The 3000 pipe had a dull gray look and, after the recent engine work for a leaking exhaust manifold, a few greasy fingerprints as well.  I would love to have it powder coated, but I plan to replace it eventually with hard lines.  I also needed to come up with some type of new isolators.  My stock ones had eroded away to nothing.  I guess the isolators keep the engine heat from transferring directly to the 3000 pipe.

Initially I polished the pipe and thought it looked quite nice.  Unfortunately, I was not going to be able to get the intake and other aluminum parts to match, so I just painted it with aluminum paint.  I found some metal washers that are slightly dome shaped and have rubber on one side at Home Depot.  I threaded one of these onto a mounting bolt, placed it through the 3000 pipe and then threaded on the other.  I ended up having the two metal domes sides facing away from each other.

1- Not too bad.  Normally the removal of this pipe is way more complicated than it seems like it should be, but I already had it out.  Polishing it up was simple since its a uncomplicated shape.

1- No problems. 

The payoff here may be only aesthetic, but it is one of the first thing the eyes see when opening the hood.  It is nice having it perfect again.  I'm sure the isolators don't do much to the performance of the engine, but at less than 50 cents, they can't hurt.

I know the stock isolator was specially shaped to fit into the larger holes on th epipe, but I'm sure it cost more than what I replaced it with.  Either way, with my engine build the 3000 pipe will eventually go away all together.

The isolators aren't really an upgrade but they are better than the ate up, brittle old ones.