Cleaning Hooker Sidepipes (Chrome)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 751
Likes: 8
From: Escondido CA
Cleaning Hooker Sidepipes (Chrome)
Hello, folks,
I am ready to re-install my Hooker chrome headers and sidepipes on my 63.
I would like to clean them before installation. There is some blue-ing on the chrome - is there anything I can use to get rid of that? Also, there are a few spots where oil dripped onto the pipe and burned - any suggestions for cleaning that?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I am ready to re-install my Hooker chrome headers and sidepipes on my 63.
I would like to clean them before installation. There is some blue-ing on the chrome - is there anything I can use to get rid of that? Also, there are a few spots where oil dripped onto the pipe and burned - any suggestions for cleaning that?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 44
From: Penticton B.C. Canada
The stuff that removes blueing is a very abrasive polish that removes the chrome [clear] and polishes the blue off of the nickle plate that is under the chrome. The result will be an area that tarnishes easily. Your choice. The right thing to do is treat your good chrome like paint and use paint products on them. NEVER use chrome polish. Live with the blue, it gives character. If you have any chrome polish around throw it in the garbage now unless you have some rusty old truck bumpers to polish.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
00fxd, you could be right, like i said i've never used it. the harley guys say it works. but your arguement makes sense, with chrome that you see is the nickel plating under the chrome (the chrome is an invisible hard finish over the silver/nickel).
kbuhagair, why are your sidepipes blued anyway???
i have been running hooker header/sidepipes since the 70s on a highly modded engine and the only blueing/browning/discoloration i have experienced is within 6 inches of the heads. my sidepipes never had any blueing, they just developed rust pitting.
i.m restoring my 64 and just pulled the trigger for new chrome side pipes from summit ($330) they are just the chrome pipes, the trick is getting the baffles out of the old pipes...
kbuhagair, why are your sidepipes blued anyway???
i have been running hooker header/sidepipes since the 70s on a highly modded engine and the only blueing/browning/discoloration i have experienced is within 6 inches of the heads. my sidepipes never had any blueing, they just developed rust pitting.
i.m restoring my 64 and just pulled the trigger for new chrome side pipes from summit ($330) they are just the chrome pipes, the trick is getting the baffles out of the old pipes...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 751
Likes: 8
From: Escondido CA
kbuhagiar, why are your sidepipes blued anyway?
i have been running hooker header/sidepipes since the 70s on a highly modded engine and the only blueing/browning/discoloration i have experienced is within 6 inches of the heads. my sidepipes never had any blueing, they just developed rust pitting. thumbs:
i have been running hooker header/sidepipes since the 70s on a highly modded engine and the only blueing/browning/discoloration i have experienced is within 6 inches of the heads. my sidepipes never had any blueing, they just developed rust pitting. thumbs:
The bluing I have is similar to what you describe.
A bit of history is in order here; I purchased my car in 1984 and drove it for about 1 year / 3000 miles. It has been off the road, albeit in secure dry storage, since then.
The current condition of the headers & sidepipes are pretty much the same as when I bought the car. Besides the bluing, there is black crud covering the header pipes on both the passenger and driver side (which I'm assuming was caused by engine oil leaks).Surprisingly, the outside portions of the headers which hang off of the sides of the car, and the sidepipes themselves, are in remarkably good condition (see avatar). The chrome is still perfect with a great shine. Only the underhood portions of the headers need some serious chrome lovin'!
Being as how these pipes are over a quarter of a century old, and considering the price of new Hookers
, I guess should be thankful they're still in one piece...!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 13
From: Seattle area, WA (On the Eastside)
Hi Ken,
Since you mentioned both the headers AND the sidepipes, I'm assuming the "bluing" is actually on the underhood headers (I think that's what you reiterated). That is how mine are too, and I believe there's not much one can do about that while they're still on the car, short of spraying "chrome" spray to change how it looks. The dealer did that to a portion of my headers at the collectors and it did not look that good, so I steel wooled it off back to the oxidized finish. I've been told that I can re-chrome if there are no rust holes, and I may just do that if I get an exhaust leak sometime. I don't want to take things apart just for that at this time. Since yours are off, this may be the easiest opportunity to get it done. Good luck.
Carlos
PS Your two hole clutch rod rubber boot is still holding up on my car
Since you mentioned both the headers AND the sidepipes, I'm assuming the "bluing" is actually on the underhood headers (I think that's what you reiterated). That is how mine are too, and I believe there's not much one can do about that while they're still on the car, short of spraying "chrome" spray to change how it looks. The dealer did that to a portion of my headers at the collectors and it did not look that good, so I steel wooled it off back to the oxidized finish. I've been told that I can re-chrome if there are no rust holes, and I may just do that if I get an exhaust leak sometime. I don't want to take things apart just for that at this time. Since yours are off, this may be the easiest opportunity to get it done. Good luck.
Carlos
PS Your two hole clutch rod rubber boot is still holding up on my car
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 524
Likes: 12
From: Auckland New Zealand
Hello, folks,
I am ready to re-install my Hooker chrome headers and sidepipes on my 63.
I would like to clean them before installation. There is some blue-ing on the chrome - is there anything I can use to get rid of that? Also, there are a few spots where oil dripped onto the pipe and burned - any suggestions for cleaning that?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I am ready to re-install my Hooker chrome headers and sidepipes on my 63.
I would like to clean them before installation. There is some blue-ing on the chrome - is there anything I can use to get rid of that? Also, there are a few spots where oil dripped onto the pipe and burned - any suggestions for cleaning that?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
I see it's sold on Ebay
http://tinyurl.com/6p8oee
Came from UK originally I believe.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 9
From: Penobscot County Maine
[QUOTE=mechron;1567945848]
kbuhagair, why are your sidepipes blued anyway???
I have been told the heat from breaking in a new/rebuilt engine or if your carb is too lean it will blue the pipes.
Might want to check your A/F ratio.
Good Luck.
Larry
kbuhagair, why are your sidepipes blued anyway???
I have been told the heat from breaking in a new/rebuilt engine or if your carb is too lean it will blue the pipes.
Might want to check your A/F ratio.
Good Luck.
Larry
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,225
Likes: 44
From: Penticton B.C. Canada
[QUOTE=maroon67;1567952858]
Exactly 
Autosol is at the top of my list of abrasive Ghrome polishes, It'll take the blue off alright..........
Autosol is at the top of my list of abrasive Ghrome polishes, It'll take the blue off alright..........
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 172
From: Central Coast California
In The Old Days ......................when You got the New set of Chrome hooker header side pipes . We'd Spray VHT Paint on the inside of the virgin tubes. It worked fairly well to insulate the first 8". Eventually (year's of use) it would be a light Blue. Yea ....I'm no help in your case. 
