Bought some cheap headers...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
Bought some cheap headers...
Hey everyone
I bought a cheap set of headers for € 30 yesterday.
They are Hooker competition longtube headers. #2456
I think they will fit my engine...
Here is a link:
https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...r/applications
They have some rust, but not so bad I think.
The only problem is that there is a small hole (about 1 mm dia.).
I know someone who would weld it for free, but is it worth it, and is it possible?
I've read from a lot of guys on the forum, that uncoated headers are hot as hell. What is the best 'ceramic' paint out here (Europe)?
I know they won't survive for a lot of years, but I'm going to use them as a test, because I never installed headers on my '77 Corvette and I want to see, hear and feel what they 'give' to my car.
If I don't like them I just replace them again with my original manifolds.
Here are some photo's:
I bought a cheap set of headers for € 30 yesterday.
They are Hooker competition longtube headers. #2456
I think they will fit my engine...
Here is a link:
https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...r/applications
They have some rust, but not so bad I think.
The only problem is that there is a small hole (about 1 mm dia.).
I know someone who would weld it for free, but is it worth it, and is it possible?
I've read from a lot of guys on the forum, that uncoated headers are hot as hell. What is the best 'ceramic' paint out here (Europe)?
I know they won't survive for a lot of years, but I'm going to use them as a test, because I never installed headers on my '77 Corvette and I want to see, hear and feel what they 'give' to my car.
If I don't like them I just replace them again with my original manifolds.
Here are some photo's:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Hello,
I have that set of headers on my car. They are easy to install and fit great.
Imo I would not spend any money on that set of headers. Coat a new set of headers and be done with it. Those headers will continue to rust in other areas than the hole. They rust from the inside also.
Don't buy a new set of coated Hooker Headers. Their coating sucks.
I have that set of headers on my car. They are easy to install and fit great.
Imo I would not spend any money on that set of headers. Coat a new set of headers and be done with it. Those headers will continue to rust in other areas than the hole. They rust from the inside also.
Don't buy a new set of coated Hooker Headers. Their coating sucks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
If all you want is to try out headers on your car and you paid very little for those headers, great idea! If you are good with running headers, buy a good set with a quality coating or do what I did, buy Stainless Steel headers and have them coated locally in BE
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 252
The only problem is that there is a small hole (about 1 mm dia.).
I know someone who would weld it for free, but is it worth it, and is it possible?
I know someone who would weld it for free, but is it worth it, and is it possible?
You could also try some high temp epoxy instead. I put some 3500F epoxy on a cracked header years ago and still holding up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
The way that pin hole faces, towards either the starter or close to the oil filter, I think you should patch it first. Afterwards, rub the set down with steelwool. Then see if VHT (very high temp) paint company has a primer to spray on those, then a final coat. I believe
VHT has a color called ceramic silver that would work well for you if available in Europe.
VHT has a color called ceramic silver that would work well for you if available in Europe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
I would fix the hole, then there is a paste you can put on exhaust manifolds, turns it black, or just clean them up and then paint them with header paint. This would allow you to save up and buy a new set if you like them. You do know that you are going to have to change the exhaust pipes to fit the headers, don't you?? Add your country to your avatar, so we know where you live.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
I agree with what most have already said. For all the more you paid for the headers I would patch the hole and spray them with some high temp spray paint and run them. I have hooker headers and side pipes that I painted with high temp black (2000 degree I believe) and it holds up very nicely I feel.
Last edited by bence13_33; Jan 20, 2018 at 01:32 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'll add-- media blast them GENTLY! Hit them with anything aggressive and they'll look like swiss cheese. Header tubes are thin to start with. If nothing else shows up, patch that hole and hit them with some hi temp paint. If you like them, then go after a set of Jet-Hot coated ones.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
After that I will paint them with a high temp paint. I've looked on the internet, and there are a lot of products available.
You guys suggested 'VHT'.
I've also found 'Por-15 High temp', is that any good?
https://www.por15.com/POR-15-High-Temp_p_104.html
Are there other good ones?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
As stated above that is just the first of other holes to develop. If you get the welding for free go for it and try, but those headers are not long for this world. Depending on how much you drive and how damp your garage is maybe a season or two.
You could also try some high temp epoxy instead. I put some 3500F epoxy on a cracked header years ago and still holding up.
You could also try some high temp epoxy instead. I put some 3500F epoxy on a cracked header years ago and still holding up.
When I don't drive it, it's in a bone-dry garage.
Would it rust that quickly after I sand blasted and painted them?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Okay, I'm going to sand blast them gently, weld them and see what it gives...
After that I will paint them with a high temp paint. I've looked on the internet, and there are a lot of products available.
You guys suggested 'VHT'.
I've also found 'Por-15 High temp', is that any good?
https://www.por15.com/POR-15-High-Temp_p_104.html
Are there other good ones?
After that I will paint them with a high temp paint. I've looked on the internet, and there are a lot of products available.
You guys suggested 'VHT'.
I've also found 'Por-15 High temp', is that any good?
https://www.por15.com/POR-15-High-Temp_p_104.html
Are there other good ones?
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 21, 2018 at 10:11 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 529
Likes: 113
From: Texas
Yep, Stainless is the way to go...Mine are wrapped to keep the heat down...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jan 21, 2018 at 11:46 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 970
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
The coating is definitely ceramic, trust me, it has a textured finish (almost a rough feel) and is thick, not like paint. It was baked in a oven for final curing and definitely reduced the heat from the header a LOT. The overspray was from the muffler shop on the weld connecting the header reducer to the 2.5 inch pipe. And yes, that bolt was left loose by the muffler shop and was corrected by me.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jan 21, 2018 at 05:06 PM.