Cleaning Headers
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Cleaning Headers
Just picked up a pair of used headers, cats, xpipe here on the forum (FS (For Sale) SOLD. 1997-2000 Dynatech Stainless Catted Long Tube Headers - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion)
Before I get them installed, is there any prep/cleaning/maintenance I should do? Or just install as-is?
Thanks for the tips.
Before I get them installed, is there any prep/cleaning/maintenance I should do? Or just install as-is?
Thanks for the tips.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,656
Likes: 7,296
From: CT
Might ask the Harley guys. They seem to polish theirs to a high sheen.
That said, 0000 steel wool and metal polish works magic. Same wool with oil works great on old rifles - but definitely not for headers. So a vigorous rub down with the wool and see if there are recommended chems. A quick search for restore and polish yielded a 3M (marine metal restorer and polish) product intended for boat trim. I tend to trust their products to be both safe and effective. After the wool gets the majority of physically felt junk out and you're using terry cloths or microfiber to clean it then if you really want to go deep and have a good polishing wheel you can take a lot more time and get it down to a mirror finish. Did I mention this is going to be extremely time intensive? Don't go with a small polisher head, lol!
Let us know what you find and how they turn out. Good score on the set.
That said, 0000 steel wool and metal polish works magic. Same wool with oil works great on old rifles - but definitely not for headers. So a vigorous rub down with the wool and see if there are recommended chems. A quick search for restore and polish yielded a 3M (marine metal restorer and polish) product intended for boat trim. I tend to trust their products to be both safe and effective. After the wool gets the majority of physically felt junk out and you're using terry cloths or microfiber to clean it then if you really want to go deep and have a good polishing wheel you can take a lot more time and get it down to a mirror finish. Did I mention this is going to be extremely time intensive? Don't go with a small polisher head, lol!
Let us know what you find and how they turn out. Good score on the set.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Might ask the Harley guys. They seem to polish theirs to a high sheen.
That said, 0000 steel wool and metal polish works magic. Same wool with oil works great on old rifles - but definitely not for headers. So a vigorous rub down with the wool and see if there are recommended chems. A quick search for restore and polish yielded a 3M (marine metal restorer and polish) product intended for boat trim. I tend to trust their products to be both safe and effective. After the wool gets the majority of physically felt junk out and you're using terry cloths or microfiber to clean it then if you really want to go deep and have a good polishing wheel you can take a lot more time and get it down to a mirror finish. Did I mention this is going to be extremely time intensive? Don't go with a small polisher head, lol!
Let us know what you find and how they turn out. Good score on the set.
That said, 0000 steel wool and metal polish works magic. Same wool with oil works great on old rifles - but definitely not for headers. So a vigorous rub down with the wool and see if there are recommended chems. A quick search for restore and polish yielded a 3M (marine metal restorer and polish) product intended for boat trim. I tend to trust their products to be both safe and effective. After the wool gets the majority of physically felt junk out and you're using terry cloths or microfiber to clean it then if you really want to go deep and have a good polishing wheel you can take a lot more time and get it down to a mirror finish. Did I mention this is going to be extremely time intensive? Don't go with a small polisher head, lol!
Let us know what you find and how they turn out. Good score on the set.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
One product that used to work for me on my motorcycles was oven cleaner. Never tried it on stainless, though. If you do use it, try it in an inconspicuous spot first. Also wear nitrile gloves and try to avoid breathing the fumes....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 897
Likes: 987
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I wanted those headers, but somehow I missed Monzas post early on. Nice snag. I called the manufacturer and they stopped making them 1.5 years ago... MFG Afraid of EPA swat teams that have been visiting performance shops. Really too bad they look like outstanding headers
Plastic Media Blast (PMB) to clean. PMB, We have two where I work. Cleans metal of paint, carbon, what ever without hurting the base material. Soda blast would work also.
Plastic Media Blast (PMB) to clean. PMB, We have two where I work. Cleans metal of paint, carbon, what ever without hurting the base material. Soda blast would work also.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 670
Likes: 303
From: Nova Scotia Canada
I've had excellent success with this product and a light scotch bright pad on headers and down pipes. They won't be like chrome but they'll look MUCH better. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Just to follow up, got a few quotes to coat my headers. There is a reputable shop down the street from my office that quoted $450.00 sandblasting & jet hot ( outside only) for 4 pcs.
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
Just to follow up, got a few quotes to coat my headers. There is a reputable shop down the street from my office that quoted $450.00 sandblasting & jet hot ( outside only) for 4 pcs.
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
Can you coat the inside of used headers? I know that's what I'd prefer, especially since I saw an episode of Engine Masters that tested thermal coatings. They did only the outside. I was disappointed with their results. Only a 10°-15° temp reduction. My old style Kooks on my 2000 C5 are, let's just say a PITA to R&R. So I decided against it. If the inside can be done on used LTs, I'd be willing to do it for a 25° reduction....
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,656
Likes: 7,296
From: CT
There are other companies which do the same service. I had quoted JetHot for some primaries in the Fall and they were very expensive. I could buy another full Speed Engineering pipe set for their price and have some left over.
I know ceramic helps to some degree (intentional pun, that), but I also doubt that it will significantly reduce bay heat radiated from the massed surface area of stainless steel from primaries on a set of longtubes. They can be cleanly wrapped inexpensively to truly contain some of the heat. Surrounding parts or panels can likewise be easily shielded. This is if heat is the primary concern.
If appearance is a key component, then polishing them could be one way to go. Cerakote another. JetHott or competitor ceramics have various finishes too. But if appearance is a concern remember too that only the top two inches of the bend coming out of the head is visible. The rest of these things are never to be seen.
For my money, it's too bad there isn't an effective and inexpensive hydrophobic coating which could be applied to the steel prior to wrapping it. That would be asking too much.
I know ceramic helps to some degree (intentional pun, that), but I also doubt that it will significantly reduce bay heat radiated from the massed surface area of stainless steel from primaries on a set of longtubes. They can be cleanly wrapped inexpensively to truly contain some of the heat. Surrounding parts or panels can likewise be easily shielded. This is if heat is the primary concern.
If appearance is a key component, then polishing them could be one way to go. Cerakote another. JetHott or competitor ceramics have various finishes too. But if appearance is a concern remember too that only the top two inches of the bend coming out of the head is visible. The rest of these things are never to be seen.
For my money, it's too bad there isn't an effective and inexpensive hydrophobic coating which could be applied to the steel prior to wrapping it. That would be asking too much.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 1,439
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Just to follow up, got a few quotes to coat my headers. There is a reputable shop down the street from my office that quoted $450.00 sandblasting & jet hot ( outside only) for 4 pcs.
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
The other prices I received are $800+. Any experiences with jet hot coat on the exterior?
