Water Rails

[scotty_d]

My water pipes are looking tatty so my OCD has kicked in and i need to paint them. i would love stainless ones but my budget cant Stretch this year more important thing needed first.

My question is, Are there any issues to look out for before i unbolt them from the block? and what about the gaskets or seals too any trick of the trade or stuff to look out for?

[jammy_basturd]

The only 'gaskets' that are used are rubber O-rings. Depending on when they were last replaced (or if they are originals), you may want to replace the rubber hoses that run around the back of the engine to the coolant reservoir, since they sit right above the exhaust manifolds mine were quite perish when I took them off. Also, make sure you have a decent hex bit to undo the bolts (I had to use a breaker bar too), wouldn't want to round off one of those bolts!

I actually found my water manifolds to be in much worse condition than the rails (though there was a tiny bit of rust where the big rubber hose connect down the front of the engine - since water can collect between the hose and rail).

[Ireland]

I'm pretty sure R8nan off here polished the original steel rails on his engine and sealed them with some sort of lacquer or other.

Might be worth checking with him exactly what he did because they look the business (as does the rest of his Cerb).