Stainless Steel Hooker Headers
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Stainless Steel Hooker Headers
What are the pros and cons on Stainless Hooker sidemount headers?Do they turn colors and if they do how far down from the block?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I put some stainless Edelbrock headers on my Durango because they were cheaper than chrome and show wasn't a huge issue for my Durango.
However, even being stainless, they corroded badly and look dark brown like rust.
However, even being stainless, they corroded badly and look dark brown like rust.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
The only spot that turned colors is the spot right before the sidepipe connection after I didn't drive the car for almost 2 months and it sat outside. Noting else happened. Different coatings are available.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
All stainless is not created equal....that ain't normal for quality pipes.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
There are two types of stainless used in exhaust systems.
409 stainless pipe is not shiny and will turn a brownish color in time. This isn't corrosion and doesn't mean the pipe is going bad. It's just the color they turn. These pipes cannot be buffed to a shiny finish.
304 stainless is commonly used for the shiny stuff on engines and sometimes exhaust headers. It polishes up like chrome using a buffing wheel. I believe it will also discolor under high temps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
There are two types of stainless used in exhaust systems.
409 stainless pipe is not shiny and will turn a brownish color in time. This isn't corrosion and doesn't mean the pipe is going bad. It's just the color they turn. These pipes cannot be buffed to a shiny finish.
304 stainless is commonly used for the shiny stuff on engines and sometimes exhaust headers. It polishes up like chrome using a buffing wheel. I believe it will also discolor under high temps.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 2
From: Flanders NJ
There are two types of stainless used in exhaust systems.
409 stainless pipe is not shiny and will turn a brownish color in time. This isn't corrosion and doesn't mean the pipe is going bad. It's just the color they turn. These pipes cannot be buffed to a shiny finish.
304 stainless is commonly used for the shiny stuff on engines and sometimes exhaust headers. It polishes up like chrome using a buffing wheel. I believe it will also discolor under high temps.
300 series stainless does not contain carbon and won't rust, it polishes up nice. Sometimes you get a bluing from extreme heat.
The Sterling Silver ceramic coating from "Jet Hot" looks great & stays that way. They plate the inside & outside.
Chrome is usually steel pipe with a chrome plating, they will rust from the inside or under the plating.
You can get your old pipes redone by Jet Hot, go to thier web site and you can get a quote.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
400 series stainless contains carbon (so it can be hardened) and will rust somewhat.
300 series stainless does not contain carbon and won't rust, it polishes up nice. Sometimes you get a bluing from extreme heat.
The Sterling Silver ceramic coating from "Jet Hot" looks great & stays that way. They plate the inside & outside.
Chrome is usually steel pipe with a chrome plating, they will rust from the inside or under the plating.
You can get your old pipes redone by Jet Hot, go to thier web site and you can get a quote.
300 series stainless does not contain carbon and won't rust, it polishes up nice. Sometimes you get a bluing from extreme heat.
The Sterling Silver ceramic coating from "Jet Hot" looks great & stays that way. They plate the inside & outside.
Chrome is usually steel pipe with a chrome plating, they will rust from the inside or under the plating.
You can get your old pipes redone by Jet Hot, go to thier web site and you can get a quote.
I beleive stainless also turns a bluish color when hot.I got my hookers from JetHot and had them ceramic coat them. They did a great job and were great to deal with. The pipes don't turn colors when hot, they help a bit with the heat. The sidepipes still get very hot but they cool extremely fast which I was shocked at. Within 10 minutes they are cool to the touch after a nice drive.
Ceramic coating is the way to go in my opinion. And JetHot does a fine job and will warantee their coating or coat anything you already have.
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From: NYC NY
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
The thing with stainless for me was heat, they heat up quick and retain it for some time.
I had the jet coat hedders and stainless tubes...the tubes would be hot long after the hedders where cool to the touch.
Nick
I had the jet coat hedders and stainless tubes...the tubes would be hot long after the hedders where cool to the touch.
Nick
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
The yellow can be polished out. Once rust starts in steel there is no stopping it. I've seen enough jet hot coated headers rust to know that steel, ceramic coated or not, is not the way to go if you plan on driving your care regualry.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
The next set is gunna' be stainless or not at all....
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
The slick sterling Jet-Hot finish is not forever either
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Don't get me wrong there's no flaking of the finish or such, but they do dull near the motor and rust is showing up between the primary tubes at the collector.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I plan on sending them for recoating if I ever see rust thru the ceramic coating. Check with JetHot on their coating warantee too. I think its one year or something like that. It all depends on how diligent the guy coating them was that day when he did yours...could last forever, could have done a shotty job and rust will appear in 3 months. Its a gamble but if done properly you won't be dissapointed with the ceramic coating from jethot. I'm not.
