Hooker Coated Rusting ??
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 842
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
Hooker Coated Rusting ??
I have hooker cerm. coated headers and side pipes. 4 months old, 3 month since install.
I see rust coming through??
Is this normal?? If so how to clean?, Paint? ???????
I see rust coming through??
Is this normal?? If so how to clean?, Paint? ???????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
if u bought them thru summit i hear thats quite common. if there jet hot coated & bought them thru jet hot then send em back & they'll recoat them free of charge. it sux bigtime either way.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 7
From: In the shop most of the time,,, And it BEER TIME somewhere
I was told by one of the header places, that you should never do a cam/engine break in with coated headers. It will get them too hot and cause them to have some rust later. I found this out after I did a break in. Now my big blick headers have just a small anount of rust starting on them. But that is after 2 years of use.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I remember a big post about this within the last six months.
Some said it was common...some said they have gone years without rust showing.
Jet-hot is suppose to coat both the inside and outside with the ceramic coating which helps with both heat and prevents rust. Don't know if the summit headers are coated on the inside, not that your brand new headers should have rusted thru already. Also, if they do a shioty job of coating there could be small airbubles/holes that allow the air and moisture to reach the metal. Either way I would call whomever you got them and complain.
If it was Jet-Hot which i hope it wasn't, complain and send them back and tell them they have to do a top notch job this time b/c shipping alone will be pricey and on your dime.
Good luck!
Some said it was common...some said they have gone years without rust showing.
Jet-hot is suppose to coat both the inside and outside with the ceramic coating which helps with both heat and prevents rust. Don't know if the summit headers are coated on the inside, not that your brand new headers should have rusted thru already. Also, if they do a shioty job of coating there could be small airbubles/holes that allow the air and moisture to reach the metal. Either way I would call whomever you got them and complain.
If it was Jet-Hot which i hope it wasn't, complain and send them back and tell them they have to do a top notch job this time b/c shipping alone will be pricey and on your dime.
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I was told by one of the header places, that you should never do a cam/engine break in with coated headers. It will get them too hot and cause them to have some rust later. I found this out after I did a break in. Now my big blick headers have just a small anount of rust starting on them. But that is after 2 years of use.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,928
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Here's a set off a '69 BB that saw frequent street use. Hooker factory ceramic coating. This is after 1 year. 
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 81
From: Nashville, TN
If that picture if after one year you got hosed, I have had mine on for 2 years and am showing a little surface rust right before the collector but I use one of my old army wire tooth brushes for cleaning M-16's to get it. Other then that mine are clean. They have a one year coating warranty from Hooker.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Factory header coatings are junk, no matter what they say. Never seen a set that didn't rust, even the chrome ones that were kept clean, and it's pretty much all brands. In my experience (years), only the Stahls had decent paint or other coatings, and you pay for it. No experience with Jet Hot, but I think they gaurantee against that. Good luck.
Hans
Hans
Thread Starter
HOOK-EM HORNS
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,517
Likes: 842
From: Port Aransas, Texas Tx
St. Jude Donor '08
From what I have see in pics on the forum, the next headers and side pipes I get will be STAINLESS period. Summit just sent me a message, 90 day warranty from them so I am screwed there and they are telling me to contack HOOKER. Contacting them today. Will let you all know.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,943
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From: Rosemount MN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
From what I have see in pics on the forum, the next headers and side pipes I get will be STAINLESS period. Summit just sent me a message, 90 day warranty from them so I am screwed there and they are telling me to contack HOOKER. Contacting them today. Will let you all know.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo New York
I was told by one of the header places, that you should never do a cam/engine break in with coated headers. It will get them too hot and cause them to have some rust later. I found this out after I did a break in. Now my big blick headers have just a small anount of rust starting on them. But that is after 2 years of use.
The headers already look worse than the ones jughead posted.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
My fix
When I freshened up my BOSS 302, the Hooker super comps I had on it (purchased new) were pretty rusty, at least for California. I put them in the industrial strength washer I have here at work, used those green 3M pads on them after that, wash again, then painted them with Dupli-Color 1200 degree black ceramic rattle-can paint. I've got about 20k/3 years on the engine now and they still look OK, but not perfect. Sure work well, though!
Hans
Hans
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
This was my biggest problem on startup and break-in. The headers were glowing and peeling right away. Something flameable must have gotten stuck between the pipes where they merge and it caught on fire. As if I didn't have enough to worry about keeping an eye on the engine...I was putting out a fire with the car was running...ugh...
The headers already look worse than the ones jughead posted.
The headers already look worse than the ones jughead posted.
If jughead's are what I can expect then why bother with the factory coatings? I could just buy cheaper, uncoated headers & expect them to rust. At least I wouldn't be disappointed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
I think the standard warranty on coatings if you have them coated after you buy them is 3 years. My Super Comps are out for coating right now. I can't wait to get them back to see how they will look.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
I went out to Jet-Hot's site & it seems they have a limited lifetime warranty on their Sterling coating, however I can't seem to locate their definition of 'Limited Lifetime'. Anyone with the Sterling coating - what does the warranty paperwork state?
I am also thinking about the Jet-Hot 2000 coating, higher temp rating & black color might be nice also since my engine compartment will be mainly black & aluminum anyway.
I am also thinking about the Jet-Hot 2000 coating, higher temp rating & black color might be nice also since my engine compartment will be mainly black & aluminum anyway.
