has anyone tried aluminum colored high temp instead of flat black? if so, how does it look? got any pics? i'm in the  middle of putting on my wileyco. BWT  Srinath, I got the flange yesterday, thanks! i want my pipe to stand out a little more but don't have the cash to have mine chromed or sent to Jett-Hot.


do you guys think it'll look cheesy? i painted the flange with it to see how it looks but haven't cured it yet. so, it still looks real shiny. does that shine fade after it cures? my boss is sandblasting my headers as we speak (for a case of beer). i just wanted your opinion before i move on. thanks!

Depends on the color combo of your bike.

Ok the mid pipe is stainless ... shiny is permanent, there are some that got a duller but still its also stainless and can be shined up I think, some others got a brushed finish SS whihc I believe cant be shined up ... but the shiny part is shiny ... and I doubt anyhting is going to adhere to it ...
Aluminum paint ... I know of some guys that used it ... I'll check wiht them if I remember ...
Cool.
Srinath.

QuoteDepends on the color combo of your bike.

right now I have a black 01' tank on my bike. I managed to paint my fender and fairings to match pretty close to the silver stripe on the tank. i think aluminum headers will contrast good with the silver/black/grey combo. i was only gonna paint the flange and the headers. the midpipe is pretty shiny and i didn't want hide that shine behind paint. i guess if it looks crappy i can always sand it off and get the black paint like everybody else.

thanks for the replies. i'll post some pics when i'm done.

once the paint has cured are you guys really getting paint to stay on the headers and pipe? I blasted mine and then stell wooled it to be smooth then painted it with hightemp flat block paint. it has already burned off the headers, the pipe still looks good so i got a fade going on rust color to black. WONDERFULL lol. if you are getting the paint to stay how are you doing so?  

and if you are doing the aluminium paint go for
http://www.por-outlet.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/28/products_id/110

POR, awesome stuff , some of the turbo volvo guys use it on exhuast manifolds and that is some high temp stuff!!.

Quoteonce the paint has cured are you guys really getting paint to stay on the headers and pipe? I blasted mine and then stell wooled it to be smooth then painted it with hightemp flat block paint. it has already burned off the headers, the pipe still looks good so i got a fade going on rust color to black. WONDERFULL lol. if you are getting the paint to stay how are you doing so?

i think a few folks actually scuffed up their headers with some lower grit sandpaper before painting. and as Srinath said in the post above SS is pretty shiny to begin with and the paint probly won't stick. i think the same concept applies here. maybe you're smoothing your headers out too much? i'm gonna try to scuff mine and paint after work. i'll let you know how it goes.

The stock pipe needs to be painted maybe once in 2 years ... more often if you live/use/park it in a more hostile environment. So if you painted it 2 or so years ago ... your time has come. Again ... why I stuck with SS despite numerous cries to go to steel ... Last resort ... maybe ... I'd prolly stop making them before steel is my only option ... I'd make the whole bike from SS if I could ... Love the stuff ...
Cool.
Srinath.

So what is your recommendation for the flange and midpipe?

I have a quick question.  Is the shiny metal piece covering the outside of the stock muffler stainless steel?  Its not magnetic (so not chrome plated steel) and it does not appear to be aluminum.

So, if I wanted to paint the stock exhaust would I mask off this shiny piece of metal on the stock muffler and paint around it?  Would paint stick to that shiny metal?

Thanks.


Bob

Quote from: Jake DSo what is your recommendation for the flange and midpipe?

Smooth and shiny mid pipe ... leave it as is, the dull and the brushed one will take paint, but is not needed really, and the round plate needs to be painted ... sand and paint its outside, inside will go up against the exhaust and be covered in carbon ... OK heck paint that too ... One of these days I am going to build a SS frame GS ... I am just that sick of rust ...
Cool.
Srinath.

QuoteSo, if I wanted to paint the stock exhaust would I mask off this shiny piece of metal on the stock muffler and paint around it? Would paint stick to that shiny metal?

i have seen a pic where someone painted the stock can. do a search and you should find it.

QuoteI am just that sick of rust

Tell me about it. I picked up my headers from my bosses place. He wasn't home so his wife let me get them. He was supposed to sandblast them. It seems like all he did was clean off the dirt. So I spent a good deal of time with a wire brush and sandpaper trying to get as much rust/paint off as possible. after a while i just gave up and figured it would be okay. i slap everything together. btw, everything fit perfect. i read a few threads where folks had a hard time with the clamp. at first i did. i put the clamp on the can (off the bike) and let it sit overnight to take proper shape. so when i put the clamp on today i hardly had to fight it.

i start my bike up and get the dreaded bubbles at the top of the headers. i think i just need to get down to bare metal. i'll try again this weekend. i'm gonna take it to professional sandblaster. i guess that what i get for a case of beer.

oh well i wouldnt paint SS. I was refering to my V&H pipes that I painted. were the stocker pipes SS?

Quote from: Susuki_Jahoh well i wouldnt paint SS. I was refering to my V&H pipes that I painted. were the stocker pipes SS?

No, the stock exhaust system is not stainless.  There is, however, a shiny metal cover over half of the muffler.  I belive it is stainless. It is there either for appearance or as a heat shield.

My question is for guys who have repainted the stock exhaust.  Did you paint over the shiny metal or did you mask it and paint around it?