Okay, I have tracked down a NEW (yes, I said NEW) set of manifolds for my baby, and I would like to avoid having to look into the engine bay at rusty crap (with the exception of the k-member, there really isn't anything I can do about it ATM). Would it be feasable to buy a can of red BBQ grill paint and put that on my manifolds, just until I decide whether or not to fork over the $400 for headers? I think the stuff is good to like 1100* or somewhere around there...

And, yes, I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but you have no idea how much I hate just looking at my nasty, rusty manifolds (the passenger's side of which NEEDS to be replaced due to a broken mounting ear on the #5 cyl which likes to leak).

 

I'm going to do mine with this:

http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=FMG&dept=8

I haven't used this particular manifold coating before, but I have used other POR-15 coatings and it has worked well on other parts.

 

I was looking for something a little cheaper. Not to be too hard on anyone, but if I had that kind of money, I wouldn't have asked this question because I would have my headers . POR-15 isn't cheap enough for me atm, and when I can afford it, it's going to be used for my engine compartment and undercoating.

 

I wish I could tell you for sure, but I'm almost certain that the 8oz can will do the trick.

But, yeah, it is expensive.

 

Two thumbs up for por-15. I'm using it to paint my rearend housing/axle tubes.

As for the paint, that BBQ grill paint might do the trick, but I've never heard of anyone using that so I don't know how long it will last.

I would try the paint that you mentioned and see. If it flakes off, then you only wasted a couple of bucks (and even then I would imagine they would last a while before they turn the rusty brown color anyway.) If the rust color bothers you that much, another option would be to send the manifolds to jet hot and just get them ceramic coated until you decide on headers. I think it only cost like $200 shipped to get my headers coated.

If it were me, I would just deal with the rust color for a while longer while I saved up.

 

if you read the bbq paint can it says it can handle 1100 intermittently. id say just go to kragen, or autozone or whatever, head to the spraypaint aisle and they have this stuff thats like i forgot what its called but its made to handle 1200, and its made for cars. so id say that would be the way to go, its only like 6 to 8 bucks a can. and theres a good amount in there.

ive used it before on valve covers before and they came out awesome.

 

That's about the answer I was looking for. I would rather spend 6-10 bucks and have it come out halfway decent for just a little while, since I will be getting headers sometime anyways, then spend so much for the POR-15 and waste it because I will be ditching my manifolds.
Do you know offhand if that stuff comes in red?

 

yes, thats the color i most commonly use. it comes in either 2 shades of red, dark, or bright. also there are about a dozen other colors

 

yea get header paint, but you got to bake it on for it to cure right, if you dont do it like the can says it will burn or rub right off, happened on a set of headers we let air dry with that header paint

 

Header paint or hi-temp powder coating. Do them in either dark grey (like bare cast iron) or black and it should look fine. Ceramic coated is another option.

Why are you wanting red paint?

 

My car, when finished, will be 3 primary colors: Black with Bright Red and Chrome accents. Right now, I just want something to cover some of the nasty looking rust that I see. Did I mention I HATE rust? Besides, it will help to offset the black I will be painting my heads when I have to remove the pass side to drill out the bolt for the cyl 5 mounting ear I mentioned above. Apparently, the bolt broke and took some of the mounting ear with it, or something like that. The damage was done before I had anything to do with it, I suppose. Maybe that's why the shop gave me the 3.1 manifold instead of my 2.8 manifold that didn't have the AIR pipe?

 

i would stop wasting money on a v6

 

1. My V6 gets 30MPG. Can your V8 do that?
2. When I want a V8, I'll get an '81 Z28.
3. I like a challenge. I'd rather be challenged to meet a certain power level with my six than boringly easily meet it with an 8.
4. My insurance is cheaper with the six than an 8, and it's expensive enough.
Oh, and 5. I like to be different. Let's face it, just about EVERY F-body you see has a V8.
Anything else?

:edit: Oh, and I could swear this was the Exhaust forum, not the "Flame the Poor Guy Who Has A V6" forum.

 

yep just another comment from another user that makes me wonder, where TGO is going