I have a new Performer RPM manifold to top off my 355 with. Does clearcoating it make it easier to keep clean down the road? Anyone done this and had good results?
Thanks.

I CC mine. It works OK. It is easier to clean. Without anything they can stain pretty bad. Mine started showing some yellowing at the crossover ports (they are blocked). I ask a powder coating company about clear powder coating it. He said that unless it is polished small bubbles will appear when it is cured. This is due to air trapped in the rough surface escaping. I don't know how true this is, but I have no reason to not believe him, since he lost a sale.



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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street
Pat's Page (CR Calculator, Utilites, car specs) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley/)

I saw an older LS6 restoration with a CC
manifold. Looked yellow. Took away from the overall appearance of an otherwise amazing
car.

I painted mine with aluminum engine paint, then used VHT clearcoat paint afterwards.Looks like new aluminum until it gets hot the first few times, then it darkens just slightly but still looks good IMO. It keeps it from getting pitted and ugly looking.I did my aluminum valve cocers this way also and I'm very happy with the results. Good luck Tony

Sorry about the valve cocers http://www.chevelles.com/forum/redface.gif I meant valve covers.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
Mine started showing some yellowing at the crossover ports
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Same here

I don't know what they used to coat mine, but it darked to make the manifold look a titanium color. I think it looks cool.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1681126&a=12896845&p=48315659

The Eastwood Compant sells a Stainless Steel spray paint (hi temp)that looks very good. I did an exhaust sytem with it and its looked like SS.

Clear coating something that get hot is gamble, you need a very high temp coating or its going to burn off or discolor.

I used a cheap Autoparts bomb and it yellowed within the first 100 miles, looks like junk http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

Do some research and buy a good kind. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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71-72 Malibu (http://www.geocities.com/beldarr/Chevelle.htm)
"I'm high all right, but on the real stuff
High octane gasoline
A clean windshield
And a shoe shine"

If you want something to last and look good get it jet hot coated or equivilent. It will look good no matter whats on it and always polishes back up with alum. cleaner.

Or just polish the top and use Mothers Mag an alum cleaner. Better if its a clean install so its easy to dress up. I also use wax, yes carnuaba wax ( Mothers 26 i thnk), to help keep it easy to clean.

The JetHot is cheaper but a ceramic heat block coating is probably not the best thing. Its supposed to breathe.

I found my car' original manifold that way ( yellowed) and just taped everything up and gave it a few quick coats of orange. That dont look bad neither particularly if its a near stock ride.

[This message has been edited by 427L88 (edited 06-10-2001).]

My buddies experience with his car after he cleared the manifold was a yellowing appearance. He regrets it today. He said he was going to remove it this winter and have it powder coated but after reading above maybe he should check into it first.

We powder coat castings here at work all the time and don't have that bubbling problem. I will have to talk to our powder paint specialist and get his opionion.

Mytmouse

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67 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi Butternut Yellow w/Black Vinyl (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Mytmouse/mytmouse.html)
68 RS Z/28 302 350+Hp? 4sp 4:10 Posi, Euro Red on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myts_Mouse/myts_mouse.html)
70 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi, Black on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myt_70/myt_70.html)

Mytmouse A.K.A. Robert Stacho
ACES Member # 04359

Ask Wes Colby about a product from Por15 called "GlistenPC". The link I was trying to paste here, would not come up.

Kent
'68 Malibu ZZ502/502 http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by BACKN 68 (edited 06-11-2001).]

I did mine it is awsome, real easy to clean up. i did my intake and my valve covers looks great, it's been about 2.5 years now and no yellow. I gave my intake and valve covers several baths and also an acid bath a couple of times to get everything out of all the little pours then shot it with some clear coat from the paint shop.

I used that POR15 glisten stuff, very expensive. I also got the spray phosphate stuff and prepped the intake and that stuff yellowed the manifold.
I also did the alum heads but I didn't use the phosphate stuff on the heads and they look real good and so far I've got 500 miles on it.

Good Luck

If you don't mind giving up the aluminum color, look into having it hard anodized. This is done on a lot of boats, particulary ocean going rigs. It gives it a very different sort of brown-gold-bronze color. I did my Victor Jr this way. When I first saw it I was aghast but now I like it. It cleans up very easily.

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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street
Pat's Page (CR Calculator, Utilites, car specs) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley/)

[This message has been edited by Pat Kelley (edited 06-12-2001).]