Two Heads are always better than One

Part 3: by Grant Rodman

Last bit for this project is to tidy up a set of exhaust manifolds to go with it.

I had a set of manifolds that I had sand-blasted off the remaining stove enamel off many, many years ago, with the intent to get them re-coated.

As Ceramic Coating is very thin, it won’t conceal lumps & bumps like Stove Enamel, so the manifolds are sanded to remove any casting flashings & flaws.

 

 

Of course, there is always going to be one stud that doesn’t want to come out. Have to be very careful here! An Easy-out will most likely swell the remainder of the stud and break the casting, so it has to be carefully drilled out.

 

 

 

The original intention was to go with Satin Black, but they looked so nice sitting on the head when I sanded them, that I just had to go “all blingy” with the ‘polished’ silver coating.

 

 

 

 

Just when I thought it was ready to be boxed-up, it came to light that the two manifolds are not a “pair”, and each use a different gasket! To make it worse, I have 2” exhaust tubes (cauze it sounds soo nice!) – a bit of imagination will be required when time comes to fit them!

 

 

 

 

I sometimes wonder if I am naturally this unlucky! – I like to think it’s just because I practice it a lot!
The big question now is, just how long I can bear for them to be sitting in the cupboard and not on the car!

Cheers, Grant