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Tips
Tips

painting my tailpipe

Nick12

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There is quite a bit of surface rust on my 71 TR6 tailpipe. I would like to sand it off and then spray paint from the muffler back to the exits. I am thinking of using a flat silver paint, but am not sure if I need to use special engine paint due to heat issues. I do not think this component gets too hot but am not sure. I could run it for a while and then ask my wife to grab hold but that seems ill-advised. Any suggestions as to color and paint type or brand are most appreciated.

Nick
 
It gets hot. Use hi-temp paint.
Color: Use your judgment. Fuschia is a no-no. :nonod:
 
A new stainless exhaust would be nice but pricey and thanks for the tip on color selection. I am thinking that it might be easier all around to just clean off the rust as it is only surface-deep. Any thoughts on if this makes sense or what I can use? Also, the local car parts store has spray paint good to 500 degrees, do you think that is enough if I decide to paint?
 
Nick,
Silver spray paints use aluminum or stainless steel.
I would get SS high heat if not at you local store its available online.
Tom.
 
For an inexpensive, long lasting paint for exhaust, use "barbecue grill paint". Of course, most of that is black, not silver. There are silver furnace paints that would work well.

I do not like the automotive high-temp paints very much. Those high-temp paints have a fair amount of pigment but not much binder. For me they always flake off no matter what preparation I take.

POR also has some silver/aluminum exhaust paint.
 
Nick12 said:
Thanks--I checkde out the Eastman product but am not familiar with POR--what does that stand for?

POR also means <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">poor</span></span> because that is what you are after buying it.
 
I used a high temp paint from the local hardware store. I believe it was a Rust-o-leum product, but I can double check to be sure. Nothing fancy, but I thought it turned out okay.
finalreassembly005.jpg

WashedTR6.jpg

I thought I had a better tail end shot, but can't seem to find it at the moment.
 
Thanks to all for the posts. I think I'll try the Rust-o-leum based on how sharp John Mc's turned out in the pics above.
 
Time for Tires

I put Michelin Redlines on my 71 TR6 when I bought it around 15 years ago. They have about 500 miles on them but two have developed dry rot. Before I start my empty nesterhood driving plan (hopefully more than 50 miles a year) I need to replace all 4. Here are my questions:

1) I have wire wheels; can I use modern-day tubeless tires (like those below) with them?

2) Any suggestions as to tire? I read an article touting the wonders of the Vredstein Sprint Classic from Universal Tire sized at 185 R15 for $150 a tire. Another Triumph site suggests Cooper Redline (even more expensive than the Sprint Clssic) or Pirelli Scorpion or Dublop Signature or Michelin XAS. When I go to Tirerack.com, there are some 205/70R/15's for as low as $60 each. One thing I am confused about is that there seems to be agreement that 205/70R/15 is the right size and that is a far cry from 185 R15.

I think I can live without redlines for the sake of looks; there are other places to spend the money! Also, should I buy 3 season tires? I don't plan to do much snow driving.
 
Re: Time for Tires

Nick12 said:
I have wire wheels; can I use modern-day tubeless tires (like those below) with them?
Yes, but you'll still need tubes. Even if you could seal the spokes ends on the inside rims, you'd likely lose that seal if you ever needed to tighten a spoke; that is, if the seal didn't already fail due to the inevitable movement of the spokes.

Nick12 said:
One thing I am confused about is that there seems to be agreement that 205/70R/15 is the right size and that is a far cry from 185 R15.
Not really. the 205/70 works out to pretty much the same diameter, and it's only a little bit wider. As you've already seen, it tends to be much cheaper, and there's more of a choice available.
 
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