2k on exhaust silencer?

[Ian1044]

hi guys, I'm currently rebuilding a lotus 7 replica kit car, I have a stainless exhaust for it which will be wrapped in black heat wrap from the cylinder head to the silencer. The silencer looks pretty ratty now that I've rebuilt the car and I'm considering scuffing it up and going on with epoxy primer and 2k direct gloss. Do you think it will withstand the heat or is this a really bad idea? Or is there something better to paint it black with, other than the Matt black high temperature stove paint that is!
Cheers
Ian

 

[johnik]

I have had 3 of these cars and the silencers due to their short length do get really hot,i used black exhaust paint on 2 and another had an R 1 carbon fiber can,cant see normal paint lasting long.

 

[Ian1044]

Thanks John that was my fear, think I'll go with black exhaust paint :-)

 

[PSweeney]

VHT is OK, not rust proof but it stays on.

 

[rich r]

I once painted some exhaust downpipes with black gloss VHT enamel paint, and it stayed reasonably shiny and intact for many years. It's not very flexible though once cured, so I'm not sure how well it'll work on a silencer. But it's relatively cheap so worth a go I guess.

 

[Ian1044]

Thanks guys, will give it a go :-)

 

[normspanners]

Just be careful you are not overheating the exhaust, because with wrapping it they can go to crazy temps especially wrapping it all the way, there will be no cooling.

 

[Turbo]

If it's a stainless exhaust why are you painting it? Just polish it up again or if it's badly scraped go for the brushed look to help hide them.

 

[Ian1044]

For no other reason than it looks pig awful now, and I have a red and black colour scheme on the car, would look so much better black :-)
Norm, yes I'm aware of that, if I use VHT paint I'll not wrap as far down the 4 branch manifold. Simply have to use some at the top though as space is very limited inside the engine bay and the clutch cable, alternator and return coolant pipe are very close!