refinishing stock mufflers

[chrism40]

Has anyone had any success in finding a source for refinishing the high gloss black on the stock mufflers? My power coat shop does not have anything that they recommend for that much heat. They have a flat black that works well and I used it on the pipes and collector box, but I want glossy shiny mufflers. Thanks for any help.

[simi_ed]

The OEM finish is black chrome. Good luck find some one to deal with that!  Maybe a bumper shop? 

[FJmonkey]

Try these

http://classiccomponents.com/services/black-chrome

http://www.arlingtonplating.com/capabilities/black-chrome-plating/

[fj1289]

Has anyone had any success in finding a source for refinishing the high gloss black on the stock mufflers? My power coat shop does not have anything that they recommend for that much heat. They have a flat black that works well and I used it on the pipes and collector box, but I want glossy shiny mufflers. Thanks for any help.

Try the flat black powder coat as a base coat and top coat it with gloss engine enamel.  Basically use the flat black powder coat as a thermal barrier.  May have to scuff it a bit to get the engine enamel to stick. 

[FJmonkey]

Most power coat finishes do not like to go much above 400F, polyester or acrylic. The pipes may not exceed that but if they do then the common heat powder cure finishes will fail. Why not try the VHT gloss black that looks so good on Noel's engine?

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=15837.msg160340#msg160340

[PaulG]

Most power coat finishes do not like to go much above 400F, polyester or acrylic. The pipes may not exceed that but if they do then the common heat powder cure finishes will fail. Why not try the VHT gloss black that looks so good on Noel's engine?

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=15837.msg160340#msg160340

I've tried the VHT Flameproof on the stock exhaust pipes.  On the headers it worked great with proper preparation - basically a cleaning and scuffing down.  On the exhaust pipes though it started to peel off after a few months.  I didn't know the OEM's were black chrome.    Could be that I just didn't prep the pipes properly.

The OEM finish is black chrome. Good luck find some one to deal with that!  Maybe a bumper shop? 

Where I work - we mold and plate auto trim/grills etc. - some chromed parts require painting (e.g. Lexus grills).  These have to be painted within 3hrs of being plated or it won't adhere properly.  Maybe this was the problem all along.  I don't know if there is any difference regarding this with black chrome vs. bright chrome.

If the black chrome is the issue with the paint not adhereing, then the chrome would have to be stripped in a caustic solution (usually sodium hydroxide) then prepped and painted.  A plating shop would be able to do the stripping probably if the exhaust is that far gone.

This is only a slightly educated guess on my part.  Hope that helps.

Hopefully if some others have had succes painting over them they will chime in.  I'd like to get them refinished as well.

[FJ_Hooligan]

Ceramic coating?  I know people have done the headers but I don't think I've heard of anyone doing the mufflers.

[chrism40]

Thanks for the input. The expense of black chrome does not look cost effective yet. I can still find pretty good mufflers for less. I have several good mufflers, but they need to be freshened up. The good thing about the FJ's mufflers is that they deem to last longer than many of the chrome Honda or Kawasaki mufflers.