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I picked up a set of used long tube headers. They are like new in the sense they were never really ran on a car. But they are scrateched up from being shuffled around a garage for years. They appear to be ceramic coated ( will post pics this evening ). Has anyone painted headers with any success?
Last edited by The Punisher; Apr 29, 2020 at 07:27 AM.
I painted mine last summer using VHT flameproof Paint. They are holding up ok. You have to make sure you follow the curing instructions on the can to get a decent result. I don't think the paint will hold up forever but seems to be working for now.
I painted mine last summer using VHT flameproof Paint. They are holding up ok. You have to make sure you follow the curing instructions on the can to get a decent result. I don't think the paint will hold up forever but seems to be working for now.
did you primer them first. How many cans of paint did you need ?
i've had the same headers on my car for over 30 years. the first few years i painted them wirh VHT but after driving them all summer and sitting in the garage all winter they would have rust on them every year. finally i took them to a company here local that was coating engine parts for NASCAR teams and had them put their thermal barrier coating on them. wasn't cheap - around $280.00 at the time but no rust ever since. 25 plus years. paints may be better now for all i know.
I too had some scars when attaching (drivers side) headers. I consider VHT silver ceramic coat a "touch-up", cosmetic paint.
It works, it looks good but does not have the durability, longevity from scuff marks or any rust proofing.
A few years back I checked into having the headers recoated with ceramic. With shipping both directions, labor and materials, its was about 75% of the cost of new headers. Ridiculous.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Apr 27, 2020 at 02:55 PM.
Forget paints...have them ceramic coated locally...these were done 4 years ago and still look perfect: $200 for the pair, XS Power LTH 1 7/8 inch primaries......SBC L-82 355
Last edited by jb78L-82; Apr 27, 2020 at 07:34 PM.
To me, that looks like VHT paint, which has a dull, flat finish. A true ceramic coating like brand new ceramic coated headers, right out of the box have a sheen to them. Or a semi-gloss.
And to have them done locally? Only near huge cities. The rest of us have to ship. They are heavy. They need huge boxes $$$$$$$$
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Apr 27, 2020 at 07:39 PM.
To me, that looks like VHT paint, which has a dull, flat finish. A true ceramic coating like brand new ceramic coated headers, right out of the box have a sheen to them. Or a semi-gloss.
And to have them done locally? Only near huge cities. The rest of us have to ship. They are heavy. They need huge boxes $$$$$$$$
Ok you have made the same comment twice ^^^^before, SO let's put this ambiguity to rest.
It is NOT a PAINT, by any stretch! I witnessed the ceramic coated fresh, liquid, come from the industrial ceramic coating's can before it was applied and baked on in industrial ovens for several hours!
The finish is super durable, does not scratch, peel, flake or discolor. The finish is more like a medium sandpaper powdercoated to the metal. Most importantly, after 4 years, it has not discolored, rusted and there is a dramatic reduction in underhood heat from these ceramic coated headers and, yes, done locally.....in the tiny littlest state of RI....no HUGH city.....a small solo business owner with a single industrial oven using industrial coatings to protect all type of metals. They are out there....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Apr 27, 2020 at 08:21 PM.
I've never had any header paint that lasted over 2 years........but my ceramic coating has lasted over 10 (and still going strong). My personal advice, get the ceramic coating. Put the headers in a box, ship them to Jet Hot, CermaKrome, or your choice of vendor. Buy once, cry once, on the cost. It will likely last the life of the car.
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
I use Cerakote C-7700 Glacier Silver on my headers and they look as good as the day I did them which was about 3-4 years ago, they do not discolor. These are old headers to boot. I sand blasted them first and If you have a spray gun, you can do it your self or just buy a cheap Harbor Freight gun and do it. I used about a half a bottle to do mine.14oz(ish) bottle. Make sure you prep them good. Cerakote is a tough coating and they also use it on firearms.
Ok you have made the same comment twice ^^^^before, SO let's put this ambiguity to rest.
It is NOT a PAINT, by any stretch! I witnessed the ceramic coated fresh, liquid, come from the industrial ceramic coating's can before it was applied and baked on in industrial ovens for several hours!
The finish is super durable, does not scratch, peel, flake or discolor. The finish is more like a medium sandpaper powdercoated to the metal. Most importantly, after 4 years, it has not discolored, rusted and there is a dramatic reduction in underhood heat from these ceramic coated headers and, yes, done locally.....in the tiny littlest state of RI....no HUGH city.....a small solo business owner with a single industrial oven using industrial coatings to protect all type of metals. They are out there....
Good for you. But not everybody has access to a ceramic coating shop within a couple hundred miles.
And tighten up that collector bolt, will ya?
I use Cerakote C-7700 Glacier Silver on my headers and they look as good as the day I did them which was about 3-4 years ago, they do not discolor. These are old headers to boot. I sand blasted them first and If you have a spray gun, you can do it your self or just buy a cheap Harbor Freight gun and do it. I used about a half a bottle to do mine.14oz(ish) bottle. Make sure you prep them good. Cerakote is a tough coating and they also use it on firearms.
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
Originally Posted by The Punisher
I like this idea. relatively inexpensive too
Ensure you read up on the process, it is kind of long, but worth it. You really don't need an oven, but it shortens the dry time. DO NOT put it on heavy what ever you do or you will have a mess on your hands. Light coats is the trick. Good luck if you go that route.
I used Bill Hirsch Exhaust Manifold Paint. I put it on my BlackJack headers in 1980 with a brush. If you sprayed it you wouldn't have the brush marks I did. Painted them twice early on. It lasted 30 years!! Never painted them again. Still available. Rated to 2000 degrees. Aluminum color. Don't know what's in it but it smokes like heck for a while until it cures. Cures with heat. Needs to be cured in stages.
I used Bill Hirsch Exhaust Manifold Paint. I put it on my BlackJack headers in 1980 with a brush. If you sprayed it you wouldn't have the brush marks I did. Painted them twice early on. It lasted 30 years!! Never painted them again. Still available. Rated to 2000 degrees. Aluminum color. Don't know what's in it but it smokes like heck for a while until it cures. Cures with heat. Needs to be cured in stages.
Leigh that stuff looks great! Did you prime your headers when you used this exhaust paint?
"HOWEVER, THIS PRODUCT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE ON STEEL OR ALUMINUM HEADERS UNLESS FIRST PRIMED WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE PRIMER ALSO AVAILABLE FROM BILL HIRSCH"
For probably $45 total for the paint and high temp primer, though, you can't beat the price, but it is just a paint, not a ceramic coating like mine and bucanner recommended.
My XS Power headers not only look like the picture in my post 4 years out above but the ceramic coating really does reduce underhood heat dramatically. The "ceramic coated" shorty headers done by the manufacturer I had on the car previously threw MUCH more heat than the LTH. I also experienced the same with the manufacturer ceramic coating on my BBK shorty headers on my 94 Mustang GT Convertible..lots of heat.
Here are the shorties with a manufacturer ceramic coating...its smooth, not medium sandpaper like powercoated on the LTH.....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Apr 29, 2020 at 06:56 AM.
Anyone Paint Headers ?
