Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

[James B.]

Are there any hi temp paints or other treatments/coatings for exhaust manifolds that will pass judging and be durable? I looked in the archives and there are recommendations for paints (VTH Manifold Paint, POR 15 Factory Mfld Gray, Eastwood SS Hi temp coating, etc) but no one said that any would pass and there were comments that a couple would definitely not pass.

From the '67 judging manual I know that they are to appear as 'natural cast iron' and were installed after engine paint.

If your '67 has been judged in the last couple of years and the exhaust manifolds have passed without deduction please let me know what you used (I recognize that different judges may not rule in the same way).

Is there such a thing as hi temp matte clear and might that work on a properly cleaned/prepared manifold?

I want originality but I just can't bring myself to leaving them raw knowing how quickly they will rust (then I'll have a deduct for condition!!). Will appreciate any help or suggestions, Jim Baker

[Harry S.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Calyx has been a recommendation. http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=calyx

Watch the video.

There are positive and negative comments in the archives.

[Gary S.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Patrick Hulst here recommended PreLube 6 a long time ago for doing this very thing. I was skeptical until I used it. I cleaned my manifolds, washed them, air dried them and then sprayed PreLube 6 liberally on them. I don't recall how long I left it there but it was for several (many?) minutes. I then started the engine up and let the stuff burn off. BE PREPARED. This smoked like the whole engine was on fire. I am currently working on my A.I.R. system and have the manifolds off and they still look great. I have only repeated this process once or twice in the 12-13 years but it really looks nice. I will tell you that this was applied on exhaust manifolds that looked like new when I bought the car. It had a hair over 30000 miles on it at the time. I will be re-applying this since the manifolds are off and I hope to not worry about it again for a while.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Calyx will get a deduction as it never dries and it also falls off on the frame causing more deductions because of sparkles on frame paint.I use WD40 and then start the engine and burn it off. I do this several times. No residue left so no deduction and no rust and if you see rust just apply again.

[Gary S.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

I think from past reading quite a while ago, that my PreLube 6 is similar to WD40 only "industrial strength", sort of. Like Lyle's comment, there isn't any residue and only periodic touch up is required.

Edit:
I will add that I bought this from Quanta Products but, right now, the only description I can find for PreLube 6 is this:

http://www.grignard.com/Wire-Rope-Lubricants/

[Duke W.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Armor-All works well to prevent surface rust from forming, but it needs to be re-applied periodically. Use a small paint or chip brush to work it in to the surface.

Duke

[Gene M.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Put what ever you like the looks of on the manifolds. The maximum deduction under CDCIF deductions is 20% for finish in the originality column. In the over all total of points and percentage it is NOTHING.

I can assure you judges know what bare cast iron looks like and will make deductions for anything other than that.

[Doug L.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Listen to Gene. If you don't want corrosion on your manifolds, coat them but expect to loose points.

I put PreLube6 on other components such as the differential. It does disappear over time. I have a lot of rust on the bare rear end components 2 years later. I'm in S. Florida where the high humidity hits stuff real hard.
Doug

[James B.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Thank you all for your comments, I'll try PreLube 6.

Gene, you said "I can assure you judges know what bare cast iron looks like". I was just hoping that someday I might get the Nearsighted, color blind judge...

Jim Baker

[Mark E.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Is Grignard the only place to buy Prelube 6? No hits on Google with the major on-line retailers. Neither Amazon nor Grainger carry it, and they sell everything.

[Gary S.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Google Quanta Products and ask them. I got it there years ago and they may still stock at

[Harmon C.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Just use WD40 and get the same results and it's sold everywhere.

[Gene M.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Hint. Dot 5 silicone brake fluid does a nice job protecting bare cast iron from rust.

[James B.]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Treatment That Passes Judging?

Thanks Lyle, Gene and Gary