Topic: Cast Iron Part Restoration

[drummingrocks]

Has anyone tried Calyx manifold dressing from Eastwood?  I've seen it advertised before (of course, the ads promise the moon), but have never heard from anyone who has used it.

http://www.eastwood.com/calyx-manifold-coating.html

[J_Speegle]

Bought some - could not bring myself to use it on any of my build yet. Too much hassle to redo if it didn't work

[lancelot66]

Same reason exactly that I didn't use my $20 can (really teenie one) of POR Manifold Gray yet Jeff. Just don't want to spend time re-doing stuff right now, especially with all the hassle of removal and re-install of manifolds with the engine still in the car. Thermactor equipment too, etc, etc. Losing my nerve moreso these days...

[hopeto]

Side by side comparison of POR 15 and Eastwood
I'm getting ready to do a set of HiPo manifolds and wanted to compare first. The test manifold (not Ford - LOL) was blasted with a combination of black grit and glass in the center area. You can see the area that was blasted but not treated with either product above and to the right of the marked lines. The POR 15 looks very, very close to the color of the manifold after blasting, but is the lighter Eastwood product more appropriate? I have my opinion. What's your's?
Thanks, Jimmy

[jwc66k]

Spray some water on your samples and let's see.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

................. I have my opinion. What's your's?

Don't think you should be comparing to newly blasted cast iron - that's not the look that would have been original. The Eastwood I used on one of the cars was a darker version than you show - much closer IMHO to bare fresh cast steel. Neither of the ones you show would be acceptable to me

[hopeto]

I hope I didn't imply that the POR 15 resembling the freshly blasted manifold was correct. I don't know. That's why I'm asking what color is closer to what it should be. Is there an Eastwood product other than the one I'm showing available. If neither is acceptable, what is?

[CharlesTurner]

Believe you would be best served having the original manifold(s) ceramic coated in a dark gray cast appearance.  The guy that used to do this for me said I'd be pushing up daisies by the time they needed to be re-coated.   

[livetoride60]

I blasted and used the Eastwood high temp coating on a straight 6 exhaust manifold.  It started showing rust spots in short order after use.  Just my experience.  A friend thought I didn't apply heavy enough.  I read that others have had good luck with it.

Regardless, like Charles, I'm going with a dark gray ceramic coating now.  Nothing but good reviews from what I've seen.

A few related threads:

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3687.msg42626#msg42626
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=6110.msg34540#msg34540
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=8590.0

[J_Speegle]

I purchased a quart of ceramic paint for exhaust manifolds and used it on the last four or more cars I've done or helped with. Enough left int he can for another 10 or more cars. Looks good so far

[hopeto]

Jeff, What brand?

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, What brand?

Will look for the can - hopefully I didn't leave it with the last client, at their shop

[priceless]

I've used Eastwoods exhaust paint, the brush-on, over the past 15 or so years and never had any trouble or had to do touch up.

The Eastwood paint was applied with a brush back in 2008 when I had the original engine rebuilt. And before that, these same manifolds were done 9 years earlier. I have been very pleased with the results. 

This photo was taken at night in my garage with the flash.