Painted Exhaust / Ceramic Coating Need Advice.

[Mslone]

Guys,

I have a Question that I did not find much on searching the Forum.

I love the look of the Flat Black Side Exhaust vs. the Stainless. Like the pic below:

28442

my first question is should I use the upgraded MK4 Stainless exhaust and then Paint Flat Black? Currently My order has the upgraded Stainless Exhaust coming, but I have until mid June to change back to plain Steel Exhaust.

Do I use the plain steel Exhaust and simply Paint it with High Temp Flat Black or does it need Ceramic coated in Black?

I'm sure lots of folks have got this al figured out, so figured I would ask the group!

Just want it to look good and last!

Any advice or Paint..etc you recommend would be great!

Thanks,

Michael

[Blue MK3]

My car, built by the previous owner, has plain steel pipes that were painted flat white with high temp paint from a rattle can. I repainted them once after they got a bit grungy. As simple to do as washing the car. Based on my experience, save your money, get the plain steel pipes, and a can of whatever color hi-temp you like.

[68GT500MAN]

I would not cover the stainless exhaust with the high temp paint (to pretty and expensive to cover). Most have just used their favorite brand of rattle-can high temp. paint over the plain steel. If they get a stain, scratch, or discollered jut apply another coat and they will be good as new.
Doug

[CCPcoatings]

Guys,

I have a Question that I did not find much on searching the Forum.

I love the look of the Flat Black Side Exhaust vs. the Stainless. Like the pic below:

28442

my first question is should I use the upgraded MK4 Stainless exhaust and then Paint Flat Black? Currently My order has the upgraded Stainless Exhaust coming, but I have until mid June to change back to plain Steel Exhaust.

Do I use the plain steel Exhaust and simply Paint it with High Temp Flat Black or does it need Ceramic coated in Black?

I'm sure lots of folks have got this al figured out, so figured I would ask the group!

Just want it to look good and last!

Any advice or Paint..etc you recommend would be great!

Thanks,

Michael

Hello:

Obviously, if you get the SS system you won't have to worry about the pipes rusting out. Its rare to see a system actually rust out completely, I do do see MANY steel systems with external corrosion damage that affects the overall appearance of the pipes. I'm not sure of the the upgrade cost of the SS over mild steel so you'd have to weigh that one out with how long you intend to keep the car. Also, with the cost of replacing either after the fact.

As for blacking them out, we're somewhat biased with ceramic as that is really the only thing that should be put on pipes in that its a thermal barrier and a protective coating. It can be done with various BBQ paints and high temp paints as well, but this comes down to you capability to properly profile the pipes and coat them. You can research that yourself, but results tend to be 50/50 at best. Even if done properly, you're be re-doing any kind of paint at some point in the near future.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I cleaned and prepped my steel pipes then gave them several coats of rattle can black header paint. Didn't last... Stripped it, cleaned and prepped again and gave them several coats of rattle can black BBQ paint. Lasted until a track day but couldn't take the prolonged extreme heat and came off of the collector pipes. Had them ceramic coated in satin black and never looked back. After about 6 years and 15K miles with sticky tires the forward surface of the front two pipes on both sides have been sandblasted but I can't complain.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/IMG_4535-1.jpg

My experience says forget about painting them, take the money you don't spend on the upgraded stainless pipes and put about $250 of it towards having the regular pipes ceramic coated.

Jeff

[68GT500MAN]

But how many cans of paint could be purchased for $250? Just something to consider. My headers/pipes are ceramic coated a silver with heat shields coated in the same material but I wanted the look that I got. Ceramic coating does have many advantages over paint, but it comes down to what you expect and want to pay.
Doug

[Avalanche325]

But how many cans of paint could be purchased for $250?

Here is the reality though. Ceramic coated pipes will look good for a long time. Painted pipes will look good for a short time. Then you have crappy looking pipes on your car most of the time.

I have stainless pipes. Here are a couple things to note about them. First, I would not paint them. I seriously doubt that it would stick well. They look nice, but they do not stay silver. They go blue on the primary pipes, which looks good. The rest of the pipe goes gold, hmmmm. It takes serious polishing to get them back silver and guess what happens the next time you start the car? They are also louder than the regular pipes.

I agree with Jeff. Pick your color and have the steel pipes ceramic coated.

[4.6 litre]

So the steel exhaust side pipes aren't powder coated black like the roll bar? If anyone has done differently then this to achieve the black color, please let me know what product you used. My wife wants good looking black side pipes to match the black roll bar.

Regards,

4.6 L

[Jeff Kleiner]

But how many cans of paint could be purchased for $250?

To give them 2-3 good coats took me 4 cans. Four cans at close to $10 each (VHT)=$40 per application. From my experience if you drive the car much they'll need to be done twice a year so let's say $60 to $80 annually. I figure that after 3 to 4 years I broke even and didn't have to expend any effort.


So the steel exhaust side pipes aren't powder coated black like the roll bar? If anyone has done differently then this to achieve the black color, please let me know what product you used.

The steel pipes are raw. Regular powder coating will not take the heat. Here's what will happen:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w220/lex446/055.jpg

Your choices are high temperature spray paint such as VHT or ceramic coating.

Jeff

[Pylons]

I have stainless pipes. Here are a couple things to note about them. First, I would not paint them. I seriously doubt that it would stick well. They look nice, but they do not stay silver. They go blue on the primary pipes, which looks good. The rest of the pipe goes gold, hmmmm. It takes serious polishing to get them back silver and guess what happens the next time you start the car? They are also louder than the regular pipes.
Get some of this:
http://www.arcalchem.com/Pages/Com302.html

they told us about that at build school and demonstrated...it was impressive

[Gumball]

There's a powder / ceramic coating place local to me and I had them take care of my pipes. They stripped the standard silver off the 4-into-4 headers, then coated the headers and the bare steel FFR sidepipes for me in satin black ceramic.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/1frontthreequarterpassenger_zps3dafc159.jpg (http://s845.photobucket.com/user/CCRsAC/media/1frontthreequarterpassenger_zps3dafc159.jpg.html)

[Blue MK3]

I have to disagree with Jeff. I re-coated my pipes (both sides) about a year ago with half a can of white VHT paint and they look fine. There's probably enough paint left to put on another coat (when needed). I can't see why it would take 2-3 cans twice a year. So I figure I spend $5/year on paint. That's only a bit more than a gallon of gas. That said, I drive only about 3k miles a year and only in dry weather.

[Carlos C]

It comes down to preference, how much you plan to drive the car, and how much money and time you're willing to spend on these pipes. Simply put, you'll find yourself re-coating over and over, if you just use high-temp paint on bare steel pipes. High temp paint will dull out with heat, and chips fairly easily. Not to mention that corrosion can build under the paint, which would require more work to remove the rust. If you want to save the max amount of money up-front, then this would be the way to go.

Do NOT use powder coating on pipes. You'll lose your money the first time they heat up. Ceramic coating is the best way to go. Not only does it provide a long-lasting coat, but it helps reducing heat, especially if also coated on the inside.

You can ceramic-coat the bare steel pipes, and that would only set you back a few Benjamins. Stainless steel is pretty, but as mentioned above, it will develop different colors with high heat (not so pretty anymore). If you don't mind using the special compound every few weeks to make it look new again, then this could be your route. For the most durable protection and looks, and if money is not a deterrent, then go ahead with the stainless steel pipes, and have them ceramic-coated. I did this with my motorcycle, and after 30K miles and 4 years, they still look good.

Hope this helps.

Carlos

[Mslone]

I have decided to go with a Ceramic finish and be done with. Found a local place here in Houston that Will do both pipes for 500.00 I figure if I just go with the Steel pipes instead of the upgrade Stainless pipes and save the upgrade fee. I will only have 200.00 in getting them Ceramic coated and will last forever... this car will only see maybe 1000 milers per year and I don't plan to do any racing.

So thanks everyone for the advice and good discussion! This is what's great about this Forum... Ask and Ye shall receive!!!