Just a simple little DIY for those that might want to do the same. Always thought the large shiny exhaust cans took away from the look rather than enhancing it. Tools needed are a green 3m scotchbrite pad, Isopropyl Alcohol, painters tape, RustoLeum High Heat BBQ Black spray paint (2 cans), rags, and I highly recommend the 3M Paint Defender spray handle (especially if your hands are old and tired like mine )
These are available on Amazon or Autozone for about $6-7, great for any standard spraypaint can, makes the spraying 10x easier and better.
They make the RustoLeum High heat paint in a gloss black too but in my experience matte finishes tend to bond better and hold up better over time, especially to a shiny surface like stainless steel.

Start by cleaning areas to paint w/ soapy water, dry, then sand down everything w/ the Scotchbrite pad. Be sure to sand any rust deposits and road grime down to the original shine.

If you have a workmate these make great paint stands as they'll secure the pipes and you can keep the cans elevated a bit so you can get full spray coverage. If not, you'll have to wire them to a fence post or other method to secure them and keep them so you can get paint all around the cans.

Once you have your pipes secure give them a good rub down w/ Rubbing Alcohol, let dry then you're ready to paint. I started at the back of the cans where the tip is. Get every angle and every edge w/ about 3-4 coats, you'll be using entire spray can per exhaust can. Then do the can sides w/ a light coat followed by 3-4 heavy coats, just keep going around until you run out of paint, I think I got 4-5 full coats on.

Let dry for about 4 hours then install.

A big shout out to Soundmike for sharing the details and the paint he use

I'll post the installed pics in the next box this afternoon.

For those that have asked how the TopSpeed exhaust has done regarding rust, I've had no issues, even the mid pipe is clean, welds have darkened but no rust is prevalent

 

Ok, here's a before & after, gotta say this is probably the best $10 I've ever spent
John, I may go further up the pipe, especially if I have any touch-ups down the road, so far I'm happy w/ the look but the back end of those tips is tougher to keep clean so we'll see.
Oh, and a couple shots of my new rotors, what the hell

 

looking forward to installed pics...I have considered this for my stillen. Like the shiny cans, but I think subtle would be a cleaner look.

 

Thanks for another great post BL! I will probably do this to my cans when I get my Fast Intentions cat back.

 

Hmm... flat black? Looking forward to seeing the before/after comparison photos.

I bet you toyed with the idea of painting black that 1.5" extension from the flat of the can to the flared tips.

 

stealthy look!

 

love it. one of the thing i hate about aftermarket exhaust is the shiney cans. looks too tacky to me.

 

install pics are up in post #2

 

First impressions. When viewed in the shadows, it looks much better black than shiny, because it doesn't call attention to the cans. However, when you're actually looking at the cans, I prefer to see them polished.

So I'm not convinced one approach is preferable over the other. From my own POV, since I have the OEM cans, I don't want to see them ever. (Yuck) But on my last car, I had a quality, stainless steel muffler that I liked keeping all nice an shiny.

Very nice. Small, too, and looking small because of the big open rims... but super clean looking nonetheless.

You clearly have the best looking, non-BBK brake setup on the forum.

 

much better. This is how aftermarket exhausts should come from the factory.

now you have me wanting new fancy rotors.

 

Thanks John, appreciate your honest opinions as always (well almost always )
I think if I had a lighter color G or retained some of the chrome accents the shiny polished exhaust cans would compliment the car more, but w/ my current de-chromed look along w/ the carbon wrap valance it looks much better and accentuates the tips rather than the cans. Thanks for the brake kudos, I'm happy w/ the look but better yet, the stoptech pads have been a nice improvement as well

 

Thanks a lot Bat, and as far as the rotors they're pretty cheap, to be honest I mainly got them for the looks but they do get good reviews from all I've read. Here's a link to them
https://www.myg37.com/forums/brakes-...mance-com.html

 

Yep. I would agree with that assessment. Well thought out, Newt.


LOL. Sorry about that, buddy. If you think I'm bad online, you should watch what happens when one of my girls asks my opinion on something. It can be brutal if it's not the opinion they want.

Tough love, baby.

 

are the rotors fully drilled or just dimpled?

 

Looks great, I really like the painted cans. The rotors also look much nicer than the old stock ones with those rims. I think your G is one of my favorite 09's I've seen, I usually don't like blacked out cars, but all the details you put into yours work nicely.

I'm really on the fence about doing any sort of exhaust mod, I had a corsa catback on my last vehicle and it drove me crazy with the resonance while driving under load (West Austin is nothing but hills). I'd love to find someone local to ride along with to make sure I could live with it. I wish there were more variable exhausts out there (flip a switch to open it up when you want, flip it back to quietly cruise).