Ok Last summer i drilled out the sound plate in my stock mufflers on my 2012 Fatboy Lo with a half inch drill bit. Sound alot better then stock But i still dont like the satin chrome look of the stock Lo mufflers and i want them flat black. Down the road i might get Rush slip ons but moneys tight especially after getting the Harley # paint set for my bike. So for now im thinking of just taking off the stock mufflers and either Painting them with heat paint or Ceramic paint or should they and do they half to be Powder coated? I noticed alot of exhaust companies say there heat shields are Ceramic coated so if i scuff up the chrome muffler and then paint them with the Ceramic heat coat would that work and last? If so how many coates would i need?

 

Anybody??

 

I painted my exhaust last year with some success. First I did the whole system, but the header pipes and heat shields flaked of because of the heat. I was going to wrap the headers anyway, so it was mostly an experiment. The mufflers will hold paint, but you need to scuff it up pretty damn good, make sure you clean them with acetone or thinner after and use gloves, you really dont want any oil or fingerprints on them before paint. Use a high temp primer and paint (I used VHT from Autozone). Ideally you would want to get them media blasted to remove the chrome and get them ceramic coated, but if money's tight that may not be an option. FYI if you decide to paint them, you have to be SUPER CAREFUL when re-installing them as they scratch really easily before they're cured and make sure you follow the heat cycle instructions on the can. Also, when applying paint, you need to apply severaly LIGHT coats or you risk flaking (ask me how I know). Here's how mine turned out:

 

Looks great! Thats what im worried about is the durability of it.. Maybe the Ceramic paint is better? Id like to just remove them and find a powder coater were i live that will do them cheap. Powder coating is fairly cheap just got to find someone close if i go that route..

 

Thanks, I would go that route if possible, doing them yourself is a PITA. Just make sure you check with the coater to make sure they use use some sort of high temp powder, I don't think the regular stuff will hold up with the heat.

 

PM jrk5982 hes the powder guru here he might beable to help guide you better

 

BBQ Paint will work for the time being price wise you should get a year or two out of it.