Im just going to throw a few questions out, and see what people think.
First I am re using my old exhaust manifolds, they are in really nice shape. The picture there is the best picture I have of them right now.
I'm considering two options...
1. Leave them as is with new hardware, and put them on when I have engine painted and together.
2. Have them blasted, and paint them with VHT header paint in the cast iron flavor.
I like the idea of them looking new, but also know that no paint no matter how good will never hold up forever, so I was just wondering what you all thought.
Next question, I am looking for stock exhaust hardware and still cannot source it. Not all of my studs are bad, actually the main shaft of the studs and threads look great, it was the heads on some of the hex bolts that look crappy. I was thinking of getting a generic stud kit for an SBF and just seeing what I could make work by mixing that with my old stuff...Idk looking for thoughts on that.
#3 did you paint your harmonic balancer?
Now a lesson I learned this week, something I already knew but did anyway...
Don't get excited and impatient and decide to paint your oil pan (or anything) outside at 8:00 in the evening when humidity is 90%+. You will end up with a satin frosted finish that takes 2 days to dry, and then have to start your process completely over. I will not confirm that beer was not involved in that decision.
That said I have all my parts and pieces cleaned and ready to go for paint as soon as the air dries out as soon....
Also, earlier I posted about Evaporust and how I was going to try it out. I did. I tried it on my exhaust manifold bolts. The directions in short say to soak the parts in the solution between 12-24 hours or something like that, and I did. After that you are supposed to rinse with water. It did an awesome job cleaning off rust off. However, when finished you need to dry them very well, and clean them again with brake clean, or clean mineral spirits or something and then use an air gun to dry them, or you will end up with them being covered in surface rust. I know that's common sense but that is left out of the instructions, unless i'm blind and ignorant and didn't see them. The one cool thing about Evaporust is after your done, you can put it back in the jug and use it again. I don't think ill use it for anything more than hardware I want to save though.
Google Photo is being dumb right now so Ill post a picture of my Oil Pan disaster and how far my engine is tore down thus far later today...
First I am re using my old exhaust manifolds, they are in really nice shape. The picture there is the best picture I have of them right now.
I'm considering two options...
1. Leave them as is with new hardware, and put them on when I have engine painted and together.
2. Have them blasted, and paint them with VHT header paint in the cast iron flavor.
I like the idea of them looking new, but also know that no paint no matter how good will never hold up forever, so I was just wondering what you all thought.
Next question, I am looking for stock exhaust hardware and still cannot source it. Not all of my studs are bad, actually the main shaft of the studs and threads look great, it was the heads on some of the hex bolts that look crappy. I was thinking of getting a generic stud kit for an SBF and just seeing what I could make work by mixing that with my old stuff...Idk looking for thoughts on that.
#3 did you paint your harmonic balancer?
Now a lesson I learned this week, something I already knew but did anyway...
Don't get excited and impatient and decide to paint your oil pan (or anything) outside at 8:00 in the evening when humidity is 90%+. You will end up with a satin frosted finish that takes 2 days to dry, and then have to start your process completely over. I will not confirm that beer was not involved in that decision.
That said I have all my parts and pieces cleaned and ready to go for paint as soon as the air dries out as soon....
Also, earlier I posted about Evaporust and how I was going to try it out. I did. I tried it on my exhaust manifold bolts. The directions in short say to soak the parts in the solution between 12-24 hours or something like that, and I did. After that you are supposed to rinse with water. It did an awesome job cleaning off rust off. However, when finished you need to dry them very well, and clean them again with brake clean, or clean mineral spirits or something and then use an air gun to dry them, or you will end up with them being covered in surface rust. I know that's common sense but that is left out of the instructions, unless i'm blind and ignorant and didn't see them. The one cool thing about Evaporust is after your done, you can put it back in the jug and use it again. I don't think ill use it for anything more than hardware I want to save though.
Google Photo is being dumb right now so Ill post a picture of my Oil Pan disaster and how far my engine is tore down thus far later today...
