Reconditioning Ramhorm Manifolds - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

4tiresngas · 09-18-2005, 05:52 PM

I'm seriously considering taking my headers off and putting on the original stock ramhorn manifolds. I found a set in the local salvage yard for $50.

Here are my questions:

1) Can I just get them powder coated? If so, about how much $$$ am I looking at?

2) Where can I get the studs to replace the deteriorated ones the exhuast pipes' flanges mount to?

Thanks

chickenwing · 09-18-2005, 06:27 PM

#2 Napa. I've bought em at Kragens too.

69TowRig · 09-18-2005, 07:04 PM

#1 Powder coating should run you too bad, maybe $40 if they do the blasting and prep work. I blasted mine at my work and used a VHT-type paint, it's held up so far but I'm not expecting miracles.

#2, above mentioned, as well as I bought the ones for my Ram's horns at O'Reilly (I guess it just depends on what parts stores you have). They are a standard size, don't remember what that was though.

mocwon · 09-18-2005, 07:13 PM

Powder coating is no good for exhaust maifolds, too hot. I sand blasted my ram horns and used Eastwoods exhaust manifold gray paint and followed the directions to the letter. No problem so far but the truck has been driven very little at this point.

*72CSTC5* · 09-18-2005, 07:15 PM

I second what mocwon said.

4tiresngas · 09-18-2005, 07:53 PM

I can sand blast them myself. The auto craft shop on post has a cabinet. It's only like $2/hr to use it. I'll try to look up that Eastwood paint. Thanks.

**RPOZ11** · 09-18-2005, 07:56 PM

You could chem strip them of all the rust, and repaint them with hi temp paint.

In the early days of hotrodding, guys porcelain coated them, and think it can still be done today, and I have even thought of that "jethot coating" although I think it appears to bright and have no idea what the heat would do to the finish on that.
Powder coating I am sure would not last!
As mentioned already, the heat would get to them.

matthufham · 09-18-2005, 08:10 PM

some exhaust high temp paints need to be baked on. don't use the kitchen oven for this, it's possible to put them on the engine and get em nice and hot that way then let em cool.

4tiresngas · 09-18-2005, 08:13 PM

Okay, I found a brush on paint and an aerosol paint at Eastwood. Which do you think will do the best?

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust

or

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust

HeavyD · 09-18-2005, 08:47 PM

I have seen many manifolds that were brushed and they looked great. Foam brush might do the trick.

71HUGGER396 · 09-18-2005, 08:54 PM

Foam brushes are o.k., but get good ones. Cheap ones break apart. I know.

Fred T · 09-18-2005, 10:54 PM

VHT paint works good, and lasts longer than the manifold paint. Buy it at Autozone. Every manifold paint that I've seen has rusted through.

shifty · 09-19-2005, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4tiresngas

Okay, I found a brush on paint and an aerosol paint at Eastwood. Which do you think will do the best?

It's the same product. "Now the same great 1200 degree performance of our original High Temp Manifold Coating is available in convenient aerosol packaging."

There is a link to tech tips on using the product: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...88&iSubCat=787

Eastwood has a great forum, lots of experts to answer your questions and help with your choices if you want support with their products.

shifty · 09-19-2005, 08:44 AM

PS - the hi-temp coating in the can comes with pretty decent foam brushes. I bought their header paint a little while ago and it came with three or four brushes - they literally give you everything you'll need.

mocwon · 09-19-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4tiresngas

Okay, I found a brush on paint and an aerosol paint at Eastwood. Which do you think will do the best?

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust

or

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust

The first one is what I used. Foam brushes work fine....

**N2TRUX** · 09-19-2005, 09:00 AM

The Eastwood brush on paint works very well. I have been using it on my exhaust systems for years. It will wear off of the exhaust pipes, but the manifolds will look good for years. If you do have a little rust pop through, a quick touch up with the brush and they look like new again.

Another option is to polish them and have the thermal coated. Here are my 2.5" Corvette Ram horns before going to be coated....

mocwon · 09-19-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The Eastwood brush on paint works very well. I have been using it on my exhaust systems for years. It will wear off of the exhaust pipes, but the manifolds will look good for years. If you do have a little rust pop through, a quick touch up with the brush and they look like new again.

Another option is to polish them and have the thermal coated. Here are my 2.5" Corvette Ram horns before going to be coated....

Those look great. I bet they look as smooth as headers when you get them back coated. I know that's a lot of grinding and polishing cause I did some on mine before applying the Eastwood paint and it took quite some time to do.

4x4Poet · 09-24-2005, 04:55 AM

Eastwood's manifold paint works fine. I've used it. Decent price, too.

I prefer having Jet-Hot ceramic coat my manifolds, but they charge ~$200 for a pair. Jet-Hot has both a silver coating and a black coating. The silver coating has a higher temp rating and costs more. Cast manifolds are fine with black. Jet-Hot has coated two of my manifold sets with black, so far. Haven't seen any part coming off, but I guess I haven't looked up under and other inaccessible areas.

For an inbetween alternative, look into a local powder coater that does high-temp ceramic coatings. Much cheaper than Jet-Hot (or HPC, etc.), especially if you do a good job blasting them. Try to get inside the manifolds, too. They can be coated inside and out if properly prepped. That's one thing Jet-Hot can do. They have blasting nozzles that get the blasting media all the way inside the manifolds. Even so, Jet-Hot does not guarantee their ceramic finish on the inside of used manifolds. Only the outside of used. They guarantee inside and out of new.

mrein3 · 09-24-2005, 09:49 AM

I used Eastwoods Factory Gray High Temp Coating. I am very happy with the results. This picture is what they looked like right before I bolted them on.

**PICKMUP** · 09-24-2005, 06:53 PM

If you are going to consider used manifolds, look at them very closely. Most have cracking around the center section, that is hard to see under the old dirt & rust. Look on the sides and back side also. If you see any cracks, even fine ones, don't waste you time & money. Another sign of trouble is what appears to be the surface scaling off. The metal is shot and their life is almost over.
It takes a torch to get most old studs out. You have to heat the surrounding area red hot. If the old stud breaks you will have to drill and helicoil the hole and it will usually be a little off center.

4x4Poet · 09-24-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4tiresngas

...
2) Where can I get the studs to replace the deteriorated ones the exhuast pipes' flanges mount to?...

I noticed that the local auto parts stores' "Help" rack had silver, zinc plated 3/8" 16 thread studs that match our Rams Horns. The stud package included tall, brass nuts. Both won't rust or strip as easy as the stock studs & nuts. Add anti-sieze and go.

**N2TRUX** · 09-24-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocwon

Those look great. I bet they look as smooth as headers when you get them back coated. I know that's a lot of grinding and polishing cause I did some on mine before applying the Eastwood paint and it took quite some time to do.

Hopefully they will come out pretty nice. I'm having the entire exhaust coated while I'm at it.....

09-18-2005, 07:04 PM	#3
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	#1 Powder coating should run you too bad, maybe $40 if they do the blasting and prep work. I blasted mine at my work and used a VHT-type paint, it's held up so far but I'm not expecting miracles. #2, above mentioned, as well as I bought the ones for my Ram's horns at O'Reilly (I guess it just depends on what parts stores you have). They are a standard size, don't remember what that was though. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...

09-18-2005, 07:13 PM	#4
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Don't powder coat Powder coating is no good for exhaust maifolds, too hot. I sand blasted my ram horns and used Eastwoods exhaust manifold gray paint and followed the directions to the letter. No problem so far but the truck has been driven very little at this point. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

09-18-2005, 07:53 PM	#6
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	I can sand blast them myself. The auto craft shop on post has a cabinet. It's only like $2/hr to use it. I'll try to look up that Eastwood paint. Thanks. __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

09-18-2005, 07:56 PM	#7
RPOZ11 72 BB C30 Super LongHorn Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Chavez Ravine Posts: 1,606	You could chem strip them of all the rust, and repaint them with hi temp paint. In the early days of hotrodding, guys porcelain coated them, and think it can still be done today, and I have even thought of that "jethot coating" although I think it appears to bright and have no idea what the heat would do to the finish on that. Powder coating I am sure would not last! As mentioned already, the heat would get to them. __________________ 72 BB C/30 Longhorn Super HO72 No-Spin, #'s matching, Tilt, Tach, AC, AM/FM HO72 build : http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=714492 2017 SS Last edited by RPOZ11; 09-18-2005 at 07:57 PM.

09-18-2005, 08:13 PM	#9
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	Okay, I found a brush on paint and an aerosol paint at Eastwood. Which do you think will do the best? http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust or http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...eyword=exhaust __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

09-18-2005, 05:52 PM	#1
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	Reconditioning Ramhorm Manifolds I'm seriously considering taking my headers off and putting on the original stock ramhorn manifolds. I found a set in the local salvage yard for $50. Here are my questions: 1) Can I just get them powder coated? If so, about how much $$$ am I looking at? 2) Where can I get the studs to replace the deteriorated ones the exhuast pipes' flanges mount to? Thanks __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

09-18-2005, 06:27 PM	#2
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	#2 Napa. I've bought em at Kragens too.

09-18-2005, 07:15 PM	#5
72CSTC5 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deer Park, Tx. Posts: 2,522	I second what mocwon said.

09-18-2005, 08:10 PM	#8
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	some exhaust high temp paints need to be baked on. don't use the kitchen oven for this, it's possible to put them on the engine and get em nice and hot that way then let em cool.

09-18-2005, 08:47 PM	#10
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,180	I have seen many manifolds that were brushed and they looked great. Foam brush might do the trick. __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

09-18-2005, 08:54 PM	#11
71HUGGER396 Confirmed Truckaholic Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sarver,PA 16055 Posts: 732	Foam brushes are o.k., but get good ones. Cheap ones break apart. I know. __________________ 1968 50th STEP SIDE SHORTY, 350/350, a/c, ps, p,b Daily Driver, 1970 Cst short fleet, all black, 350/350, 1970 2wd Blazer, 2wd, 6 cyl. 3 spd, original, now a 454, 350turbo, 3.73 posi, on the road 1971 2wd fleet shorty, 454, 700r4, 3.73 posi, SOLD to 67OLDSTYLE72 "My rig's a little old but that don't mean she's slow" - SAWYER BROWN's Six Days On The Road SEMPER FI "I use to be a lean mean fighting machine, but now I'm a huffin, puffin, over stuffin love muffin"

09-18-2005, 10:54 PM	#12
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	VHT paint works good, and lasts longer than the manifold paint. Buy it at Autozone. Every manifold paint that I've seen has rusted through. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

09-19-2005, 08:44 AM	#14
shifty Questionable Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 13,373	PS - the hi-temp coating in the can comes with pretty decent foam brushes. I bought their header paint a little while ago and it came with three or four brushes - they literally give you everything you'll need. __________________ If I've got anything up for grabs, it'll be here: 7-hole gauge cluster for a 67-72 p/u FREE (link) I can't check the forum daily. If I don't reply to you within 24 hours, drop me a PM! I'm (hopefully) still alive and will reply faster to a PM.

09-19-2005, 09:00 AM	#16
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	The Eastwood brush on paint works very well. I have been using it on my exhaust systems for years. It will wear off of the exhaust pipes, but the manifolds will look good for years. If you do have a little rust pop through, a quick touch up with the brush and they look like new again. Another option is to polish them and have the thermal coated. Here are my 2.5" Corvette Ram horns before going to be coated.... Attached Images __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" Last edited by N2TRUX; 09-19-2005 at 09:01 AM.

09-24-2005, 04:55 AM	#18
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Eastwood's manifold paint works fine. I've used it. Decent price, too. I prefer having Jet-Hot ceramic coat my manifolds, but they charge ~$200 for a pair. Jet-Hot has both a silver coating and a black coating. The silver coating has a higher temp rating and costs more. Cast manifolds are fine with black. Jet-Hot has coated two of my manifold sets with black, so far. Haven't seen any part coming off, but I guess I haven't looked up under and other inaccessible areas. For an inbetween alternative, look into a local powder coater that does high-temp ceramic coatings. Much cheaper than Jet-Hot (or HPC, etc.), especially if you do a good job blasting them. Try to get inside the manifolds, too. They can be coated inside and out if properly prepped. That's one thing Jet-Hot can do. They have blasting nozzles that get the blasting media all the way inside the manifolds. Even so, Jet-Hot does not guarantee their ceramic finish on the inside of used manifolds. Only the outside of used. They guarantee inside and out of new. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 09-24-2005 at 05:02 AM.



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09-24-2005, 09:49 AM	#19
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	I used Eastwoods Factory Gray High Temp Coating. I am very happy with the results. This picture is what they looked like right before I bolted them on. Attached Images __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

09-24-2005, 06:53 PM	#20
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	If you are going to consider used manifolds, look at them very closely. Most have cracking around the center section, that is hard to see under the old dirt & rust. Look on the sides and back side also. If you see any cracks, even fine ones, don't waste you time & money. Another sign of trouble is what appears to be the surface scaling off. The metal is shot and their life is almost over. It takes a torch to get most old studs out. You have to heat the surrounding area red hot. If the old stud breaks you will have to drill and helicoil the hole and it will usually be a little off center. Last edited by PICKMUP; 09-24-2005 at 06:58 PM.

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