Carb heat shields .. powder coat or paint & exhaust manifold finishing

[Andrew1967]

Just wondering how to refinish the heat shields on the carbs ..

Normally I'd paint them but wondering if powder coating is also suitable in a high heat area ?

[Peter Laidler]

Good Q Andy. I had mine (and everything else coloured black under the bonnet) NYLON powder coated originally and they're still as good as new. So PAINT powder coat should be fine

[Dearg1275]

How about this VHT offering. I have found their paint does what is says on the can. They also do a flame proof paint suitable for atmosphere re-entry vehicles!

https://www.vhtpaint.com/high-heat/vht-engine-enamel

D

[Andrew1967]

Thanks Peter and David for your replies.

I guess the reason for my question is that I might buy a new set of shields for the car and you can get them in mild steel, polished stainless, (I presume) gloss black paint or powder coated black. My old ones are bit battered really.

I'd go for mild steel but its the finish I'm thinking of.

Good point about the VHT paint David, that brings on another question ... how do people finish the exhaust manifold ? Its an original S three branch.

I used satin black VHT on 9748KO's manifold back in 2006 and quite a bit has burnt off but then said, it has had some long runs to get it really hot which is more than HOY will probably get.

[360gts]

How about this VHT offering. I have found their paint does what is says on the can. They also do a flame proof paint suitable for atmosphere re-entry vehicles!

https://www.vhtpaint.com/high-heat/vht-engine-enamel

D

VHT is a great product....it is widely used by myself....and many of the Mustang/Chevy guys....a solid product that is proudly made in the USA.
I have used it on my heater fronts/ears...rocker covers...cowlings....dashes....you name it....as Dearg says...it does what it says.

[Daz1968]

I had my heat shields powder coated, not been used a lot this year but they seem ok so far. Previously they were painted in hammerite and that didn’t burn off either.

[1071 S]

Isn't VHT a "brand" rather than "type" of paint??

I used their manifold (exhaust) paint many years ago and it certainly has endured well. IMHO the main problem is making sure you don't handle the item with bare hands before its "cooked". Used properly it will last for decades.

Anything not actually exposed to exhaust gas temperatures (e heat shields, rad tops, engine block etc) can be safely painted with ordinary enamel paint.

I give any bare metal a light coat of etch primer before the top coat.

When I replaced my 20++ year old Maniflow (pretty much the same price for total replacement rather than just a new Y piece) I had it coated by a company called JetHot. It looks like its been stove enamelled and the coating is supposed to significantly reduce heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the outside.... allegedly reducing under bonnet temperatures.

Cheers, Ian

[Gray]

I bit the bullet Andrew and went for ceramic coating on my manifold expensive but then it still looks like new after 7 or 8 years.

[Andrew1967]

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Looks as though its OK to finish the heat shields in paint or powder coat ..

I did think about getting the manifold ceramic coated Gray. I'll enquire at the powder coaters as to a price. If it's really expensive I think it'll get a blast and a 'VHT' coat of satin black.