VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION VCCA Judging Questions exhaust manifold paint

As we know the motor was painted with the manifold on and then the exhaust manifold paint would burn off and it would rust,many of us have painted it with a higher temp paint to avoid the rust.How many points would you deduct for this?My exhaust manifold is now a light rust color and the intake is still dark gray,the replacement gasket is shiny silver

The sad news is that many people believe that exhaust manifolds should be ceramic coated or painted with a high temperature paint and should always look like the car was never driven. Except for those that are trailered and not really driven, exhaust manifolds often show signs of vehicle use. If the vehicle is a high point vehicle, many members believe that the exhaust manifold should show no signs of any discoloration at all. If you are working to make your vehicle a 1,000 point vehicle, then attention to detail with the exhaust manifold is a must.
When I judge a vintage Chevrolet engine at a VCCA sanctioned meet, my criteria is that a nice exhaust manifold can be painted a cast iron color or it an be bare metal and should have minimal rusting or pitting. Either way, I do not deduct any points or maybe 1 or 2 points. Most vehicles that I have judges are driven to the event. I personally do not like the ones that are painted with a highly reflective silver paint. It just doesn't look right to me. Now remember that other judges may have varying opinions from mine.
Heavy rust, serious pitting, casting numbers and casting dates that are rusted away, poor paint jobs, etc, get higher point deductions by me.
A nice exhaust manifold helps to make the engine compartment look like it did when it came from the factory. We all know that the original engine paint burnt off within a short number of miles when the vehicle was new, way back when.
If you are having your vehicle in class judging because you want to win the top award or trophy, then have an exhaust manifold that is worthy of the award.

dtm

Due to the new car conditioner heating up the engine to torque the head bolts and adjust the valves, a mile or two road test, etc. the exhaust manifold had either a whie burnt off paint film or slight rust by the time the car was deliverd to the new owner. To me that is how it is supposed to look. Not silver paint or ???

As I had said the exhaust manifold is kinda a light rust color,it was painted with a very hight temp dark gray,and the gasket is shiny silver,I need to replace the bolts to metal instead of stainless...1000 points not the plan just want it correct

The gaskets and bolts would have paint on them also as well as the manifolds. I think a lot of guys use the silver and ceramic coating because it lasted so there was no need to take it off and clean it up every year

We've had good results over the years with Bill Hirsch's cast iron gray manifold coating. Its not shiny, its not silver, and it looks like what cast iron would look raw, before the rust got to it. We've used it on a'48, '56 and a '71, and it held up well on each car and made for a good, clean impression during judging without calling attention or looking incorrect.

A similar thread appeared in the 37-42 forum a while back with some good discussion on the topic of manifolds.

Thanks Daryl,that is a cast iron paint on exhaust manifold above

I used a liquid graphite spray on my exhaust manifold and it has held up great for years. I bead blasted the manifold first and then sprayed on the liquid graphite which gave the manifold a cast iron color. So far, years later, no rust.

Which vehicle and how many miles has it been driven?

1951 Chevy and the manifold was sprayed back around 1986. Don't know how many miles the car has gone since then.

Thanks dog as I'm doing a 51 and if I can get 25+ years it will certainly be worth the effort.