Exhaust headers , pipes & mufflers

[brocksl]

On my 1970 280SL does anyone know the true factory color(s) of the headers and the rest of the exhaust system?  The restorations I've seen on this site, while all beautiful, show a wide variety of colors and I have no idea how this car came out of the factory. 

Also, any suggestions as to the type of coating for the exhaust system would be helpful.  Thanks.

Carl Maier

[Benz Dr.]

I've been having all of my exhaust manifolds coated with a heat resistant material. They never rust again and it actually helps to hold the heat in the pipes. In this case, I use a natural cast iron colour.

  On the early 113 exhaust headers I would use a colour similar to new steel pipes while 190SL's get a black oxide colour. 

[Richard Madison]

Link to a photo of an original 1968 engine showing the Exhaust Manifold.

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16882.0

Richard M, NYC

[brocksl]

Thanks Doc & Richard.....Ok, so a "new steel" color for the headers.....which heat resistant material would you suggest?

What color & coating type for the pipes and mufflers?

Carl Maier

[280SE Guy]

Link to a photo of an original 1968 engine showing the Exhaust Manifold.

http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=16882.0

Richard M, NYC

To me the original photo depicts the exhaust manifolds as white in color. I have been told by others that the original manifolds were white. I had my exhaust manifolds white ceramic coated by swaintech.com and am very satisfied with the results.



Here is a direct link to their White Lightening exhaust coating

http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/race-coating-descriptions/white-lightning-exhaust-coatings/

Let us know which way you will go.

Regards,

280SE Guy

[Benz Dr.]

I don't belive the manifolds were anything other than oridinary cast iron which is a lighter gray when new that will darken to black or brown over time if exsposed to medium heat and moisture. 280SL manifolds run at about 300 - 350 degrees which will not damage cast iron. I've seen manifolds turn red hot on big gasoline fired trucks and still keep working year after year.
The manifolds on 113's, if kept away from water and salt, will turn a whitish colour from the heat but are not actually white. I'd call it more of a patina that forms from years of heat cylcles. Even fairly new stuff will turn white quickly enough if run in dry conditions.

The header pipes used on early 230SL's were more of a silvery gray colour but most are often rusty from years of use. These pipes are steel so they will pit and become thin over time. Even cast iron will pit but it's a fairly slow process. You can always tell what sort of an envoironment a car came from by looking at the manifolds. Dry areas have a very clean, whitish-brown patina on them while humid conditions will show rusty pitted manifolds. This happens when you shut the car off and the bare metal is exsposed to the atmosphere. 

[280SE Guy]

I don't belive the manifolds were anything other than oridinary cast iron which is a lighter gray when new

I don't know about that. Look at this picture from the Mercedes factory back in the day. Those manifolds sure look white to me.



Regards,

280SE Guy

[Benz Dr.]

They are not pianted or coated with a white material. That's the colour of fresh cast iron. It will maintain a whitish patina unless you introduce moisture to the surface.

[280SE Guy]

Each of us has our own opinion I guess . . right or wrong.

If you look into the outlet of the rear exhaust manifold one can clearly see the difference between the uncoated cast iron and the outside white coated manifold.

Regards,

280SE Guy

[Benz Dr.]

Where are you seeing this? I'm refering to which picture are you looking at?

   The inside of the manifold won't be the same colour as the outside after the car has run for a while. Most I look at are with black with the unleaded fuel used today. Back when leaded fuel was used they would have been white inside if the engine was running properly.

 I've had NOS manifoldls before and they were bare cast iron. At any rate, sure wouldn't be coating them with kitchen sink white and expecting any awards for originality. It's kind of like red engine bolcks and cooling fans - may look nice but not original. 

[280SE Guy]

I was referring to the factory assembly line photo I had posted. Here is an enlarged area of the exhaust manifolds for you. Again look at the difference of the inside of the manifolds compaired to the outsides of the manifolds. The picture is a factory installation with zero miles on the car.



I would not call the finish kitchen sink white but rather a flat white color.

NOS parts come in many different finishes as I'm sure you are aware of, not necessarily an original factory assembled finish.

In my mind the original factory exhaust manifolds were flat white in color on the exterior . . . that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Regards,

280SE Guy

[Benz Dr.]

Maybe. Kind of hard to tell in that picture; it's so grainy. The inside end of the manifolds would be different in colour because that area is machined to accept the end of the exhaust pipes. 

  OK, I'll say maybe on the colour of the exhaust manifolds. The factory often tarted up engines and other parts to look pretty for the camera.
  The steel header pipes were more of a natural colour and I know 190SL headers are a black oxide type of finish. I've seen 300SL headers in black or silver. 

[Raymond]

Guy, That photo was shot with a flash located on top of the camera.  All of the light colored surfaces perpendicular to the flash and lens will "bloom"  The dot printing technique will not provide the contrast ratio that your eyes will. If you look at the bell housing, you'll see that the parts of the curve that approach perpendicular are also white.  That does not prove that the housing was white. 

Of course I could be wrong.  I've only been making a living taking pictures for 44 years.   

[brocksl]

Thanks 280SE guy, Doc & Raymond.....great spirited exchange and very educational.  I'm sending the cast iron manifolds out to sand blast and will determine final color after they're returned....regarding the pipes & mufflers, a whole lot of sanding first and then the POR-20 hi-temp aluminum paint (with a hi-temp primer first).  Thanks again to all of you!!
Carl

[Benz Dr.]

Oh, that's not what I meant!  I was only talking about the early header pipes, not the exhasust pipes under the car.

 I'd use a HT satin or flat black for anything under the car. You definately don't want to paint them aluminum or silver. All I canm remember is MB painting them black.

[brocksl]

Thanks Doc, good catch......satin black, Por20 HT it is......Carl