Stock exhaust manifold prep

[Kinesthesia]

I am about to rebuild a spare KA. The first thing to come off will probably be the exhaust manifold, so I will have the longest time to clean it up and get it ready to go back on the car.

Any suggestions on how to clean the rust off and then paint it ?

I was thinking wirebrush or some sort of wire attachment to a drill and then some sandpaper.

As for coating it, I considered "powdercoating" but I don't know how that stands up to heat and it's probably expensive.

I saw this black silicone spray at Summitracing.com, supposedly good for 1500 degrees, but I can't imagine a silicone paint.http://www.designengineering.c....html

And then there's exhaust wrap which is supposedly a good insulator and I'm aware of the benefits... but I thought I remembered someone saying something about it actually speeding the corrosion process.http://www.designengineering.com/exhaust_wrap.html

Any thoughts on cleaning or painting would be appreciated. Thanks

[TrunkMonkey]

are you modifying your engine, or are you just trying to dress up you engine bay?

if your engine is going to stay stock, the paint would be the better choice.

exhaust wrap works, but imo, is ugly as hell.

another option is to buy a new heat shield and have it chrome plated.

-demetrius

[Kinesthesia]

I am rebuilding the engine, which I will eventually boost.

I'm not worried about a pretty engine bay, in fact I'm more of a "sleeper" kinda guy.

If the exhaust wrap works, it's tempting if it works mostly because even ugly, it will be under a heat shield.

Any reason I couldn't paint the heat shield too ?

[Aries]

no reason at all.Just make sure to use high temp paint, or it will flake and turn brown over time.

As for cleaning, sandblasting is the way to go.

[Sleeper s13]

Why not headers? :devil

[Kinesthesia]

Because I plan to boost next year, I've ruled out headers, expensive cold air intake, performance cams, high compression pistons, etc.

Anyone have an opinion about this "silicone paint" ? It's like $6 for a spray can, whereas other high temp paints I have found are like $50 for a can of paint that you brush on.

I'll look into finding someone who does sandblasting.

[Open4Cycle]

I can't say about the silicone paint. A great way to clean your manifold is drop it off at your favorite automotive machine shop and let them clean it in their vat. They should have a giant dishwasher with hot caustic acid inside. If you plan to boost with turbo or sc then you should replace your pistons with low compression pistons.

[96_S14_SE]

The dei silicone paint is used on their headder wrap to both remove the fuglyness and keep the moisture out preventing wrap rot and corrosion.

I would not use it sprayed directly on the manifold or you are very likely to be out 6$.

The wrap works, but the biggest fall back is that it retains so much heat in the tube headders that the thin gauge metal ones tend to crack because of it. That and with a raw wrap (not silicone coated) it will rot and hold in moisture corroding your headder.

Btw even with boost certain cam durations will help you out.