Does ANYONE have white ceramic coated headers / sidepipes??

[berzerko]

Call action powder coating in farmingdale the now do jet hot coatings in house great guys to deal with and quick turn-around

Bobby

[RICK LAKE]

767 Jockey Doug call Xtreme Performance heat coatings. See if they have a choice in colors. 805-485-2667, 805-388-9983. Swain is the only other I know of that has different colors. The spray bomb can will be easier and quicker to keep the pipes looking like new. My silver pipes have held up well for 9 years. Only a pant leg stain is on the pipes and this is for life or until recoating. Rick L.

[double ugly]

There is something about the white ceramic that most coaters shy away from. It isn't used often enough I suppose. I got a quote here from Custom Coatings and it was three time more expensive than other colors and no guarantee that it wouldn't yellow.
Hence the Duplicolor.
John

[Don]

Just seems the term " Ceramic " coating has become a generic reference for many different types of coatings. The rough appearance with Swain is due to the molten application process of the ceramic particles in the coating, i.e. not sprayed.

From the Swain web site, does anyone have the technical expertise to comment on Swain's process ?

1) White Lightning™ really is ceramic so the material is a superior insulating material.

2) White Lightning is applied much thicker than any of the cosmetic coatings. White Lightning™ is applied about .015” thick compared to about .002” thick for the cosmetic coatings. Because White Lightning™ is the best insulating material and it is applied thicker than any other coating.

Many companies apply the shiny or colored paint based coatings and call them ceramic. Those thin shiny coatings are very different than Swain Tech’s White Lightning™.Whereas it would be more accurate to call those thin shiny coatings good high temperature paints that may have a very small amount added to them, Swain really uses a ceramic coating that is applied molten where it bonds and cools directly on the substrate.

White Lightning Exhaust by Swain Tech for Automotive Coatings including engine piston coatings, ceramic coating services engine, automotive ceramic coating, ceramic header coating, dry film lubricant, race engine coatings, exhaust header coating

The current price is approx $350-$400 for the pair

[Poolw]

I would call Hurricane Motorsports at 888.946.4737 ext. 140. They have white coated sidepipes on their show cobra. Ask them who they use.

[bmwdb10]

Hey Doug,

My pipes are JetHot Coated. I have done absolutlely nothing to them. They look the same as when I rolled the car off the truck. They do have a rough finish, but well worth the lack of hassle to repaint them all the time. And I like the looks of them. You'll see if and when you can make it up here.

[767Jockey]

Guys,
Thanks for all the replies. I have a few calls to make. I e hearing that Swain is the best, but that it's VERY rough. I asked them to spray even a one inch square and send it to me but they won't. Mike, I'm worried about chipping and all the road grime getting stuck in the surface - do you have that problem with your Swain pipes? Do they cool off quickly as I've heard, perhaps reducing the shin burning syndrome on getting in and out of the car with the hot pipes?

Dave, I planned to come up this past weekend and was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, YOU KNOW WHO was a bit under the weather.

I'll make it up in February assuming no one catches malaria or something this time. I really look forward to meeting you and seeing your car. Jeff tells me it's the nicest CCX out there.

Thanks again for all the info guys - I appreciate it.

[bmwdb10]

Doug,

I'm flattered, thanks....

I was ready for you and Jeff but finally reached him on Sat morning. He was pretty sick. Looking forward to the next oppertunity and another excuse to get up to see Nick and his handy work.

You really should go with the JHC, Swain. As I said, it is indeed very rough. But I have had "0" issues with mine. But then I go for the old petina look that some don't care for. You'll see it when you are up.

[jdean]

Since the Swain coating is thick, I wonder if you could sand it smooth with some 600 grit, then polish it out so that stuff does not stick to it?

[bmwdb10]

I suppose it is possible. But the coating is extremely hard. It would take a month of Sundays too because of the texture. Good luck with that! I don't know what you guys have sticking to your pipes.... I have no spots on mine and have never had to wash them at all. Been in a couple of nasty storms and wet roads, still no problem. If you want white, this is the way to go!

[Don]

Reply received from Swain Tech Services:

Thanks for writing. Here is the link to our exhaust coating:

White Lightning Exhaust by Swain Tech for Automotive Coatings including engine piston coatings, ceramic coating services engine, automotive ceramic coating, ceramic header coating, dry film lubricant, race engine coatings, exhaust header coating.

If you are trying to accomplish a certain look, or coating is not the best option. Our White Lightning is a functional coating, not a cosmetic coating. We developed it for racing applications and for folks looking to improve power while reducing radiant/underhood temperatures and it is very effective as a performance improving coating. Achieving or maintaining a specific cosmetic appearance is not a strong point of our coating.

Regards,
Richard
Swain Tech Coatings, Inc.

[double ugly]

A couple cans of Duplicolor was cheap and I never needed to touch up the sidepipes. Just clean them with soap and water.

[Don]

Having had prior coating experience with AirBorne in CT and Swain, a number of alternatives have been mentioned. I checked with FinishLine Coatings and received the following reply. While I specifically asked about Black, the comments should still be appropriate for a white finish :

" Do you have a coating on the side pipes right now?If so, that coating must be stripped off prior to coating and we can do that for you.

The Black Satin that we use is a nice dark black with a sheen that holds up very well.None of the black ceramic coatings are a shiny black...ours comes closest with a satin finish.

It is a heat barrier-insulating at least 60% of the exhaust heat from radiating out. Most side pipes will run $375.00 -$400.00 for the pair. It is important for you to know that we also _coat twice_ and coat inside as well. Rusting will not be a problem.Some companies will advertise a high heat coating and the ad is stated to make you believe it is a "ceramic". There is available a high heat black stove paint and also high heat black VHT paint. These products state that it is for "high heat". This leads the consumer to think the ceramic coating and the high heat paint are the same. They are not the same and the paint will not stand up to exhaust heat temps nor is the high heat paint an insulating product. You can easily burn your leg or pants on a pipe that is painted with the high heat paint.

We also offer a bright, shiny high polished aluminum looking coating called Cermachrome. It is very good against rusting and is a 50% insulating coating. The procedures we go through gives is almost a "chrome" look. Also, we coat with a Titanium coating--this is a hard, shiny,gray coating that withstands high heat, rusting and is a 50%-60% thermal barrier. "

Finish Line Coatings - Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coatings Exhaust Systems Performance Parts Portland

[Igofastr]

I'm surprised that you've had any problems finding places to do your pipes in white. I had mine done locally at a generic powdercoater, they just had to order the white ceramic specially.

Yes, it is coarse. And, it does stain pretty easily with road grime. I kinda like the worn look, more racey. But, it is very easy to touch up with VHT paint.

See my gallery, I think it looks kinda cool.

[1985 CCX]

Do what Shelby did VHT it's cheap, it's easy (do it on the car), and it's easily changed when you want a different look.

[Don]

Reference my Reply # 33:

Additional information from FinishLine Coating:

"...... the cost for removal of the old coating depends on what color it was.The silver coating is much harder to remove than the black or white coating and could cost $75.00 - $100.00 for the pair.

Our prep on the pipes is not done with sand..rather we use aluminum oxide for the best adhesion of the coating. The oxide gets contaminated when we strip off old coating making the procedure costly for us. Some places maybe use sand which is fairly cheap."

Quotes may or may not include the cost to remove the old coating

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Don

If you are trying to accomplish a certain look, or coating is not the best option. Our White Lightning is a functional coating, not a cosmetic coating. We developed it for racing applications and for folks looking to improve power while reducing radiant/underhood temperatures and it is very effective as a performance improving coating. Achieving or maintaining a specific cosmetic appearance is not a strong point of our coating.

Regards,
Richard
Swain Tech Coatings, Inc.

That is the most honest response that I've ever seen from a supplier. I'd use them just because I know that there'd be no unexpected crap

Steve

[ranman]

I spoke with Jet Hot a few months back, they do white, but if you look at their web site it does not list it, give them a call. I'm going with white!!!!

[rms427]

I've had white sidepipes on my car since 1970. Mine are alumized. That is molten aluminum sprayed on the pipes. It comes out very white but rough texture. If you sand the coating it turns aluminum color. It has not been hard to keep clean. I just wash them with the same soap that I wash the car with. Oil spilled on the headers just seems to burn off. The coating prevents rust and if it gets a really bad stain it can just be touched up with VHT. In the 38 years that I have had them on the car I redid them once. That was after someone put their tennis shoe on a hot pipe and it left a shoe print. I could not get that off so I redid the pipes. I should have just painted over the shoe print with VHT. The second coating job was not as good and it has lifted in a couple of areas. I just touch up those areas with VHT.