The OEM cast exhaust manifolds on my car had seen better days. And although the engine and engine bay looked nice overall, it seems the first thing people noticed was the rusty exhaust manifolds whenever I opened the hood at car shows.
Something had to be done!
After reading a few articles online, it was clear that Calyx Manifold Dressing was the product to use. It was affordable, easy to apply, and you did not have to remove the exhaust manifolds in order to apply the product unless you wanted to.
I did not have PRE Painting Prep so instead, I used a rag soaked with Goof-Off Remover which seemed to work pretty well.
Just be careful not to stain surrounding components. Also, it's a good idea to use disposable gloves for this project.
Once the stuff goes on, you can immediately see the huge difference it makes, as it really looks correct as a finish for exhaust manifolds with the right shade of gray and the correct sheen.
Take your time and your intake manifolds will look like brand new parts when you're done. And if you notice areas where the coverage was not 100%, simply go over them and add more.
After I was finished applying the paste to the manifolds, I took the Vette out for a spin to see if there would be any issues.
Once the motor heats up, you may see a bit of smoke from under the hood, and you will smell the stuff for a few minutes. Both go away after a short while, but the like-new finish remains, which is what you want.
Road conditions, such as rain, will also shorten the life of the coating.
But as you see, applying it is very easy, and the container it comes in has enough product to maintain your exhaust manifold looking like-new, anywhere from eight to ten times.
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Product Links... (#sponsored)
• Eastwood Silicone Surface Preparation Wax Polish Grease Dirt Remover
• Goof Off Pro-Strength Remover | 20 oz. 2 Count