Ok, I searched so don't bite my head off. I am going to get some LT's in the near future. Of course if I was rich I would get some stainless Kooks, but I'm not. Obviously painted headers, Pacesetters for example, will develop surface rust quickly, but will they ever rust to the point of affecting functionality? Basically what I am asking is whether I can get away with painted headers if I don't care how they look. Thanks in advance.

 

IMO coated Pacesetters work great. I did have some rust only on the bottom of mine within a few weeks but there is nothing visible from the top even after 3 years of driving and I don't just drive my TA when it is nice out. I painted the bottoms with some VHT header paint a few months back and no rust has developed through that stuff yet.

 

Anyone else care to offer an opinion/advice? Any would be appreciated, thanks.

 

if you dont care what they look like painted will work fine for a while...i personally have the coated ones because it was only 100 bucks more

 

lpparts.com

stainless, same merge collector as qtp, great fitment quality for only 500 shipped.

/thread

 

i have hooker painted headers and will never do it again. mine were rusted within a week or two and it barely sees rain. Embarassing when i just sank money into a cam and my headers left a bunch of rust flakes on the floor during my dyno runs

 

If you can deal with the rusted look then go for it. Have you ever saw a set of headers rusted completely through? I know I haven't, even with cars that have been sitting in a field for 20+ years

 

If you dont care that they rust then go for it. The ceramic coating is to help keep the heat in and velocity up. IMO I say go for stainless or ceramic coated so you can do it once and be finished. Good luck!

 

^^x2 do it once and be done.. get the good ****.. i got painted pacesetter headers on my car now. been on the car for 1 1/2 years and they look like ****. but function just fine...im doing heads on my car and polished valve covers and fuel rails and such...well i also bought new COATED headers to replace the rusted/painted ones...when they are off i will sell them. nothen wrong with them just don't like the way they look..if i would have gotten the coated or stainless ones the first time i wouldn't have to spend the money again..
JMHO....

 

Don't coated headers eventually rust to some degree as well?

 

I think it will take many many years to rust to the point of affecting function. They will look like **** but if you're ok with that then rock on, they'll still work the same.