Correct Exhaust manifold color for 65 230SL

[perry113]

Does anyone know the correct color for the early headers on a 1965 230SL? I'm ready to refinish mine and would like to apply the correct color.

Thanks in advance

Peter Perry
1965 230SL
1972 Porsche 911T 2.5S coupe
1975 Maserati Bora
1965 Morgan 4/4 GT
1960 MGA
1959 MGA
1936 MG TA 0287

[mdsalemi]

Perry,

If you are talking about simply the cast-iron exhaust manifold, I don't believe they were "finished" per se.  Thus, correctly finishing them would be to do nothing.

Now, that being said, perhaps you'd like to maintain that just-cast look that fresh iron has before rust sets in.

Go to the Eastwood catalog, they have a variety of finishes available that mimic cast iron and will allow you to maintain the look without rust.

I also believe there is a special, high-temperature powder coat available (www.jet-hot.com) that you could use if the manifold is off the car and you send it out.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Naj ✝︎]

Hello, Peter,

Does this help?

Download Attachment: 230_Header.JPG
29.3 KB

This is from a 1.2 M km. unmolested 230 SL

naj

68 280SL

[perry113]

Naj's picture says it all. They are the same. I couldn't remember what color they were bacuause I sandblasted them months ago.

I thank both of you for your responses.

Cheers
Peter Perry
1965 230 SL

[Vince Canepa]

For reference, from the factory the cast iron manifolds were painted with a very light grey paint.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[Cees Klumper]

I refinished my cast iron exhaust manifold, after cleaning it up with a wire brush, with a high-temp gray spray paint and it has held up very nicely over the past two years.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Raymond]

There is a high temp paint called POR-15 that is good to 1400 F.  They also have a POR-20 that is a bright finish that looks like Naj's picture.  I bead blasted my manifolds and hand painted them.  Only 1500 miles since, so far they still look great.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[DaveB]

The grey finish on my '65 headers looks more like some type of thin metallic layer rather than paint. The appearance is similar to Naj's photo.

DaveB

[Vince Canepa]

The gray paint does have a bit of metallic look, but it is definitely paint.

As an alternative, I had mine metal sprayed with aluminum many years ago.  It gives the look of the origianl paint.  It is flaking off now (after 32 years).  If you go that route you must mask the areas where the mounting nuts go and all of the openings.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex