skopers3

iTrader: (3)

So I just got these headers last summer. My car is a garage queen and doesn't see ANY salt (it's been in storage since October) and if it's been driven in rain ONCE sine installing these, that's it. Just estimating, they probably have less than 1,500 miles on them.

I went out to check on my car today and noticed specks of rust on them. I wouldn't care if they were on the bottom, but I take my car to shows and rust spots on headers make them look like ****. I knew there'd eventually be some rusting, but I never expected it this soon, and especially right there!
Anybody else have this problem? Anything I can do to keep them from getting worse?

71novaguy

iTrader: (2)

rub some atf on them, start the engine, let them get nice and hot, when they stop smoking there is supposed to be a small film left on them that keeps them from rusting.

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

My pacsetters did the same thing, I really wouldn't worry about it. From what I read stainless headers wont do that but also have a lot higher price tag.

Ghostintheshell

Yup. If you want show car car headers, get show car headers.

My Trans Am had pacesetters on her when I bought her. Now I have ARH headers, stainless, that will hopefully last longer.

Pacesetters are excellent value headers - but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. They offer great power, at a cheap price.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

it doesnt look that bad. just a little surface rust.

aothepresident

iTrader: (17)

Unfortunately, the simply answer is yes. That is normal even for coated headers. The coating on pacesetters is really cheap and isn't effective whatsoever (I also learned this after buying coated pacesetters)

Bocefus

iTrader: (17)

Stainless is the only way to go if you don't want them to rust. My Jet Hot Coated headers lasted maybe a year before starting to rust. I will never pay a premium for coated headers again.

egott_91

iTrader: (1)

Mine are worse than that. Not sure exactly how old mine are though, they were on the car when I bought it. I plan on switching to ARH at some point.

formula c3

mine too you get what you pay for next time I'm getting kooks true duals

king.speed

That really works? I'm going to try that, My headers have the same amount of rust, and mine have a ton of miles on them..

71novaguy

iTrader: (2)

go ask an old hotrodder and I would bet you get that answer

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

Yep thats normal. Theres only one way around that and its to spend the cash on stainless. I have pacesetters black painted btw. Last time around I had dynatechs all stainless and they were really nice.

skopers3

iTrader: (3)

What is atf?

02_camaroz28

iTrader: (20)

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Bramlok

iTrader: (7)

For a garage kept car that doesnt see salt, snow or rain you wouldn't expect to see rust at least not with only 1500 miles on them.

You would think the ceramic coating would be a little bit more durable than that. If they rust that easily, you would be better off getting a regular set for cheaper and spraying them with a few coats of high temp paint.

608kZ28

mine are rusted on the bottom part by the collector

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

Its just a little bit of surface rust, its not like its going to rust through the headers, they will last forever, just are not going to look brand new. And it doesn't matter if the car sees rain or snow, its still exposed to the elements when driving and is going to get condensations etc on it which will cause a little surface discoloring. The coating isn't just to keep them looking decent, it also helps absorb some of the heat to lower the temperatures in the engine bay.
And at the end of the day there still 350 dollar headers and not 700-800 like Kooks or other brands so theres going to be some compromise, but there still a good bang for the buck offering the same power gains and fitment

reeperz28

iTrader: (1)

My black painted hooker long tubes on my truck have little to none rust after four years now. Driven outside in rain sleet snow floods sand mud ect. Good wash after each and still look great very suprised with them .

T AM

iTrader: (5)

Maybe try scrubbing them with a little steel wool? I've had my Pacesetters for 3 years and only a tiny bit of rust on the bottom of the collector.

Bramlok

iTrader: (7)

Maybe get the plain steel headers and paint them with something like this. It could always be touched up in the future if needed. http://www.eastwood.com/tlc-colorgar...olish-4oz.html