Topic: Painting Exhuast Question

[campbmic]

I have what I believe is a Kerker or MAC 4 into 1 exhaust on my bike

The exhaust is pretty beat up, has some acid spills on it from a leaking battery, and looks pretty bad especially around where it meets the engine. I was planning on sanding it down and filling a few holes with some JB weld, then painting it.

I was planning on using really coarse sandpaper, adding the JB weld, then sanding it a little finer. Then using some black rattle can engine paint from autozone. Does this sound like a good plan or am I missing some stuff?

What about baking the paint? I've heard I need to heat it up in an over or something like that?

Also, should I sand and paint all the way to where the exhaust meets the engine? Is this area called the "headers"?

Thanks

[BobbyR]

Do a search and you will find several threads on this and what people have found most effective.

[The_Crippler]

Pretty much what Bobby said...but the short version is:  You can rattlecan it, but more often than not, even the engine paint is going to flake off the headers.  They just get too damn hot.  I recommend finding someone to media blast them and then coat them with either high-temp powder or ceramic. 

[Speed King]

I've had the best luck painting pipes with barbecue grill paint. It holds up good and is easy to touch up if it does get messed up. I scotch brite pad the pipes, wipe them down with wax & grease remover, & spray it on. If you want to spend $$$ ceramic coating is the best, but I've painted lots of pipes with BBQ paint. Trust me - the #$%* will bake itself on after a couple of rides.

[Speed King]

Oh- yes, do the whole thing including the header pipes.

[whyze426]

I've always just used engine paint ,and it holds up ok.  But it isnt half as good as a ceramic coat or anything like that.  Also,  im  not sure how the jb weld will hold up on the exhaust... I tried patching a crack in my jeep header with it and the firtst time it got hot,  it just melted off  and it smells worse than anything i'ver ever smelt.  I would say to get the holes welded shut and then grind them down flush with the pipe.

[campbmic]

BBQ paint definitely sounds like the way to go. This exhaust is pretty rough so I'm not planning on keeping it forever. Where is the best chain store to source this stuff at? Autozone, Wal-Mart, etc?

[The_Crippler]

Probably anyone of them will carry similar brands - it will just come down to who has the best price.  If you're going with actual grill paint, an auto store probably wouldn't have it.  Check Home Depot and Lowes if WalMart doesn't have what you need.

[Speed King]

Yeah- I get it at the Ace Hardware store.

[BobbyR]

Rustoleum makes a nice deep black hi temp paint.

[domer]

i used krylons bbq paint (has a nice semi gloss to it) but the #$%* doesnt last more than 6 months before it starts flaking from where it meets the head... then i pull it off and paint it again, if it was perfect id ceramic coat it, but mines got dings and such...

[madmtnmotors]

+1 on the BBQ grill paint. My old Macs were looking rough, ceramic coating flaking, rust, dings, etc. Looks much better all one color. The BBQ paint may fade or wear, I just mask it and touch them up while installed on the bike. I did pull them off the first time I painted them though. Didn't treat the surface other than a quick degrease/wash before painting. They're a little rough but certainly an improvement.

[octagon]

i've had problems using jb weld on thin metal that goes through the heat cycles that a motorcycle exhaust goes through.