Non-Volvo car chat megathread

[BlackBart]

They're fairly pitted. I have a spare set that's even worse. I'll see if I can find a conversation on the Alfa forum where people had some ideas for simple chemical alternatives to ceramic or powder coating. Yes, I've read paints just don't work. I'm ok with it just stock too - it's probably not going to be driven in Seattle rain again.

Interesting that this factory manifold has been tested to flow better than tube headers up to around 7000 rpm, which is beyond the stock redline anyway.

[BlackBart]

Found it - some comments:

"High temp paints, BBQ paints of many brands and also a sandblasting and high temp powder coat. None have worked. They all flake and peel."

"I have tried all the products and powder paint, none have worked as good as cerakote. My shop in San Jose does the set for $150."

"At the risk of being controversial, why does what is under the hood need to be pristine? Drive. Enjoy. Show if you want. Drive it with the top down and get a coffee or a beer. If you run into some auto-proctologist who wants to examine the inside of your muffler for rust, buy him a coffee/beer and send him to Monterey." HA!!

"...with my 59 2300. I sought a “ceramic-coat”, or “jet-coat” shop or similar in Reno. Found one, and selected a Titanium color for the two exhaust manifold pieces. When returned they struck my eyes as looking exactly like two, new cast iron pieces before a single bit of corrosion has appeared.
Subsequent to this first effort I attempted to get the same result on maybe a half dozen other exhaust sets. All came out as crap. Bizarre colors, or flaky, or variable tints. The shop was shifting among subcontractors who just didn’t have the mojo."

"Makes sense: these coatings are very much about prep and process for how it comes out and the long term durability. The graphite appears to be pretty foolproof, though. I should've done this a lot sooner."

"Search for Calyx Exhaust Dressing or Slip Plate. Both are graphite and appear to do an excellent and durable job on exhaust headers. I’ve been meaning to try it on the Spider."

"There is hope however, as an industrial product has found its way into the automotive restoration world. It’s called Slip-Plate, which is a liquid graphite product that is typically used as a dry lubricant in many industrial and manufacturing processes. Slip-Plate uses a liquid solvent binder to which powdered graphite is added. We ordered the aerosol version (which is best for this application) online at www.slipplate.com, but it is available as a brush-on as well. When sprayed, the solvent binder adheres the graphite to the part. After about 20 minutes, the solvents evaporate and the graphite is left on the surface, permanently bonded. The good thing about the liquid binder is that it allows the graphite to flow into the pores of the cast iron, even better than paint, yielding a stronger bond to material. In addition to the better bond, the graphite is designed for extreme temperatures and pressure. This ensures the graphite won’t burn off after just a few trips down the road."

"Slip Plate has been excellent on any car I've used it on. A member of another vintage car forum told me about it 10 years ago.
It's dummy-proof and easy to apply/reapply and looks like fresh cast iron."

"I like to use stove polish on them, works good in my opinion." (Guy from Sweden!)

"I am using Calyx on mine, and I've had great success with it. It's some sort of a greasy/waxy stuff that seems for all the world like thick anti-seize. Anyhow it gives a silver finish that looks good and it doesn't melt or burn off. I did have to touch my manifold up recently so it's not forever, but it's good for several years."

[abscate]

$3.81 is a bit stiff for a small box of ziplock bags, but they look well-made. The black things are there to puff them up and make them look bigger.

Well done!

You can insert ends of wire loom into the next piece and make it look almost one piece, certainly good enough to pass morning muster

[DennisCA]

Pulling the rack out of my 900, hoping to get it ready for summer. I'll retire the 850 from regular use once I get the 900 on the road and use the downtime to work on it then and get it ready for next winter season.



Cleaned up

[BlackBart]

It's satisfying to make grimy old parts shiny again.

[volvolugnut]

I have had a lot of fun over the years making shiny new parts look old and grimy.
volvolugnutr

[Sveedy]

Well that time of the year again when I get a chance to rub tires with some of the "upper crust".
Needless to say, I parked around the corner.

[matthew1]

wow!

[BlackBart]

I’ll say wow too!

What is the little dark red roadster with wire wheels? I’d guess early MG, but the winged logo is nothing like MG.

Do they follow the same route every year? So do they get a different collection of zillionaires every year?

My buddy down there says it’s going to be 99 tomorrow and 100 Friday - doesn’t seem like open roadster weather.

[Sveedy]

Aston Martin. Not sure about the year.
They follow a different route every year, and it's not disclosed to the public. I happen to know the family that hosts the lunch, so I get inside info . It goes on for 3 or 4 days and today was the last day. This was their lunch stop so that they could get back to the valley before it got too hot. That's a good 100 miles, so I think quite a few just passed on the lunch just so that they could beat the heat.
I get the feeling that it's mostly the same group every year. Not too many folks out there that can afford to drop 11k just for the entry.
But at least the money is donated to charities. It's like a car museum that comes to town once a year, except that you get to hear and see them running.