Remember the peeling Hookers??
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
Originally Posted by trotter73
I can't believe Hooker would put their name on something that would rot out in a year.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I have Hooker super competition headers on my 406. They were coated by High Performance Coatings (HPC). The coating has not held up very well. I live in a climate with high humidity and I park under a car port so maybe that has something to do with it. I have noticed that the further from the exhaust port (higher heat nearer the exhaust port) the worse the coating is. I also noticed that in the tight areas between the tubes the coating has faired the worst. I believe they spray the coating on so it may be difficult to get to these tight areas. I also noticed that the drivers side header under the oil filter seems to be the worst. Maybe I let some oil drip when changing filters which may contaminate the coating with carbon and caused it to fail. I forgot who coated my headers so I had to look through a file of invoices to find it. I can’t believe how much money have spent on this project. I wished I hadn’t done this search. Don’t want to know.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I have Hooker super competition headers on my 406. They were coated by High Performance Coatings (HPC). The coating has not held up very well. I live in a climate with high humidity and I park under a car port so maybe that has something to do with it. I have noticed that the further from the exhaust port (higher heat nearer the exhaust port) the worse the coating is. I also noticed that in the tight areas between the tubes the coating has faired the worst. I believe they spray the coating on so it may be difficult to get to these tight areas. I also noticed that the drivers side header under the oil filter seems to be the worst. Maybe I let some oil drip when changing filters which may contaminate the coating with carbon and caused it to fail. I forgot who coated my headers so I had to look through a file of invoices to find it. I can’t believe how much money have spent on this project. I wished I hadn’t done this search. Don’t want to know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass Oregon
Ceramics
There is a high heat (1200 degrees) paint that you can buy literaly at the Auto Zone, I like the white color. I've used it several times on headers with a long lived success, up to 5 years with no rust...good stuff!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by trotter73
I was about to buy Hooker ceramic sidepipes and headers, just got my STS baffles. 
Now I don't know what I'm going to do after reading all these bad reviews.
Now I don't know what I'm going to do after reading all these bad reviews.
Cheers
Mick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Originally Posted by rosslato
u should go w/jet-hot. they have 3 locations in the U. S. it cost me around $350 not including the shipping. yours will probably be cheaper since they don't have to dechrome them. the bigest PITA was trying to find boxes big enough to ship the headers. took em about 10 days to get em back to me. was in awe when i opened the boxes. put some chrome cleaner on em and then some wax and they really shined up nice
JET-HOT will ship you boxes FREE to ship your headers back to them
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
Originally Posted by codestar7
There is a high heat (1200 degrees) paint that you can buy literaly at the Auto Zone, I like the white color. I've used it several times on headers with a long lived success, up to 5 years with no rust...good stuff!
Last edited by exdrag77; Oct 28, 2004 at 01:27 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
My opinion is ceramic coatings are not durable no matter who does them. I bought my headers from Hooker and had them coated myself by HPC so I can't blame Hooker. I'm convinced the way to go is stainless first and chrome plating second. But where do you get full lenght 1 3/4" primary headers in stainless? I've seen the shorties in SS but not the full length.
Anyway, ceramic coated headers not holding up is another "lessons learned" for me.
Anyway, ceramic coated headers not holding up is another "lessons learned" for me.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by exdrag77
I would like to hear how you made that work?! I bought that Dupli Color 1200 degree spray paint, applied to my headers per directions and baked in my oven at 400 degrees for a couple hours. When I put the headers on and fired the car, they immediately blistered! That was quite a few hours worth of work wasted!
I had the peeling Hookers blasted with Aluminum Oxide (I think).
Apparently the blasting particles look like fiberglass particles....like little needles with sharp points on both sides.
Supposedly if you blast with this stuff, it will penetrate the metal quite deeply instead of just creating a smooth surface like kitty litter does.
Larger kitty litter makes a rougher surface and smaller kitty litter a smoother surface....if you catch my drift
Anyway, the idea is for Aluminum Oxide to create a sponge effect so that your paint will "soak" into the metal and then "Bond" with it when you bake it!
Sounded good to me, so I went with it and the cream headers and black sidepipes are holding up pretty good so far.
BTW I am waiting for more black 1500 degree paint to paint the headers that are sticking out the side of the car black like the side pipes.
I have my very own Bubba-ized mobile for a little while
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,922
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I really like the white pipes on these racer's. Think that's what I'll do. Remind me of what they use to call a "cafe' racer." Hmmm, maybe I can get some red/white paint too.
I think 67Heaven's C2 had these years ago. Check out how much shorter the pipes are on the red C2.
I think 67Heaven's C2 had these years ago. Check out how much shorter the pipes are on the red C2.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by Ozzie71
Go for Stainless. I did. Less than $100 more than jet hot and will last for ever. The headers turn yellow close to the engine (no big deal) but the visible pipes are awesome. I thought they sent me chrome by mistake, had to check with a magnet to be sure. Been on the car 6 months and very happy so far. Also got STS baffles and heatshields, look great and no burns.
Cheers
Mick
Cheers
Mick
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by exdrag77
I would like to hear how you made that work?! I bought that Dupli Color 1200 degree spray paint, applied to my headers per directions and baked in my oven at 400 degrees for a couple hours. When I put the headers on and fired the car, they immediately blistered! That was quite a few hours worth of work wasted!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
Ozzie71 is that color code 974 on that car. That is prity paint. My '70 is code 974. Boy, I hope it looks that good when I get it done. Nice car.
BigBlockk
Later.....
BigBlockk
Later.....
Last edited by BigBlockk; Nov 3, 2004 at 06:15 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by BigBlockk
Ozzie71 is that color code 974 on that car. That is prity paint. My '70 is code 974. Boy, I hope it liiks that good when I get it done. Nice car.
BigBlockk
Later.....
BigBlockk
Later.....
Sorry I can't be of much help. Originality doesn't worry me. The car is a 71 with custom glass front and 68/69 fenders, but I like the look.
Cheers
Mick