So has anyone painted their up-pipe or any other exhaust component? I was considering painting a helix up pipe black with some high temp paint. The point being to make it as inconspicuous as possible. I know it's not that easy to see anyway even when you pop the hood but I was just thinking why not paint it black? Only adverse effects I could think of is that black tends to absorb heat, not sure what that would do though, and perhaps the paint peeling after a while. After all it is just the external surface so I don't know if the extra absorption of heat would do anything... Anybody got any thoughts on it?

 

You uppipe generates upward of 1800 degrees. Only coating that I know that will not burn off is jet coat. I don't know of any paints that will withstand that type of heat, but others may know of something I don't.

 

He's right. You actually want your uppipe to be as HOT as possible; the hotter it is, the more energy the exhaust gases have to drive your turbine blades around. As such, you want to keep heat IN the pipe, not let it out. Most high-temp paint can't take that kind of heat... Jet-Hot coating is one alternative, but I think any kind of ordinary paint coating would burn off. Perhaps you should try to cut your stock heatshield (if you kept it) to fit, if you want to look stock.

When I get an up-pipe, mine's going to be coated from the factory, inside and out.

EDIT: check this sexy one out:

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showth...threadid=56327

 

If your really looking to go sleaper you may want to consider the JDM/STi catless OEM uppipes. They have all original heatshielding and even have the embossed "SUBARU" logo.

-Chris

 

That's a good idea. The US Sti has a catless up pipe? Anyone know any online vendors who would have it for less than an arm and a leg? I guess I should just wait for someone to sell their used one from an Sti...

 

Im getting 1 for free with Subaru bucks. If you'r not in a rush, get a Subaru, Chase platinum mastercard and you will earn 3% on purchases payable in Subaru bucks. Here is a link to a place that has the STI upipe and they also take Subaru bucks http://www.subaruxtras.com/SearchRes...?CategoryID=39 (look on page 8). They are asking $252 (only $52 more than the Helix) which is much cheaper than my local dealer.

 

you could always cut and reweld the heat sheild

 

A powder coat supposedly doesn't burn off and is probably alot easier than welding

 

Powder coat will burn off, especially at temps that high. Jet-Hot is the only thing I'd bother with.

 

A slightly cheaper alternative, get a PDE non-flex uppipe. It has the brackets so you can mount the stock uppipe heat shields on it and it looks stealthy as stock. Taht's what I have... got it for $15 from a friend but brand new it costs $209 shipped.

 

Thanks for the ideas. So yeah I've abandoned the painting idea. Gutting is an option but too much a pain in the *** from what I've heard. The sti pipe would be perfect but it's too damn expensive so I'm going to chat with my dealer tomorrow and see their position on mods. If I can find a "mod-friendly" dealer in the area I'll go with a helix flex up pipe. As for the PDE pipe, I really wanna go with something with a flex section...

 

I would go with gutting the stocker. Save a lot on money and its flex and has its heatshield. Ya, it is a pain in the ***, but with the right tools and some patience, you'll get through it in a coupla hours. I just finished gutting mines so saved myself some money. Oh, and did i mention that you dont have to worry about fitting problems?

 

I wonder if the PDE flex uppipe has the brackets to maintain stock heat shields. As for the flex vs. non-flex, I don't wanna open up a can of worms but try bending the stock wrx uppipe's flex section, you'll find it's not as flexible as you think.

 

Why the hell do you wanna paint it?

 

Dude, read the first few posts. meilers post is great.