Exhaust Manifold Reconditioning
 

What are you guys doing to recondition your manifolds? I'm cleaning up the extremely nice 402 manifolds before I reinstall the motor in my '71 Impala...it's a low mile CA car so there's just a light coating of surface rust to deal with. I remember using Calyx back in the day but curious what you guys prefer in 2020.

Thanks!
Tony

I used KBS high temperature coating on my z. I am not happy with what it looks like now and acts like it is coming off. I figued the engine would have cured it but maybe I should have done it right when it was painted. Supposed to be good paint but thought I should warn you if thats on the list. Not like they are easy to remove and coat again.

I've been using a ceramic coating from Central CT Coatings for years with great results on the show field and street. There is a ceramic under coating and a cast grey overlay that not only helps with heat deflection but also looks great. I did run in material cracking issues on a big cube big block but that was isolated to breaking the motor in on the dyno with the coated manifolds which is not suggested. Nice product.

http://www.centralctcoatings.com/index.html

Dan

Dropped my original exhaust manifolds to a friend's shop and he sent them for a few rounds in his block tumbler using some steel shot. Gotta say the exhaust manifolds came out looking great. When things warm up here, I'll spray them with a high temp clear to keep them looking this nice. Here's the before and after shots and some pics of the tumbler he uses for cast iron parts cleaning.

Not sure who all has access to a tumbler in their area, but I know MacNeish also does this for people.

https://i.ibb.co/XY5G5pW/IMG-8480.jpg
How they looked before being tumbled.

https://i.ibb.co/ZMMd0kh/IMG-9312.jpg
A look inside his tumbler as he just finished cleaning a block.

https://i.ibb.co/HXrYF9Y/IMG-9313.jpg
The steel shot that he uses for cast iron clean up.

https://i.ibb.co/QpJjN24/IMG-9373.jpg
And the exhaust manifolds after being cleaned up.

One more shot.

https://i.ibb.co/qm5R53z/IMG-9374.jpg

Jerry did mine, and they came out great!
Buddy

I still use Calyx it lasts for years and is affordable. Easy to do at home.

I used to use the Eastwood stuff, it was better the older it was still in the can. I use a foam brush and can recoat them in the car.

I like the Por 15 now

I used Cerakote and I hope I am happy when I fire this up.

Thanks guys, appreciate all the feedback!