Manifold Quickie

[Humboldt Cat]

Something that's never occured to me before, but after recently getting a bare-metal GT390 intake: is paint or primer a must for manifolds? Seems like I've seen some without, particularly aluminum intakes, don't know how prone to rust these cast irons are, under the hood. The intake isn't installed yet, still prepping it, gotta do some porting to match it with the head ports.
I like how cleaned-up it looks now, wouldn't want to do more than primer grey, but would be bad for an intake? May sound like a dumb question, just hadn't considered it 'til now. And yep, it arrived last week as cleaned up as its ebay photo shows.

[Rocky]

Without a sealing coat, that manifold would be rusty in a week or less at your location. Eureka is right on the Northern California coast and the salt air would wreak havok on the unprotected metal. Maybe a nice clear-coat but I'll bet what you're refering to is an Eastwood product. They've got a paint that looks like clean cast iron and seals the metal from contaminants that will rust unprotected cast iron.

[AV8Paul]

I used eastwoods cast iron look paint on my flathead. It goes on easy and looks good. No rust either.

[AV8Paul]

I used eastwoods cast iron look paint on my flathead. It goes on easy and looks good. No rust either.

OOPS, I forgot the picture.

[Crestliner]

I've use VHT high temp. paint on exhaust manifolds and it worked very well. Be sure to get the 1200 or 1500 degree type.

[recycler]

This paint works well for me and you should find it at most parts stores.

[skipperman]

eastwood makes a CLEAR called Nyalic....good for 400 degrees F ..... I've used it and it kept the original "sanblasted cast iron" look for a good long time ...... They have a "spray grey" that is good too ...and ya can touch it up from time to time to keep it lookin' good......

Jersey skip

[Humboldt Cat]

Thanks for the points, I was beginning to worry at the depth of dumbness of my question. Recycler I've got a can of that, Ford Blue, have been doin' up the Holley main body with that, am thinking of clear to restore the cast iron look of it. Gonna keep it in the garage 'til porting's done. Thanks!

[Humboldt Cat]

Taken it to a local mechanic, an Ford fanatic that comes highly recommended by a car friend, to get 'em ported and sprayed with some clear.
After having a midnight toker in my neighbor's backyard, he helped me put it in the van for tomorrow. Before we pick it up he asks me, "Well how heavy is it, if it takes two people?"
I really didn't know (especially in THAT mind-state), just said heavy enough to need two people for a lift.
As we pick up this cast iron daddy, he mutters, "Heavy bastard."
Indeed. Could just about paint that name in, right under "FoMoCo". Think:
"Whatcha intake, then?"
"Oh, it's stock Ford, one o' Ford's Heavy Bastards."
"Don't say?"

It's an idea, it's all it is. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Had to share it. That was an alreay jay, too.