1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Was the exhaust manifold painted on a 1940 ford pickup or left in cast color? If cast, does that heat cast paint work or just burns off.
thanlks

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Raw cast iron. Let me know if you find a paint that matches cast iron and won't burn off.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

I sent my manifolds to Jet Hot to have them coated. Will last forever.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Yeah Ken, but I ain't got your money and I none of us gonna last forever, on this orb at least. LOL

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

v.h.t. has a cast iron exhaust paint that lasts a long time. (12 years on my flathead & is probably still there - i sold it 2 years ago.)

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

I used something on the exhaust manifolds on my Corvette 20 years ago, and it still looks good. I'll dig through my files and see if I can find it what it was.

It was featured prominently in the Corvette publications back then.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Ford and Mercury exhaust manifolds were raw cast iron, which quickly developed a light surface rust. Dealerships often applied a coat of spray paint to the manifolds for showroom display, or to satisfy a picky buyer. I don't have documentation on this practice as being Ford authorized, and doubt if the subject was ever officially addressed.

On a V8 Club Concourse, any substance used on the exhaust manifolds may, depending on type of finish and color, be picked up by a Judge as being over-restored, while a light dusting of surface rust would be acceptable.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Alan,


This one of those 'always" and "never" situations where exceptions are waiting in the weeds poised to jump out at any moment. The are a fair number of Ford archives photos from early in the V8 era where the manifolds, mufflers, and exhaust pipes are randomly coated with something and are obviously not bare metal.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Cast Blast (product name) has a hi temp paint that may work. Best is to have the manifolds sand blasted and then paint.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Thank you David!

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

David, thank you for offering sound advice.
During my research, I'd found numerous examples of blackened manifolds. I found zero examples of raw manifolds.
I don't recall if I knew and forgot, or simply never knew exactly what coating was applied.
During my restorations, I powder finish all of my exhaust pieces a satin / raven black.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Jet Hot is the only that is guaranteed to work. And only Jet Hot does this process. Ceracote is something different and will not last like Jet Hot process does. I used Jet Hot for my manifolds and ceracote for the steel exhaust clamps.

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

I've been powder coating mine for decades and have never seen any flaking, etc.
If the manifolds get too hot for the powder finish, there are other issues with the engine...

Re: 1940 Ford pickup exhaust manifold color
 

Taking a step back here, and going by my experience at vehicle manufacturers, would it be out of line to suggest that the entire power unit, engine and gearbox were given a light coat of whatever colour was relevant at the time, and that power unit would have included the exhaust manifolds?

If so then the paint would quickly burn off the hot manifolds and they then become a raw finish that endures naturally over the years.

Could that have been the case at the Ford plants? It does not make sense for the manufacturer to mask off or otherwise give special treatment to the manifolds. They are not a critical item.

Just thinking out loud and opening it up for friendly debate.

Mart.