Stock exhaust on 99 4.0. A local company offers powder coating and high heat ceramic coatings, which would be better for stock exhaust?

 

The one with the higher temperature rating. The powder coatings I've seen are for lawn furniture.
Are you finishing this system for show or daily driving?

 

She'll just be a daily driver but I may set her up at some small local shows. My goal for a coating is rust prevention. And can a block and heads be coated or is the only option to paint them?

Got a response from the business. Sandblast is $50/hr. They don't powder coat exhaust cause they said it won't hold up to the heat very long. Ceramic is $25/ft. So I probably need to measure each section of the exhaust to get that estimate.

Did reply to them and ask about ceramic for block & heads or at least blasting them for hi-temp paint.

 

Is the engine apart? Every job is about preparation. Is this work rusted?
Blasting is pretty severe prep work and likely cannot be done with the engine in the vehicle without tremendous added expense (masking, runoff troughs).
Also, today's engines are so covered with hoses and brackets, you don't see as much iron as you used to.
Engine painting might be your best route. Ha, what was the 4.0 OHV engine's color?

Years ago, a pal had some aluminum paint. It must've been aluminum powder in some paint solution.
He painted his tractors' exhaust with the stuff, and they looked great for years.
This was not plain paint and could be your salvation IF it's still made.
There used to be a "cold zinc" application too.

Best of luck.

Once I saw a show car engine which had been chrome plated. The owner told me the plating retained heat and that he had to plead with chrome shops to take the job.

 

Engine is currently partially apart but will be totally disassembled and removed from the truck. Heads are gonna be tested to make sure no cracks and I want to see if the same place can test the block too. How many cans of engine paint would block and heads require? I know where I can get maybe 3 spray cans of the old Ford blue engine paint.

 

Three 9-11 oz. cans should do it. Avoid ancient cans as spray valves go bad with time.