TR4/4A Were the exhaust headers painted on the TR4's

[rnpennington]

I just had the exhaust header blasted and thought - Should I paint this before I put it on? For that matter - if they were originally unpainted, is htere anything I can do to them to prevent the same rust from occurring?

Bob Pennington
62 TR4

 

[Darrell_Walker]

I can't comment on how originals on the car came, but the NOS manifold I got for my TR4A years ago had a silver/aluminum paint on it.

I've had good luck with the various high-temp paints on cast manifolds, you could either go with a bright silver (which would match what was on my NOS manifold), or there are ones that look more like clean cast iron.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I looked in the TRA judging guide but. surprisingly, could not find this detail addressed.

I thought they were unfinished but, although I have seen originals, the originals I have seen were 30 or 40 years old and any finish may have been cooked off.

 

[TR3driver]

According to Bill Piggott,orgiinals were unpainted. However, the TRA judging guidelines (for TR2-3B) say not to deduct for high temp paint on the exhaust manifold. I doubt a VTR judge would deduct either, especially if you use one of the "cast iron" color paints.

 

[3798j]

I telephoned a local powder coating business and asked if they did high temp ceramic coatings. They said they did so I took my 4A's exhaust manifold to them. I chose a satin black color, but they had a large choice of colors. It cost $75. There are outfits like Jet Hot, that you can send it to if you have no one local.
Here's the thread on mine:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?95572-Ceramic-Coated-Exhaust-Manifold

 

[TR3driver]

Or for not a whole lot more money, get started in powder coating yourself.
https://www.harborfreight.com/10-30-psi-powder-coating-system-94244.html
https://www.eastwood.com/hotcoat-powder-cast-iron.html

 

[Vila]

I have used the Cast Iron colored exhaust and manifold paint from Bill Hirsh Auto for nearly 40 years and it works great. Well worth the cost.

Check it out at their website at: https://www.hirschauto.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EMPT-PINT&variation=CST IRN GR

Visit my new and improved personal website at: www.jakegingervila.wix.com/bobs-vintage-cars-

Vila
1933 Chevrolet
1962 Triumph TR4
1984 BMW 633 CSi