Painting Mufflers

[NC2Stay]

I have (well, to be precise, my wife has) decided that we are going to stick with the stock muffler system.

So, I thought I would just clean it up and paint the mufflers and tailpipes, just because they don't look very neat. Probably flat black.

What paint should I use? Any hi-temp paint, like gas grill paint?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks, Bob

 

[JonM]

Ever think of trading in that non-compromising wife of yours? They just don't get it...Any Hi Temp paint will work....Like any other paint job...its all in the prep.

 

[NC2Stay]

...traading in that non-compromising wife of yours...

Oh, she's pretty good - I think I'll keep her - hey, I got the Vette, didn't I?. But she hates noise, and I guess so do I.

I will try to prep as best I can. We are doing it at the local garage, since I need the lift to get the system off. He should have all the stuff I need, since he does a lot of custom exhaust work.

Bob

 

[JEFNLSA]

Hi Bob,

If "quiet" is what you both are really after then the stock exhaust is the way to go. The stock exhaust on the LT1 cars is a good system especially when compared to the exhaust on the L98 equipped cars. Almost all (if not all) aftermarket exhausts will make the car "noisy" and unless you are really after that "rumble" sound at idle (as well as considerably more exhaust note when driving) the stock setup is fine. It's really the performance guys (like myself I guess) that like the louder exhaust and all that goes w/ that. The performance gains alone are not worth it, especially if your car is more of a cruiser. If you look around you will notice that many owners of 'vettes (all gens) run the stock setup. It really just depends on what suits your wants/needs. You will always notice the guys w/ aftermarket exhaust because you can hear them. Good/Bad? You're call....

Good luck on the painting. I'm sure it will look great.

Jeff

BTW...You can always add those chrome tip covers that Ecklers, Mid America etc...sell if you want to accent the chrome wheels. :cool

 

[74bigblock]

Oh, she's pretty good - I think I'll keep her - hey, I got the Vette, didn't I?. But she hates noise, and I guess so do I.

I will try to prep as best I can. We are doing it at the local garage, since I need the lift to get the system off. He should have all the stuff I need, since he does a lot of custom exhaust work.

Bob

Give her to me for a day.... I'll get her noise issue straightened out!!!

 

[NC2Stay]

Thanks, Jeff - as you are probably aware I have agonized over this quite a while, but we really do use the car for cruising and like to listen to our music. Both of my kids (and grandkids) live 3-4 hours away (unfortunately in different directions), but that provides a great excuse to go out cruising in the Vette on weekends.

My local garage wanted to put in Flowmasters that he has in stock, but we decided against it after hearing his LT1 Buick. But he is a good sport and has no problem dropping 'em and repainting. While waiting for them to dry, we have a small list of other things to look at.

We are scheduled for Wednesday morning - keep you posted! I will put on some pics...

Bob

 

[lbitp37]

Flat Black grill paint will do fine.
You can also sand the exhaust pipes, and use Hi-Temp alum paint on the exhaust pipes visible from a short distance.
Did it 1.5 years ago, still looks good. !

 

[C4Tom]

I took some steel wool to my pipes under the car (visible from the rear). Then put on 2 coats of flat black hi-temp grill paint. I think it looks great.

 

[tnovot]

Flat Black grill paint will do fine.
You can also sand the exhaust pipes, and use Hi-Temp alum paint on the exhaust pipes visible from a short distance.
Did it 1.5 years ago, still looks good. !

I also wanted the lighter color aluminum look and used Plasti-kote HOT PAINT Ultra High Temp (to 1500 F) on the rear Y pipe and mufflers. The color is HP-14 Aluminum. I think I may have gotten it either at Walmart or Auto Zone.
As has been said, prep and a clean surface is important. Directions say to let air dry for at least 1 hour after painting and then cure within 8 hours of application by keeping at a high temp for 60 minutes. I just took a ride with a few short stops so that the pipes and mufflers didn't cool very much. It has held up very well for 2 years

 

[NC2Stay]

Thanks, all, for the great advice. I will let you know how it turns out!

Bob

 

[AdvancedAutoCC]

The best spraybomb stuff you can get is either VHT "Flameproof" paint (which I use), or Eastwood's exhaust paint. The "trick" in a good job is nothing more than good surface preparation.

YMMV

 

[NC2Stay]

OK - its done. Dropped the system, degreased and sanded, put on 3 coats. Looks fine - now to see how it wears!

Thanks much for all the help!

Bob

 

[Radar]

Do have any pictures?


Radar

 

[NC2Stay]

Sure, Radar - would be glad to post some pics. But I won't be able to do it until Friday sometime - have to work all day tomorrow. It's tough being a retired guy!

But the overall effect is that you don't see anything. Since the mufflers looked so crappy, they detracted from the appearance of the car. By painting them black, then now kinda disappear - what I wanted.

I will post photos probably Friday sometime. Thanks for asking...

Bob

 

[QWKC6]

Go for it. I love my flat black mufflers on my 91.

 

[NC2Stay]

Pics

As requested. You can see that the paint was not quite flat - I like it.

Bob

 

[427zone]

Hi Bob. I'm with your wife on this one. I like the sound of the stock exhaust and you can arrive at your kids place without a headache from the resonance.

 

[JEFNLSA]

Looks great!

Bob,

I'm impressed. Looks like you did a great job w/ that.
Although I am a fan of the aftermarket exhaust look/sound, no system that I've seen tucks up (angles also) under the car like the stock setup. The stock one follows the lines of the car real well where no aftermarket system has the right bends in the tips and muffler angle to get that "stock look".

I've messed w/ mine until they are about as good I can get them (see new pics after lowering-raised the exhaust closer to the car @ the same time) but no matter what I do, I cannot get that stock "angled look". Haven't seen any other c4's w/ aftermarket exhaust that tucked up under the car like stock either. IMO, that is another benefit in keeping w/ the stock exhaust.

Jeff

 

[NC2Stay]

Thanks, Jeff. Yeah, I am pleased with the results. I wish she was cleaner but it wasn't wash day yet (usually Saturday or Sunday) and I wanted to get the pics posted.

I think you are right about the exhaust being tucked up - even the tips have a bend in them to angle up and meet the back bumper.

Sigh - yet another story where my wife thinks she's won...

Bob

 

[JonM]

Nice lookin wheels Bob..I need these :cool in order to look at them.