What to do about my headers? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**PRattenbury** · 05-03-2011, 09:11 PM

So a year or so ago when I had my engine apart I cleaned up my headers and shot them with silver header paint. But they didn't look good for very long. I guess the paint didn't stick very well and eventually started to flake off. So now the engine is out again, and the headers look like doo doo. Is there anything I can do with these things to keep them looking decent for a while? I am reluctant to change them for new ones because I'll cause myself more exhaust work. And new (good) headers are not cheap.

1BadSS · 05-03-2011, 09:49 PM

Get the right ceramic paint and cook them in an oven for an hour or two at 400* after painting them to properly cure them.

Pop's C-10 · 05-03-2011, 09:52 PM

BBQ grill paint

**PRattenbury** · 05-03-2011, 09:52 PM

Who has the right ceramic paint?

1BadSS · 05-03-2011, 09:58 PM

http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/exha...mic-paint.html

**N2TRUX** · 05-03-2011, 10:03 PM

The best solution is to have the coated with a high temp ceramic coating. If thats not in your budget, bead blasting and spray bomb them with a premium high temp ceramic paint will work.

Oven baking is a great idea.

f.monroe · 05-03-2011, 10:38 PM

I used to paint every header I installed white . loved the way they stood out under the vehicle when viewed from the side . I sanded them down , painted them with VHT High Temp paint and heat cycled the headers several times to basically bake the paint . I would run the engine until the headers heated up and kill it . Let it cool and run it again a little longer and kill it again until they cooled down . Headers will cool fast . I did this several times then finally drove it normally . They would stay white for a long time and I only had to crawl under the truck and touch up the bottom of the headers on occasion . The top of the headers kept the paint for a long time .
Frank

76stepsidechevy · 05-04-2011, 09:29 AM

That VHT header paint actually works well if you follow the instrustions, it can be baked in an oven or you can heat cycle the headers like frank said.

**PRattenbury** · 05-04-2011, 05:53 PM

The powder coater I have used here locally in the past does ceramic coating. Maybe I'll ask him what he charges to sandblast and ceramic coat my headers.

makman1297 · 05-04-2011, 06:51 PM

TECH LINE COATINGS, INC, black satin header coating work very well, you need an airgun to apply it. I used it on my wifes motorcycle header pipe, which is a single layer pipe like a truck header over 3 years ago and has not flaked, baked, or fallen off. You just need to blast the pipe with glass bead first i believe, then spray on a thin coat, and install. I will scratch off if hit hard enough like your cars paint.

jrcaprai · 05-04-2011, 06:54 PM

http://www.jet-hot.com/

http://www.performancecoatings.com/index2.html

3r!c84 · 05-04-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrcaprai

http://www.jet-hot.com/

here is mine jethot coated about 2 years ago.

**PRattenbury** · 05-04-2011, 07:42 PM

That's the same color I'm trying to keep my headers. Those look good.

DetroitDan · 05-04-2011, 10:46 PM

I bought some silver brush-on stuff from Eastwood years ago. Never got to use it, sold the 66 Caprice I bought it for. Think I've still got it somewhere but I dont know. Anyway I bought it because it sounded like it would work well. I never had much luck with anything out of an aerosol can.

my4by2 · 05-04-2011, 11:06 PM

Having them ceramic coated at a powder coater is not really that expensive a process & will last the life of the headers most likely. It'll be well worth too in order to reduce the under hood temps!!! None of the spray can coatings will be able to do this as efficiently...

*72lb4x4* · 05-05-2011, 12:53 AM

I haven't done it. Just throwing it out there...

"Anti Seize as a header coating. PICS"

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187500

y5mgisi · 05-05-2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

I haven't done it. Just throwing it out there...

"Anti Seize as a header coating. PICS"

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187500

Holly Geesh! How the F have we not yet been introduced to that!

sumran · 05-05-2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

I haven't done it. Just throwing it out there...

"Anti Seize as a header coating. PICS"

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187500

I use it on the exhaust nuts for my motorcycle. It stays in place until the next time I remove the nuts. It doesnt look that good, but I guess it is better than rust. It is dull. Looks like dried mud that is aluminum colored.

wyattglock · 05-05-2011, 09:47 AM

These guys did a friend of mine's headers and they turned out great. They can coat the inside and outside of the headers to improve flow and heat dissipation. Their prices arent bad either, but I know shipping could kill you unless you find someone local.

here is their site if you want to check them out.
www.prokoteindy.com

**PRattenbury** · 05-11-2011, 07:50 PM

Well, I dropped the headers off for ceramic coating today at lunch. We shall see what we shall see.

05-03-2011, 09:11 PM	#1
PRattenbury Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maumelle, AR Posts: 478	What to do about my headers? So a year or so ago when I had my engine apart I cleaned up my headers and shot them with silver header paint. But they didn't look good for very long. I guess the paint didn't stick very well and eventually started to flake off. So now the engine is out again, and the headers look like doo doo. Is there anything I can do with these things to keep them looking decent for a while? I am reluctant to change them for new ones because I'll cause myself more exhaust work. And new (good) headers are not cheap.

05-03-2011, 09:49 PM	#2
1BadSS NOT REALLY BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 1,072	Re: What to do about my headers? Get the right ceramic paint and cook them in an oven for an hour or two at 400* after painting them to properly cure them. __________________ 1987 Mustang Coupe - 2.7 Stroker, 78mm turbo, Stainless header, 3" Exh, FMIC, 160lb/hr Injectors, MS3, twin walbro 255's, 34psi. Eating V8's daily. 04 Pontiac GTO 04 Ford Mustang GT 68 C20 LWB stripper truck 73 K5 Cheyenne 76 C20 Sierra Crew SRW 88 K20 Suburban I'm not hammering on metal just to hammer, i'm creating a piece of art.

05-03-2011, 09:52 PM	#3
Pop's C-10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: memphis Posts: 2,537	Re: What to do about my headers? BBQ grill paint __________________ 1981 C-10 (Pop's) 1978 Camaro 2006 Lacrosse

05-03-2011, 09:52 PM	#4
PRattenbury Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maumelle, AR Posts: 478	Re: What to do about my headers? Who has the right ceramic paint?

05-03-2011, 09:58 PM	#5
1BadSS NOT REALLY BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 1,072	Re: What to do about my headers? http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/exha...mic-paint.html __________________ 1987 Mustang Coupe - 2.7 Stroker, 78mm turbo, Stainless header, 3" Exh, FMIC, 160lb/hr Injectors, MS3, twin walbro 255's, 34psi. Eating V8's daily. 04 Pontiac GTO 04 Ford Mustang GT 68 C20 LWB stripper truck 73 K5 Cheyenne 76 C20 Sierra Crew SRW 88 K20 Suburban I'm not hammering on metal just to hammer, i'm creating a piece of art.

05-03-2011, 10:03 PM	#6
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: What to do about my headers? The best solution is to have the coated with a high temp ceramic coating. If thats not in your budget, bead blasting and spray bomb them with a premium high temp ceramic paint will work. Oven baking is a great idea. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

05-03-2011, 10:38 PM	#7
f.monroe Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Caldwell,Tx. Posts: 3,648	Re: What to do about my headers? I used to paint every header I installed white . loved the way they stood out under the vehicle when viewed from the side . I sanded them down , painted them with VHT High Temp paint and heat cycled the headers several times to basically bake the paint . I would run the engine until the headers heated up and kill it . Let it cool and run it again a little longer and kill it again until they cooled down . Headers will cool fast . I did this several times then finally drove it normally . They would stay white for a long time and I only had to crawl under the truck and touch up the bottom of the headers on occasion . The top of the headers kept the paint for a long time . Frank __________________ Born and proudly residing in a Red State !

05-04-2011, 09:29 AM	#8
76stepsidechevy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Windsor Locks Posts: 628	Re: What to do about my headers? That VHT header paint actually works well if you follow the instrustions, it can be baked in an oven or you can heat cycle the headers like frank said.

05-04-2011, 05:53 PM	#9
PRattenbury Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maumelle, AR Posts: 478	Re: What to do about my headers? The powder coater I have used here locally in the past does ceramic coating. Maybe I'll ask him what he charges to sandblast and ceramic coat my headers.

05-04-2011, 06:51 PM	#10
makman1297 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 583	Re: What to do about my headers? TECH LINE COATINGS, INC, black satin header coating work very well, you need an airgun to apply it. I used it on my wifes motorcycle header pipe, which is a single layer pipe like a truck header over 3 years ago and has not flaked, baked, or fallen off. You just need to blast the pipe with glass bead first i believe, then spray on a thin coat, and install. I will scratch off if hit hard enough like your cars paint.

05-04-2011, 06:54 PM	#11
jrcaprai Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 365	Re: What to do about my headers? http://www.jet-hot.com/ http://www.performancecoatings.com/index2.html

05-04-2011, 07:42 PM	#13
PRattenbury Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maumelle, AR Posts: 478	Re: What to do about my headers? That's the same color I'm trying to keep my headers. Those look good.

05-04-2011, 10:46 PM	#14
DetroitDan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Epping, NH Posts: 605	Re: What to do about my headers? I bought some silver brush-on stuff from Eastwood years ago. Never got to use it, sold the 66 Caprice I bought it for. Think I've still got it somewhere but I dont know. Anyway I bought it because it sounded like it would work well. I never had much luck with anything out of an aerosol can. __________________ 1982 Chevy K30 CCLB fleetside. Formerly a cab and chassis, now a fleetside dually with the rear wheels tucked underneath. 454/th400/np205/C14/D60, 6/4 inch LIFT, not drop.

05-04-2011, 11:06 PM	#15
my4by2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Hot Springs, AR. Posts: 1,215	Re: What to do about my headers? Having them ceramic coated at a powder coater is not really that expensive a process & will last the life of the headers most likely. It'll be well worth too in order to reduce the under hood temps!!! None of the spray can coatings will be able to do this as efficiently... __________________ 1977 Chevrolet K30 LWB Crew Cab 497HP Mast Motorsports 6.0L LY6 HO engine GM NV4500 5-speed, Centerforce clutch + NP205 D60 + 14-bolt FF w/ Eaton posi + disc brakes Skyjacker 2.5" full spring lift w/ Nitro shocks Custom paint + interior http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=435722

05-05-2011, 12:53 AM	#16
72lb4x4 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 1,427	Re: What to do about my headers? I haven't done it. Just throwing it out there... "Anti Seize as a header coating. PICS" http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187500



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05-05-2011, 09:47 AM	#19
wyattglock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 622	Re: What to do about my headers? These guys did a friend of mine's headers and they turned out great. They can coat the inside and outside of the headers to improve flow and heat dissipation. Their prices arent bad either, but I know shipping could kill you unless you find someone local. here is their site if you want to check them out. www.prokoteindy.com Last edited by wyattglock; 05-05-2011 at 09:47 AM.

05-11-2011, 07:50 PM	#20
PRattenbury Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maumelle, AR Posts: 478	Re: What to do about my headers? Well, I dropped the headers off for ceramic coating today at lunch. We shall see what we shall see.

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