Hello I would like to paint or coat my rusty exhaust manifolds . Has anyone tried some of the stuff in spray cans available at the parts store thanks in advance 

I power wire Brushed mine using bench Grinder. I used Hi Temp Paint for Headers. Worked for Me. U have to try and get down to bare Cast Iron before painting them.

  

SOURCE - https://www.jet-hot.com/articles/2018/6/29/5-important-reasons-you-should-ceramic-coat-your-exhaust-headers-and-turbo-parts

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After cleaning with wire brushes on a drill. die grinder, pedestal to start and some light sanding, I used Eastwood exhaust paint. Bought the smallest can available and used a brush. They have been on 7 years and still look good. Plenty left too for other cast parts like master cylinders, brake drums, etc.....

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Soak in 1/4 molasses (from the feed store, for horses) and 3/4 water, be sure to remove all grease first, let soak for 3 or 4 days (strong smell), rinse with water (strong spray), will look brand new no labor, I do this with blocks and heads, I rinse 1/2 the way through on really rusty parts. I pay $15.00 for 5 gallons that makes about 20 gallons, it lasts for years, when it gets low add more water. 

Cliff.  With the molasses mixture that you use, what do you use as a container for soaking large parts like cylinder heads and engine blocks?
In removing rust, the molasses mixture apparently etches the ferrous metal.  Do you use soaking vessels made of plastic?  Would galvanized steel be okay, or will the solution eat the zinc coating?

Thanks for the information!  


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I like the VHT brand of high temperature paints. They sell a high temperature primer and then several top coat colors to choose from. In my personal opinion, I like to media blast rusty exhaust manifolds prior to painting. The media blasting provides a good texture to the iron for good paint adhesion. The fact that I have my own media blast cabinet helps!

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

You can use chemicals like Naval Jelly to remove rust.  It's messy.  I have them bead blasted then paint them with Eastwood's High Temp Coating.  It has the look of cast iron. A little goes a long way.  As you can see, I have had this can for years.  It's nice because you can touch them up later.

 

I use a plastic barrel cut in 1/2 I have left some parts in it for over 1 year (forgot) with no problems, I have 2 bead blasters it takes to much time to remove heavy deposits, easier to just wash and put it in the barrel, also it cleans inside the water jackets.

I have had very good results removing rust from cast iron exhaust manifolds ( any ferrous metal ) by using electrolysis. Google it. Pete