes, then don't balk when the judges take originality points for there being some 'strange/foreign' coating on your exhaust manifolds that's inconsistent with factory original production...

[Pierre J.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

As part of the manifold restoration process, don't forget to replace the three exhaust studs to avoid problems next time around .

[Gary B.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Restoration

As part of the manifold restoration process, don't forget to replace the three exhaust studs to avoid problems next time around .

Is there any other bolt/stud that breaks more often or causes a bigger headache to fix?

Gary