I am shortly going to install an turbo-back exhaust system on my Evo. But I've never been big on showing off mods. So while I really love the exhaust I got (Forge Motorsports unit), I'm not big on the highly polished look muffler and attached pipe.

Is it sacrilege to paint over it with a flat black paint (but leave exhaust tip as is of course)?

What paint would you suggest I use that would hold up to the temps and being exposed to the elements?

SC~

 

man, i would think it would be hard to find a paint to stick onto the finish on that exhaust (nice setup BTW). you may have to rough up the piping to make it actually stay on there. You could always just hit it with some 180 grit, and coat it with some 1700deg paint.

 

I was thinking of doing the same thing with my exhaust. I figure a hi temp oven/grill paint would do the trick. Maybe sand it first and throw on a primer coat for good measure.

 

True. I didn't think about how difficult it would be to get paint to stick to a highly polished surface. I just figure it is worth a little work to tone down the shine a bit.

Aftermarket exhausts around here attract the police. And in a way, the police are like pidgeons, attracted to shiny things. If the part is painted black, except for the tip, the piece will look stock since many manufacturers coat exhausts with a black finish from the factory.

On my old car, 61 Austin Mini, I used the flat black hi temp bbq paint to paint the exhaust. It hasn't flaked or burned off yet. But it is an unpolished mild steel exhaust attached to a car that runs pretty cool exhaust temps....and only leaves the garage on warm sunny days.

The Forge Motorsports exhaust system install will be captured and recorded for the sites new parts review section. The review will include dyno info and sound clips. So, I'll probably do the install with all the shiny parts in tact for the site. Then once my official duty is complete, I will alter to taste.

 

nice, definitely not sacrilege...

got pix of their exhaust?

 

Maybe powder coating it is a better option. Dunno.

 

Here is a link to a thread in the Vendor Classifieds forum. There are lots of pics of the system there.

Pics of the Forge Exhaust in here....

You know, UFO, powder coating also has a side benefit of being an insulator, correct? But does that stuff hold up against high temps?

 

^ there is probably a powder coat that can withstand temperatures like that. Just look around, it won't be that expensive since all you have to coat is the muffler canister. I don't think paint would hold up too well down there, unless you want to put a new coat on once in a while.

 

Actually, I don't think the muffler gets that hot. Just the tip.

 

I'd say just bead blast it, give it a dull matte finish, so it wont be so shiny, but you wouldnt have to worry about cooking off some type of paint.. other than that I think powdercoat is the way to go.. any kind of piant you'd have to sand it down pretty well for it to stick, and you'd still have to recoat it every once in a while, and that thing would start to get heavy.

 

Now thats a good idea!

Yeah, I know the bbq paint will withstand the temps but I am not sure how durable it is. It's meant to coat the outside of bbq grills. And a grill really doesn't get exposed to the constant stone blasting that a muffler sees.

SC~

 

Definitely not sacrilege at all. I'm surprised more companies don't offer their muffler in a matte black finish. Not everyone wants to show us their can

 

I used some high temperature heat resistance BBQ grill paint on my WRX HKS Hi-pwr exhaust. I put about 3 layers of it and it looks very stealthy w/ matte black finish. Never got hassled by the cops over here.. It kinda just blends into the shadow of the bumper somehow..haha

 

I think Rucker understands my motivation.... and since I am moving to CA shortly, that exhaust has to look stock when it gets smogged! ..though I might just put the stocker back on for the test.

 

yea being that i am in CA, my advice is to stick the stock one back on for the smog test. considering that the stock can barely pass the retarded test, chances are u will fail it with an aftermarket hands down. iono where in sf u gonna move to but if u are in sf stay close to your car. and i mean just literally stand there and watch them. bastards wanted me to leave my car there for couple hours and when i asked why they had no answer. i think they wanted to go for some test runs. there is like no work ethics anymore. grrr!!!