Protecting painted headers
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
Protecting painted headers so my budget wasn’t quite where I wanted it, but I wanted to accomplish as much as I could with one engine/transmission pull and by my calculations and experience installing long tubes immediately after I have reinstalled the engine but not yet reinstalled the remainder will significantly ease the process. So to the point - ceramic coated headers were not in my budget. I’m also aware of the lower quality of the Flowtechs I bought, but that’s what I had the money for so if you’re just going to say “buy X, Y, or Z brand, what you bought is trash” just go on to the next thread and quit reading now, I’ll give you some time...
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Ok, so those of you left: what have been your successful strategies for prolonging the life and appearance of painted headers? I’ve heard of removing the paint, getting them cherry-red with an acetylene torch and inducing transmission fluid or motor oil which I assume allows the metal to absorb additional carbon and other oxidation-resistant molecules? I’ve personally never seen off the shelf header paint work to any degree really, but that’s why I’m here, hoping someone knows more than I do. And then there are the ceramic coatings available in spray form, and I know NOTHING about the effectiveness or ease of application of these. So, what suggestions do y’all have that’ll keep the rust off and preferably make my headers actually look decent? Thanks in advance!
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Ok, so those of you left: what have been your successful strategies for prolonging the life and appearance of painted headers? I’ve heard of removing the paint, getting them cherry-red with an acetylene torch and inducing transmission fluid or motor oil which I assume allows the metal to absorb additional carbon and other oxidation-resistant molecules? I’ve personally never seen off the shelf header paint work to any degree really, but that’s why I’m here, hoping someone knows more than I do. And then there are the ceramic coatings available in spray form, and I know NOTHING about the effectiveness or ease of application of these. So, what suggestions do y’all have that’ll keep the rust off and preferably make my headers actually look decent? Thanks in advance!
There's not really much you can do, Me and my son raced microsprints for a few years and tried high temp powder coatings and different spray on treatments people suggested and they all burned off before the season was over. The only thing that really lasted the season was heating them with a acetylene torch and spraying them down with trans-fluid. Do it 3-4 times. HERE is an article I found if that helps. Now I just buy either stainless or ceramic-coated.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
There's not really much you can do, Me and my son raced microsprints for a few years and tried high temp powder coatings and different spray on treatments people suggested and they all burned off before the season was over. The only thing that really lasted the season was heating them with a acetylene torch and spraying them down with trans-fluid. Do it 3-4 times. HERE is an article I found if that helps. Now I just buy either stainless or ceramic-coated.
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I'm not going to argue the point, It's been proven over and over. Unless they are stainless or have a coating wrapping shortens the life of the headers. A simple search will show all the how's and why's.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
oh no bro!
I would take a restocking fee hit if I had to unless they are used already and you cant return them.
check this out https://www.speed-engineering.com/sh...e-version.html
I would take a restocking fee hit if I had to unless they are used already and you cant return them.
check this out https://www.speed-engineering.com/sh...e-version.html
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
oh no bro!
I would take a restocking fee hit if I had to unless they are used already and you cant return them.
check this out https://www.speed-engineering.com/sh...e-version.html
I would take a restocking fee hit if I had to unless they are used already and you cant return them.
check this out https://www.speed-engineering.com/sh...e-version.html
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
Their equivalent for my truck is $399- so I’d save a little, and still have to weld my Y-pipe together. It may be a little better deal, but I don’t see how great “stainless”they can be at that price.
Tons of people on here can attest to the quality. Its T304 stainless.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro, NC
they may fantastic, but I’m at where I’m at. I don’t have the time to return one set and wait on a credit and buy another set and wait for delivery. I’ve got to get my truck finished and back on the road, but I appreciate the link, maybe next go-round I’ll look into those.
^^this....if returning/waiting isn't in the cards....run them as is for as long as possible. No coating, paint, powder, wrap will be any sort of replacement for a 304 set NOR cost effective. Mild steelsis mild steel, it WILL rot or rot your $300+ coating off. Run what you have and worry about it "down the road" or suck it up and spend the dough now.