I have a 77 403. The heat riser is a shroud over the exhaust manifold to supply warm air to the air cleaner assembly.
I am re finishing my engine compartment. The riser is rusty. What was the OEM finish on the 2 piece of the manifold shroud. Were they black or zinc?
Looking for a nice original finish for these parts.


Thanks
Mike

 

Mike, I'm not sure if they were black or zinc. If you paint it the same color as your accessory brackets it would look sharp. I know the air cleaner was the same color as the accessory brackets. Hopefully someone else knows for sure.

 

If zinc is greyish than thats it.

 

Thanks guy's. I had painted the riser black a long time ago with BBQ paint so I couldn't remember the original colour. Considering how few miles I put on it in the last 20 years (less than 2000) I was surprised how rusty it got. I think zinc does go a little gray after a while. It's shiny when new like a new bolt would be. I am thinking to have them powder coated black. Would the powder coat take the heat and last? Those manifolds can get very hot.


Mike

 

High temp paints have improved a lot over the last 20 years. I think it is Eastwood restoration products that sells exhaust manifold paints that look like new cast iron. They should have something in a zink color that should work on the heat riser.

 

Mike, if you have it powder coated they will be very resistant to heat. I had the valve covers on my 64 98 powder coated. If you find a place willing to do it for a resonable price it will be far superior to painting.

 

I think I'll go the powder coat route. We don't have much in the way of a distributor for Eastwood or Por-15 products in Vancouver. Very limited selection of product at 2 of the suppliers that do carry them.
None of the US automotive part supplier will ship paint over the border.


Mike

 

Let us know how the powder coating turns out. I think you'll be more than satisfied.