Painting Muffler and Tips

[NC2Stay]

Due to many comments here, I have decided not to go ahead with flowmasters and need to think about the whole exhaust question.

In the mean time, my current mufflers are fine (although quiet), but they don't look very good ('95). It looks like the original paint has flaked off, on both the mufflers and the outside of the tips.

Would it be OK to just get some high temp paint (perhaps gray or black), drop the system and just spray paint the mufflers and tips?

Any comments/.experience?

Thanks, Bob

 

[6 Shooter]

Have your wheels been polished?

6 Shooter

 

[6 Shooter]

I now notice by your Corvette info they are chrome, I have some Chrome tips that would look great on your 95, if you want I would ship them your way for shipping cost only.

 

[BlackNBlue95]

I too had this problem. I was getting ready for vette fest and I just spend money on wheels/tires for the show and didn't want to be buying a new 1000$ exhaust kit or whatever.. so I just bought some rustoleum and painted them flat black. I'm not sure how it will hold up long term but my exhaust was off at the time and I was going the quick cheap route of making them look 100% better.. so far I've only had a few heat cycles with it and they still look 100% better..
-=Rick

 

[AdvancedAutoCC]

Due to many comments here, I have decided not to go ahead with flowmasters and need to think about the whole exhaust question.

In the mean time, my current mufflers are fine (although quiet), but they don't look very good ('95). It looks like the original paint has flaked off, on both the mufflers and the outside of the tips.

Would it be OK to just get some high temp paint (perhaps gray or black), drop the system and just spray paint the mufflers and tips?

Any comments/.experience?

Thanks, Bob

VHT Flameproof exhaust paint.... available in black or aluminum finish.

 

[NC2Stay]

HI 6 Shooter - yes, they are chrome, and in real good shape too! The previous owner took pretty good care of her.

Sorry for the slow reply, I am at my kids for SB, so not as often monitoring here.

Are those the tips that slip over, or do I have to cut my current tips off?

How can I argue with free tips!

Thanks, Bob

 

[NC2Stay]

Thanks for the info guys. Yes, I did plan to cleanup and prep before painting. Warm weather should be here in a couple of weeks, and I am going to do this and also put on the new front spoilers that just came in the UPS. But it's good to hear that others have done it and it came out OK.

I was thinking of black, but aluminum might be interesting. especially with 6 Shooter's chrome tips.

Thanks, Bob

 

[6 Shooter]

HI 6 Shooter - yes, they are chrome, and in real good shape too! The previous owner took pretty good care of her.

Sorry for the slow reply, I am at my kids for SB, so not as often monitoring here.

Are those the tips that slip over, or do I have to cut my current tips off?

How can I argue with free tips!

Thanks, Bob

I never put them on my 96, they are new in the box.

 

[c4cruiser]

IIRC, the OEM mufflers on my 92 had a fairly thick coating on them and they were also a crinkle-type finish. Back that far, I don't thein the mufflers will get real hot but something like a heat-resistant paint for barbeques should work or any flat black hi-temp paint.

I would simply clean the mufflers and tips and either sand with 100-grit paper or even a 3M pad and wipe clean with a paint prep solvent. Completely mask the area around the mufflers and tips and just paint them in place. The upper half of the mufflers aren't seen so there is no real reason to paint the upper part. You can also paint the exhaust pipes where they bend outwards from the differential.

You might want to consider a hi-temp aluminum color as a change from the standard black

 

[WhalePirot]

I was thinking of black, but aluminum might be interesting. especially with 6 Shooter's chrome tips.

FWIW, my muffler guy shot a single coat of black on my (formerly) silver Flowmasters. The black looks MUCH better under the rear bumper than the silver I tried, especially with chrome tips.

 

[6 Shooter]

Chrome Wheels & Tips should look Sweeeet.

 

[Edmond]

I repainted my Flowmasters with flat black last summer. They started to flake and I decided that I couldn't take it anymore.

They are pretty loud, have gotten louder since I first put them on.

 

[JEFNLSA]

When I installed my Magnaflows I didn't like the way you could see the weld (from old pipe to new) from behind the car so I cleaned up the weld & painted the pipes w/ high-temp black. Looks much better! I keep a can of the high-temp handy and every once in a while I'll touch them up.

Bob,
Painting the stock exhaust and adding those chrome tips (from 6 Shooter ) will definitely clean her up nice. IMHO, I think that I would repaint (mufflers) w/ black since it will blend better w/ the undercarriage of the car.

If and when you are ready to upgrade the exhaust, I'm once again going to have to recommend the Magnaflow. LSA & I went a few rounds when I was looking at spending $1000 or more on a catback system. Thx to a few members here I was introduced to the Magnaflows and for less than $450 installed I had my Vette looking and more importantly sounding good!

In the interim... a little paint & some tips are a great idea. Down the line when you have the money well...Magnaflow. The Stainless Steel mufflers will look great w/ your wheels and your Vette will have the healthy rumble that you're looking for.

IMO...unless you use chrome paint (which I don't recommend) on your mufflers I don't see the aluminum (paint) matching up well w/ your wheels. I'd stick w/ the high-temp flat black and then add 6 Shooters' chrome tips.

See ya,
Jeff

BTW...If and when you decide to go Magnaflow, PM me and I'll give you the inside scoop on getting the best deal as well as some install tips.

 

[NC2Stay]

Thanks Jeff. The money will come along, just some other things got in the way, including tires. Thanks for the advice!

Bob

 

[6 Shooter]

Bob and I have discussed this and he does not want to cut the exhaust tips off of his Corvette to put the chrome tips on. So if anyone wants to pay shipping they can have em.

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[Gman]

I painted mine with brush on bbq grill paint last year and it worked great! It's a really low gloss and stands up really well. Just cleaned and light sanded to prep. No masking at all. I also painted the pipes back to the diff. It really cleaned things up from when looking from the rear. When I finished painting I let it dry overnight and then took it on a long ride to get the pipes and mufflers heated up.