Type 65 Side Pipe Coating Options

[AMCCORMICK]

Hi Guys:

Just ordered a Type 65 Coupe kit which I hope to see late December of early January. I was hoping to put on white side pipes and I also want to take advantage of the sale Gas-N is having this weekend. What coating processes have you seen to work, or you can recommend? Are there any issues you have encountered? I have received a quote form a company that appears to do really good work for ceramic coating, but the price is almost as much as the pipes themselves. At the current price I have been quoted I am leaning toward the brushed finish Georgie offers on his pipes, but I really prefer the look of the white. Thanks in advance and I look forward to becoming part of this community.

Thanks,

Andy

[edwardb]

I like my bling, so I have Georgie's polished SS pipes on my Coupe. But I get that some like white like the originals. Along with the white wheels. The price range you cited for white ceramic sounds way too high. Has to be a shop with a more reasonable price. Have you asked Georgie about this? He's been in the industry for a long time and knows a thing or two. Good luck.

[AMCCORMICK]

Georgie suggested painting them myself, I have to do some research on what the best product to use. Really would like the look of the white but don't want to be creating a headache if they yellow or have to be recoated on a regular basis. Due to the regulations around VOC emissions less people are doing this type of coating, and the ones that still do are not cheap. I'm still looking for a shop that can do this and not break the bank. Worst case is I go with either the polished or the brushed - both would look great. Thanks for the input.

[rhk118]

Hello and congrats on the order! I've looked into this extensively myself as am going with the classic blue with white accents theme. Wheels are powder coated white. Talking to the company who did my powder coating the options for side pipes are ceramic coating (powder coat obviously can't take the heat) or very high temp white BBQ paint. My powder coater recommended the VHT BBQ spray paint. There are only 1-2 shades of white in ceramic coating and it isn't a pure white. He says he has used it (ceramic coating) on headers and pipes in the past and it is yellowed/tanned in a couple months from heat cycling and can't be cleaned. For this reason he recommends high temp white paint. The paint will also yellow and eventually get scuffed/stained/flake here and there but then you take the pipes off and can re-spray to clean them up - and it's a much cheaper option. I was quoted $400 to ceramic coat my pipes white, he recommended AGAINST it - so message received :D

Like EdwardB above I bought the polished SS side pipes from Georgie and they are a work of art - to the point that I'd hang them in my garage just to look at them. I will not be painting or ceramic coating these. Having said that the FFR side pipes are quite nice now as well compared to pictures I've seen of early coupe deliveries - polished stainless as well. If you bought some from Georgie then paint the kit pipes and switch as you mood sees fit - that is my plan. But I know I'll really just put on the polished stainless Gas-N pipes and never look back.

[JohnK]

I have read a few times on the forum that folks with white side pipes report that they get dirty-looking after driving for a bit. Given that, I’d probably spray them with white BBQ paint and respray when they get dirty.

[Alphamacaroon]

Echoing other comments here about spraying them with high-temp paint...

I spent hours looking for pure white ceramic coating that would hold up to exhaust-level heat, and at the time, there was like one place that did it and the price was prohibitive. Maybe getting them coated once is (somewhat) affordable, but eventually you will get enough rubber, grime, grease, rock chips, etc. that will require them to be redone— I didn't want to incur that recurring cost.

So after hours and hours of research and debating, I finally just went the White VHT Header paint option— and would highly recommend it. It does not discolor due to heat in my experience, but it does take rock chips easier. So I repaint them every year— it only takes about 45 minutes all-told to cover and tape the car + paint. When I'm done, the pipes look brand-new for less than an hours worth of time in my own garage.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/VHT-SP101-FlameProof-Coating-White/dp/B000CPJLGC

[Jim1855]

My experience with painting headers was that it was a limited time covering. If I was painting sidepipes I'd plan on recoating as an annual event. Now,
sidepipes should be significantly cooler than headers so that should reduce the heat effects.

AMCCORMICK, you have plenty of time to do research, I'd use that to your benefit. The http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/ site could help with your research as well.

I am now having headers built for my car. SS304 and these will be silver ceramic coated inside & out for heat retention. Just not sure of the shop I'll use. I'm open to suggestions for vendors. Silver ceramic starts out shiny but dulls over the years, flat white might yellow as has been indicated

Jim

[DW66]

189960 I have had good luck with Rustoleum barbeque paint. I'm pretty sure they make it in white.These are FFR side pipes sandblasted when new and painted. No primer. I heat cycled them a couple times and now spray wax them everytime I do the car. These are two years old with 9000 miles. They still look good.

Dave

[rhk118]

They've held up great Dave!

[DW66]

Way better than I expected. I thought I would be redoing them every winter but I'm not sure they will need it even this winter. The front side of the pipes that take all the road beating from the front tires has held up as well. I can't confirm the white will hold up as well but I would certainly try it. Not much to lose the paint if fairly cheap. I sand blasted then sanded with 320 grit.

Dave

[AMCCORMICK]

Hey Guys, thanks for the input. Been out of town so just getting caught up and I really appreciate all of the insights. VHT paint looks like the best option. Having to periodically touch them up will still be way cheaper than the coating that cost as much as the pipes themselves. Looking forward to getting started but in the meantime planning and research is keeping me busy.

Andy

[burchfieldb]

Hey Guys, thanks for the input. Been out of town so just getting caught up and I really appreciate all of the insights. VHT paint looks like the best option. Having to periodically touch them up will still be way cheaper than the coating that cost as much as the pipes themselves. Looking forward to getting started but in the meantime planning and research is keeping me busy.

Andy

One other option could be to use KG's Gun Kote. It is stable at 400-450, 700-800F intermittent. I am running this on my valve covers and intake manifold.

190224

[klawrence]

Used cerakote on mine, well what was mine. Turned out great. pics in signature

[Rian_Colorado]

Using Cerakote on mine as well. It's pricey, but hopefully a 1 time cost. Mine will be black as well, so probably not as hard as the white to keep pretty

RR