Restoration of the Ansa exhaust

As you can see, the tips appear to be highly polished stainless (not chrome as I first thought) and the muffler has been painted black. The rest of the pipe to the flange is heat burnished stainless.

I took to the system with a light brass rotary wire brush on an angle grinder and finished with a selection of small wires on a dremel tool.

Here's the result.

What to do next?

I looked at a restored Countach the other day and the muffler box was matt black extending up the tips about 30mm, then a 10mm red band seperating the polished tips from the black box.

Some vendors show the exhaust as mine is above, and others show the entire system ceramic coated to the base of the tips.

I dont want to make a polished feature of the exhaust boxes, and prefer the rear view to be of the tips and the suspension underneath, but I'm interested in the thoughts of other owners/restorers.

Also, has anybody got any experience with polishing the stainless tips. Are there better or worse methods or products out there and are special tools or techniques required?

So what's the general concensus of opinion, polished, ceramic, or black boxes.

If black, what product to use. Is VHT exhaust paint up to the task?

Here's the Lambo tips:

Robert -
You are asking for opinions regarding taste and personal preference, so you'll get a bunch of answers.

Personally I really like the look of a black muffler can with the chrome tips. I like the contrast and painted mine that way about 2 years ago with VHT paint and so far so good.

unless you are going for a total show car and people will be looking at it from underneath, you'll never see the pipe that goes to teh flange so I wouldn't waste more time polishing it.

I painted mine with the same VHT paint just because, but have no idea how it has held up because I can't see it.

I found this picture of real Ansa Pantera systems. They appear to be black like the Lambo ones, and even have the red stripe.

Thanks Charlie.

I wonder if there is a heat proof (resistant)stripe material in red that could be used.

Exhaust temps have to be up around 200c plus I would expect and I don't know of any stripe material that can take that.

Yes, opinions are personal but I welcome the feedback.

As Charlie said ... Its a matter of personal taste.

I like the black muffler can and chrome tip look.

The stock ANSA exhausts were black with chrome tips. BTW, if you leave the sticker on, it will damage the chrome under it in a few years. My stock ANSAs did not have the red ring around the tips. Some folks have had the chrome damaged when having the muffler powder coated. Take care of those babies they are expense to replace!

Mike

Went out today and found the correct VHT heat proof primer designed for headers. They only black I was able to find was a matt black, no semigloss or satin available.

I've just come in from putting on the first coat of black, and it's too matt! No life in it.

I'm wondering about putting the clear over the top to try and lift it.

Also, what would you guys use for the red stripe? I wondered about 9mm wide car pinstriping wrapped around two times, but I have no idea what the heat will do to it?

I just pulled off my stock Ansa system to paint and detail it. I had a NOS "Mind Train?" exhaust system(I got with the Pantera when I bought it)so I put it on just for the heck of it. It has 4 small glass packs, and the tips go straight out instead of up. Fired up the engine and.........wow...talk about a wicked sound...really crackles and barks out the exhaust note!
Driving the car, I do think it picked up a couple ponies by the straight through design of the glass packs.

I've never found any high temp paints that stand up very well.

I used a product called Black Satin (BHK) you can spray at home from TechLine coatings. It's actually a ceramic coating. You need to media blast, mask, and then spray in a small paint gun. It air dries and cures fully under exhhaust heat. I was a bit skeptical at first but I must say after 5 years it has really held up amazingly well. Here's a recent picture.

http://www.techlinecoatings.co...-system-coatings.htm

Best,
Kelly

Rear shot

After having a good look through the product sheet from VHT, there is a very specific application and curing process applicable to the high temp ceramic coatings that they produce.

Also it's a three part process.

Bead blast and prime.
Flat coloured coating.
Finish with satin clear coat.

I managed to locate a tin of clear today so will apply this tomorrow and check back in with the results. A nice sunny 27 forecast for Thursday, so perfect for working on the Pantera.

ANyone have a clue to the high temperature 10mm red band on the original exhausts or how to replicate it?

Hi Robert,

As I recall, all the 'original' Ansa systems I got back in the day had the red band (actually reddish orange, matching the 'innner' reddish orange paint INSIDE the tips) were tape, and short-lived. They'd look good for about a year, the heat would distort, and the band would go away.

I paint the insides of my tips about once a year.

I'll do a search on high temp tapes on ebay.

But if you REALLY want to get tricky with the painting, the VHT hi-temperature red/orange with good masking would probably last longer.

I'm a total fan of the satin black, with the red/orange stripe.

Did a search and found this 'flame retardant' tape. All the 'high temperature' tapes were a copper color. This one is red, but wider so you'd have to cut it down.

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Pack-PVC...&hash=item3cabdbca7d

Best wishes. Let us know how this turns out!

The exhaust tips get hot enough at idle to melt 600F solder (found while building a garage exhaust system for winter testing). In actual flat-out driving, exhaust gasses from angled-up tips can melt your tail light lenses. Later straight-out tips are better in this regard. All the OEM red Ansa bands or decals say is, 'this car is not driven very hard or very often'....

I sprayed one of the rear mufflers with the VHT satin clear today, and I must say the results look great. Virtually the same finish as new. Still working on the red band, and as Jack says, maybe that will tell the wrong story as the car will be a daily driver in all weathers, and is likely to get a bit of a squirt now and then so exhaust tip temps will be an issue.

Is there a reason one could not use RED engine enamel, spray in in a container then apply it with a small paint brush in between 2 rows of tape creating a proper band?

My favorite brand of engine paint has been the Bill Hirsh product, but I guess any other manufacturer would do.

Denis

I recently had my headers installed wich were made by pat mical.I had to open up my ansas which were gutted and modified to suit the 3 inch collector.I have a standard set which have a flange on the rear for easy removal.The power differance is very noticeable.The standard ansas are very resrictive but the note they produce is a lot more quiet.Go to the web page to see photos of the gutted ansas,Click on gallery then my red GT5 www.bestmufflers.com.au

quote:

Originally posted by ozzie gt5:
I recently had my headers installed wich were made by pat mical.I had to open up my ansas which were gutted and modified to suit the 3 inch collector.I have a standard set which have a flange on the rear for easy removal.The power differance is very noticeable.The standard ansas are very resrictive but the note they produce is a lot more quiet.Go to the web page to see photos of the gutted ansas,Click on gallery then my red GT5 www.bestmufflers.com.au

Great stuff. Link directly to your car is here...

http://www.bestmufflers.com/bs...maso_pantera_gts.htm

I love the Pat Mical headers as well. My Ansas modded for the larger collector too. It's the best sounding exhaust I've ever heard. Biased of course, but RIGHT TOO!

Has anyone seen the clam shell GTS type muffler with a red ring from the factory? I’ve seen the coffee can type (71 cars) with red rings but not the GTS clam shell type that you are working with.

Mike