Rusty downpipes.Is painting the answer?

[teriyakimonkey]

Got a '97 Tranny and am doing it up. I bought it off a neighbour that was letting it rot. Tonight I took the exhaust of, got rid of any loose rust and crud and have painted it with hammerite heatproof paint. Looking nice! Can I do this to the downpipes too and if so should I bring them back to bare metal if I do? Would I need to get new exhasut gaskets?

Any help appreciated.

I'm quite happy tonight after looking up the book price of the bike!

[Rubberchicken]

You absolutely need new exhaust gaskets.

I've painted the downpipes on the dommie with 800 degree heatproof exhaust paint, and it stuck around for all of a week or so, then it was back to being coffee coloured...