Can I paint my Exhaust Header heat shields?

[timemachine]

I presently have black headers with stainless heat shields. Does anyone have a lead on black to match or can I paint the stainless?

[patrickt]

You might want to just check the temperature of your shields with an infrared thermometer gun, which is handy for lots of stuff, but I doubt you get over 500 degrees on anything other than the primary pipes themselves. VHT Paint will go way higher than that: VHT Very High Temperature Flameproof Automotive Paint

[spdbrake]

I'd skip painting the heat shields black. The shiny surface of the stainless reflects heat. Painting them black will allow them to absorb the heat and transfer it to the fiberglass underneath. If you really want them black you could remove them and install 2-3 washers under each attaching point. That way you don't have direct contact and the air gap will help dissipate the heat the shield has absorbed.
Thermal heat = Thermal Radiation = Infrared Radiation.
A mirror will reflect Visible light and IR, Black just absorbs it.

[ront49]

Good luck on painting stainless steel ... Best to ask a good paint man if there is a primer that will promote proper adhesion. I've painted chrome bumpers and had very good luck with zink based primers. Don't forget to skuff the stainless.

[timemachine]

Just to clarify I’m only looking to paint shields not the headers. Headers are already black

[Dwight]

sand blast the stainless and use VHT high temperature paint. Walmart and the auto parts stores sell it.

Be careful how you blast the heat shields. You don't want to wrap them.

[spdbrake]

Originally Posted by timemachine

Just to clarify I’m only looking to paint shields not the headers. Headers are already black

Yes that is the way I understood the question.

[Gpkrider]

Eastwood has a 2k hi temp ceramic paint in a spray can. I used It on my engine block and surrounding firewalls, it is a two part paint and sprays beautifully and has a super hard durable finish. Love this stuff

[timemachine]

Well today lightly sanded all parts then washed them with a good degreaser. I then gave them a coat of the VHT Etching Primer followed by 2 light coats of the VHT satin finish paint and one final coat. They look great but think I’m going to wait the 7 day cure time and give them a very light sand and one more good topcoat. I’ll post pics when done

[ront49]

Originally Posted by Gpkrider

Eastwood has a 2k hi temp ceramic paint in a spray can. I used It on my engine block and surrounding firewalls, it is a two part paint and sprays beautifully and has a super hard durable finish. Love this stuff

I've purchased several products from Eastwood and they are top-notch. Service and shipping are excellent as well.

[timemachine]

I think they look 100% better in black. Used satin and not a bad match.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by timemachine

I think they look 100% better in black. Used satin and not a bad match.

Looks good - I may have to do that with mine!

One more thing on the to-do list...

[spdbrake]

They do look good. I'm so glad they're the muffler shields. I had thought you were painting the foot box shields.