What's a good price for ceramic coating?
 

Gonna get the new manifold from Abe. Figured I would get it ceramic coated.

Talked to one guy who runs a shop that does auto part ceramic coating. He wants somewhere around $175, but we are still negotiating, because he is hedging because he thinks it's a full tubular manifold. I sent him some pics, but even if I get him down to $100 or something is that a lot? I have no experience with this type of service.

Okay, so this guy is in the range that I should expect.

You might ask Abe if he has a contact to do it before shipping to you. Lots of very reasonable shops here in the DFW area. I've used SPC in Arlington multiple times (SPCoating.com).

I think you need to research the quality of coating to assess value, not just the price. Very few get a lot of positive reviews as I understand it.

$250 is the going rate for ceramic coating on a manifold. Any cheaper than that and its just fancy paint.

Anyone thought about Cerakote? Local guy does it on the hot rodders headers. Does flames, etc. More curious if Cerakote could be an alternative. Or just pretty and no use for turbo crowd?

Its pretty, it will hold up to the heat, it will reduce underhood temps some, its still not as good as swain white lightning as an insulator.

Thats what I figured. Just curious.

I'm expecting my abe built EFR manifold back from Swaintech any moment now. I'll post the price and pictures once I have more info.
I'm having difficulty finding a box to send the downpipe out in.
I opted for swaintech because of the relatively thick coating that's applied

How do you figure this?

Experience.

I also agree with this sentiment.

Because of experience.

Dann

Well, there's two companies in the USA that do an actual ceramic coating and thats how much they charge.

Hm, only two eh? What are those companies?

Given that my needs are less extreme than say a professional race team I could do with a lesser coating just purely for rust protection and some insulation (even if it isn't up to the snuff of the real stuff).

One of them is Swain in NY, the other is in California and I can never remember the name. Pick the one closest to you.

This is what the guy says he is using.

Cerakote Coatings

This is the specific coating he was suggesting.

http://www.cerakotehightemp.com/finishes/C-7600Q/

Product application instructions.

http://www.cerakotehightemp.com/reso...%20Systems.pdf

Apparently it is an air cure product.

There is some data here that I cannot parse as to thermal conductivity and diffusivity.

http://www.cerakotehightemp.com/reso...ure%202013.pdf

Any of these worth a damn?

Other Header Coatings | Pro Kote Indy

If you remember, post up about the California based company. I'd rather deal with a west coast company than ship my junk across the country multiple times.

Leafy is implying there are only two companies who offer a coating which significantly helps reduce radiant heat. Other coatings (Cerakote for example) are largely for aesthetic and/or corrosion resistance purposes - they don't manage heat like Swain.

I went with Cerakote since: A) a local guy sprays it, B) it offers good corrosion protection, C) it's cheap, D) it looks pretty.

I couldn't be happier with the coating durability as I scraped my down pipe on the transmission casing, tunnel, k-frame, and engine block while trying to get it fitted. It looked like hell, but a wipe with a wet rag revealed the Cerakote was unmarred.

-Zach

Okay, good to know. I'm really more interested in corrosion issues up here than radiant heat.

The local guy will do it for $125.

Just make sure he knows what he's doing. You need to prep/blast the part with aluminum oxide (and NOT glass bead) to achieve proper adhesion. It should also be sprayed with a detail gun as a very thin consistent coat to promote even heating/cooling ... otherwise the coating might fail after a couple heat cycles.

Most of the shops who Cerakote do it properly, however, since any asshole can buy a can from Cerakote, I feel the need to warn people. Ask questions.

-Zach

I'll ask some questions about his process. Thanks for the details.

Swaintech charged $242 to coat

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...11883700_n-jpg

I really wish Swain had that coating in some color OTHER than off white :(

Its not off white, its bright white. And you're supposed to be able to paint it with whatever header paint you want.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1382133512

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1382133512

I guess I never looked into that...
Well shit, I guess I learned something new today. :facepalm:

PINK. Paint it PINK.

No pink available in VHT. Or Green to match Leafy's engine so no EFR tentacle rape for him

I'm starting to think that if I am not going to go for the big bucks insulated coating I might as well save my money and just paint it with some high temp manifold paint and call it a day.

I'm coming around to the whole "cerakote is just more durable paint" way of thinking, mostly because I want to get this thing put back together.

What are my options if I just paint the thing myself with a spray can?

Abe suggested this might be the cheapo DIY way to go.

Item Detail

Hey Psyber or Leafy,
How quick was the turn around time for Swaintech? That $242... was it for just the manifold, or was it for the manifold and exhaust housing?

Do you think that i would see any additional heat retention or performance benefit from ceramic coating the downpipe in addition to the manifold and exhaust housing?

I had the manifold, housing, and DP done. It was their quoted turn around time whatever that is. You can shave some time off by over nighting it to them and having them over night it to you. But its still going to be at their shop for like 3 weeks or whatever.

Alright, I think I'm coming back around again to getting the cerakote done, because between properly prepping the manifold and painting it I'll probably mess something up and even with said prep people are saying this can stuff doesn't really last all that long.

I have an urge to get my manifold, turbine housing, elbow and DP Swain'd

I would do the swain thing, but quite honestly I don't want to wait another three weeks to put the car back together.

I'm still waiting for my MS3 so I'm just spinning my wheels and :burncash: :burncash: :burncash:

Thats my other thing, my MS3 is on the shelf waiting to get put on once this manifold business is all done and the car is back together. I have my VTPS, my AIT sensor in the intercooler, my EBC, I'm friggin ready to get this thing up and running and start tuning.

But it snowed today. Build season has begun.

Meh, we have an autocross this weekend. I want the car up and running and out of the garage anyway since I like to park my daily in the garage and I'd like to do some tuning through the fall months if it's nice out.

LOL!

I've got a track day on Sat. :D

I got mine in 2 weeks. $242 just for manifold

Either pay Swain the $242 and wait 3 weeks, or don't bother doing anything. Nothing looks worse than cheap, crappy ceramic coating that flakes off in 6 months.

boop

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1383261883