[#1WideTrak]

Does anyone have a set of RARE exhaust manifolds without the ceramic coating and wish you'd gotten it? Or anyone have the coating and think it is overkill?

Anyone see the coating help prevent/eliminate hot start issues?

[1969GTO]

I bought a set of RAMAIR RESTORATION Ram Air manifolds early last year,with out the coating.
By end of summer they had the rust coating all over them and looked old already.
This past winter 2013 I set them back to RARE for the ceramic coating, [gray color].
They coated the out side and the inside of the manifolds and they look great.
As for HOT START issue......I never had that problem.

[PontGuy]

I coated mine with POR 15 manifold paint before installing them. Three years and a few thousand miles later and they still look new. Can't speak to hot start issues since the RobbMc starter cranks it right around no matter what.

I am really impressed at how well the POR 15 has worked. Next time I have the engine out I may wire brush the exhaust ports on the heads and try putting a coat of the stuff on them before touching up the blue engine paint.

[rohrt]

I bought mine with the coating. By the time I got the car running three years later the coating was mostly gone and they had surface rust all over.

Had them blasted and I painted them with KBS coating and going on year 3 and they still look good.

[#1WideTrak]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Rohrt, did you say anything to RARE about the coating failing without even being installed on a running engine?

What is KBS coating?

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by #1WideTrak

Thanks for the replies guys.

Rohrt, did you say anything to RARE about the coating failing without even being installed on a running engine?

What is KBS coating?

Why yes I did. They offered to re-coat them at a discount, I said forget it. My brother got some Dougs headers with the JetHot coating stuff and they did the same thing. I don't know if its the climate here or what.

KBS coating is same as POR stuff just a tad cheaper. What I heard is the guy that invented POR seperated ties and started KBS. Don't know if that is true but they look pretty much the same. I did a bunch of looking for the best hi-temp paint and settled on this.
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/Xtreme-T...e-Coating.html

I think you have to use a primer first and I found a 1200deg primer then the KBS 1500deg cast iron paint. Other then spilling oil on my Long branch manifolds and getting stained they seem to be holding up well. Prep is the key of course. I also used the hi temp paint on the exaust ports of my heads.

[PontGuy]

I didn't use any sort of primer on mine, just the POR 15. Since they were new they really didn't need any prep or cleanup.

[rohrt]

I would have to pull the can and read the instructions again on the KBS hi-temp paint. I'm not sure if a primer was needed or not.

My prep work is having them beed blasted and baked by my local machine shop, then just before painting I will douse in surface prep and then sweated out with a propane torch. Best I can do with the facility I have to work in.

[My442]

I had a pair of manifolds ceramic coated by HPC about 8 years ago.

They still look like the day I installed them.

Put the same costing on an Edelbrock intake - still looks new as well.

[#1WideTrak]

I appreciate the additional replies. I was going to ask about prep work! You guys beat me to it!

[grivera]

Originally Posted by rohrt

I bought mine with the coating. By the time I got the car running three years later the coating was mostly gone and they had surface rust all over.

I bought mine with the coating and they looked great the first season. The second season they started showing considerable specs of rust and now (third season) they are pretty much covered in rust. I plan on following up with RARE to ascertain if they are covered by warranty. The info on the KBS coating is intriguing...

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by grivera

I bought mine with the coating and they looked great the first season. The second season they started showing considerable specs of rust and now (third season) they are pretty much covered in rust. I plan on following up with RARE to ascertain if they are covered by warranty. The info on the KBS coating is intriguing...

Thanks for sharing that. At least I know now it not just me.

Originally Posted by My442

I had a pair of manifolds ceramic coated by HPC about 8 years ago.

They still look like the day I installed them.

Put the same costing on an Edelbrock intake - still looks new as well.

Maybe thats the answer for the OP. Where do you live?

[#1WideTrak]

Originally Posted by grivera

I bought mine with the coating and they looked great the first season. The second season they started showing considerable specs of rust and now (third season) they are pretty much covered in rust. I plan on following up with RARE to ascertain if they are covered by warranty. The info on the KBS coating is intriguing...

Thanks for posting your experience. This is what is in the description on RARE's website:

OPTIONAL CERAMIC COATING:
Both castings are port-matched to Pontiac blueprint then thermal barrier ceramic coating is applied and cured on interior and exterior. Choice of Silver or Gray. 3-year Guarantee. Will not burn off, fade or peel. Reduces header temperature 30%! Silver is chrome-like. Gray looks stock.

[tripwr1964]

Originally Posted by 1969GTO

I bought a set of RAMAIR RESTORATION Ram Air manifolds early last year,with out the coating.
By end of summer they had the rust coating all over them and looked old already.
This past winter 2013 I set them back to RARE for the ceramic coating, [gray color].
They coated the out side and the inside of the manifolds and they look great.
As for HOT START issue......I never had that problem.

i did the exact same thing here! highly recommend the coating option.

[tripwr1964]

Originally Posted by rohrt

I bought mine with the coating. By the time I got the car running three years later the coating was mostly gone and they had surface rust all over.

Had them blasted and I painted them with KBS coating and going on year 3 and they still look good.

oh, didn't read all the post.
this is what i have to look forward to? ouch.
they look great now and figured coating would last for more than a couple seasons.

you guys in midwest storing in heated garage?

[The Champ]

I just spotted this post.

I have the silver ceramic coated RARE manifolds.

So far, so good. But they have only spent 1 winter on the car.

I do have heat in my shop (MN). Most of the winter it's set at 45 degrees - unless I'm out there working. In the spring I turn the heat up to eliminate most of the condensation in the shop.

[Willshire]

I got the gray coating and seems to still be decent 3 years and counting