I have a set of Bassani headers I purchased and installed almost 10 years ago. They are doing ok, but I see signs of rust in a few spots mostly around the welds. I'm installin new heads on the car and i'm taking the headers off to do the work. Any recommendations to clean the rust off and seal the headers before I put them back on?

 

the rust you have is thermo rust that happens when steel is cycled with heat and cooled. only way would be to have them coated. high temp paint will eventually burn off...

 

I bought a used set of headers with surface rust, I sanded them smooth with 180 and sprayed them with 2000* Rustoleum paint, so far so good. I don't expect it to last forever, but it will definitely take rust longer to appear than without it.

 

Its never a bad thing to have them re-coated. It also helps with engine heat be keeping more heat in the headers so if there off it cant hurt.

 

Good news and kudos to Bassani. I called them and they said they will re-coat the headers for free, I just pay for shipping.

Re-coating it is.

 

wow all this time later and they still recoat them for free? very nice customer service

 

thats a good deal..

 

Ya, when I got my service email from them, it included a copy of some specific warranty verbiage that indicated they DID NOT warranty rust. However, when I called them, I was told that comment in the warranty email was just a CYA comment and they try very hard to keep their customers happy. I paid a few more bucks for these headers compared to other manufacturers, but given this level of customer servers, it was worth the extra cash.

I will definitely purchase more Bassani products when the time comes.

 

My experience is that coating doesn't prevent rust. The only thing that seems to stop rust is stainless steel.

 

I agree with you. Any coating will eventually break down and need to be replaced. Given these headers lasted the better part of 10 years with minimul rust, i still give them a

 

CYA?

 

I didn't read your original post close enough. Since you got 10 years without rust I wouldn't hesitate to recoat them. The JBAs I had were totally rusty in a couple years. It sounds like not all coatings are equal.

 

CYA= Cover your ***

 

Posting an update. I CAN'T BE MORE HAPPY WITH Bassani! I paid to send them my 10 year old headers ~ $40. They shipped them back to me at their cost. They recoated and sent them back along with a full set of AIR/EGR covers w/bolts and gaskets (head gasket as well). The headers look GREAT! If i didn't know better, I'd think they were brand new.

Way to Go Bassani!

10 years ago, they cost a tad more than some of the others, but it's been money well spent.

 

Good deal

 

Strong endorsement. Glad to hear a good experience.

 

Wow, that is crazy! Hooker would just tell you to get lost...