Stainless steel exhaust

[balimatharu]

I am restoring my 250sl. Now I am looking at the exhaust system. The existing exhaust is of stainless steel. It is complete and looks good. Some stains and blemishes. I don't see the stainless steel shine but it looks " silverish "in colour. When I give it a rub with 600 grit wet/ dry paper it revealed nice stainless steel. I wonder whether I should rub off the entire system and polish it off to bring out the fresh stainless steel look.
Also about the exhaust manifold and the down pipes. I have been reading the forums previously posted. I still not sure which way to go as there are too many variations posted. What's the latest thoughts on this : powder coat , ceramic coating , VH spray paint etc.
I would appreciate any help and what material to coat with.
Thanks

Bali

[Peter]

Hi Bali,

The original color of the exhaust is DB 164, this paint is far as I know not available above 800 C. 
You could use Motip 800 C black number 04031. Good quality and easy to works with.

Peter

[johnk]

Bali
Probably the biggest issue you face with the manifolds is how you remove all of the rust first. If you don't get every last bit of it the rust will take over whatever your coating is. I sandblasted mine and then I soaked them in rust remover for a day or so. Time will tell how that works as my car is still under construction.

Powder coating is plastic and will melt right off. I coated mine with Ceracote, a ceramic based spray on coating used on some OEM exhausts. It runs $70 bucks a bottle but you will have plenty left over.  It has the highest heat rating of any coating on the market. VHT in a rattle can is probably worth every bit of the ten bucks you pay for it, but I am not sure how much more. Sending your manifolds out for professional ceramic coating runs about $300 bucks from what I read from others on this site but I would guess they have the best process from ensuring rust wont be an issue. 

Seems to me that its depends upon how much effort and money you want to put into it. Neither is a bad option for the money as long as you get the rust off. That's just my three cents.

[mrfatboy]

I sand blasted my manifolds and used VHT spray paint. Followed the instructions and baked them in them in the kitchen oven. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation and an understanding significant other 😁

After two years they still look great.

[MikeSimon]

I used a product called "Metal Rescue" sourced at a local hardware store. It is a rust removing liquid. Submerged the manifolds over night. They come out with a greyish-white hue, which is supposedly a rust-prohibitive phosphate coating. Ready to paint or leave as is.

[mistertj]

I purchased a product from Bill Hirsch 30+ years ago. It has deteriorated some after 33 years but I could touch it up if I wanted. It's a brush on. I still have the product. (See photos).

[balimatharu]

Thanks all.
Johnk, I just received the Cerakote paint. I am going for Tactical grey shade.
Air dry. It probably would blend better with the stainless steel exhaust.
Now waiting for the blasters to open up.
What type of exhaust clamps you recommend.
I have been looking at stainless steel lap clamps. But cannot find small enough to fit.
Bali

[johnk]

Bali
Did you call Ceracote to go over the application process? The biggest difference is to heat the exhaust up to outgas the metal before you paint. My gas grill did the trick.  I also suggest you use a small spray gun to not waist any of the paint. A cheap harbor freight one worked best for me.

Good luck John

[JN]

Eastwood also has products for the manifolds and exhaust
JN

[johnk]

Eastwood also has products for the manifolds and exhaust
JN

I will be honest. I bought a lot of stull from Eastwood at the earlier stages of my restoration as one of their two retail stores is near my office. I also liked their how to videos. As time progressed I found much better products with better pricing in the right local paint stores and by sourcing the more reputable suppliers of certain products. For example I bought my first Cadmium solution from Eastwood because I was familiar with them. It ended up being too small of a solution batch to be effective and wouldn't work with any yellow chromate. I ended up throwing it out when I learned about Caswell from our site and bought a much larger batch that works with Yellow Chromate for much less.

Don,t get me wrong I bought a lot of good stuff from them that is not easily found elsewhere like my powder coating kit and certain supplies. I've just learned to check elsewhere as well specially with all of the experience available from our members.

[balimatharu]

Thank you all for the help
Bali