Do 304 SS headers rust or discolor?
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Do 304 SS headers rust or discolor? Just wondering before I order a set of AR Headers. The coated headers I've owned have flaked and rusted. What happens to 304 SS headers as the years go by? Thanks.
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I've been thinking about changing my catback to a SS one like a Magnaflow, but reading about the hanger weld failing scares me off. I love the sound of my cheap Hooker, but after a couple years it doesn't look too good. How's your Magnaflow holding up? Or is it as new as the headers? Any other SS exhausts that might go well with the ARHs? Thanks again.
NP just trying to share what first hand info I have.
I got the magnaflow because the price was right and it's stainless (albeit not 304 if I recall correctly, but between that and the hooker, it was more stainless than that...). I wanted a Corsa, but the near $1,000 price tag had me say no thanks. Cost aside, my ideal setup would be ARH, Cats, Corsa...
-J
I got the magnaflow because the price was right and it's stainless (albeit not 304 if I recall correctly, but between that and the hooker, it was more stainless than that...). I wanted a Corsa, but the near $1,000 price tag had me say no thanks. Cost aside, my ideal setup would be ARH, Cats, Corsa...
-J
Hey predator I'm 20 minutes south of Worcester. I have QTP LTs, modified Kooks y-pipe, and a Magnaflow catback. If you want to see the light brown/blue/rainbowish color let me know.
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NP just trying to share what first hand info I have.
I got the magnaflow because the price was right and it's stainless (albeit not 304 if I recall correctly, but between that and the hooker, it was more stainless than that...). I wanted a Corsa, but the near $1,000 price tag had me say no thanks. Cost aside, my ideal setup would be ARH, Cats, Corsa...
-J
I got the magnaflow because the price was right and it's stainless (albeit not 304 if I recall correctly, but between that and the hooker, it was more stainless than that...). I wanted a Corsa, but the near $1,000 price tag had me say no thanks. Cost aside, my ideal setup would be ARH, Cats, Corsa...
-J
Thanks. Trending Topics
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Hey Paul, thanks for the friendly offer. I'd like to see your Camaro, she's a beauty! I'm thinking when I get my heads and headers installed, probably be done in two weeks, gotta tune too, I'll PM you and set up a meeting. Thanks again! Later.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
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orangepeel, I know SS isn't supposed to rust, but I didn't know if headers were different because of so much heat. I thought coated headers weren't supposed to rust either, but my JBAs sure as hell did. This is important to me because headers are visible in the engine compartment.
Cheap stainless can rust, It will build up a layer of rust, and wont continue. it wont rot through, but it looks like ****, and it is technically stainless due to content. 409 stainless does that frequently.
Just let me know. I'm in Northbridge right off 146. 
I've seen stainless rust in all forms.
On the ocean it'll rust away, mostly thin gauge stuff like 14 and under.
All stainless will rust brown eventually. The worst thing you can do is clean them with steel wool or a steel wire brush. If you clean them, use stainless steel wool.
I used to clean stainless with an industrial acid cleaner (forgot what acid) and a rag. It would make the crappiest stainless look brand new.
And FWIW I had a stainless nut on a battery terminal once, it slowly disappeared, never rusted or left a residue.
On the ocean it'll rust away, mostly thin gauge stuff like 14 and under.
All stainless will rust brown eventually. The worst thing you can do is clean them with steel wool or a steel wire brush. If you clean them, use stainless steel wool.
I used to clean stainless with an industrial acid cleaner (forgot what acid) and a rag. It would make the crappiest stainless look brand new.
And FWIW I had a stainless nut on a battery terminal once, it slowly disappeared, never rusted or left a residue.
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From: Philly
It was actually a scale remover for big water cooled AC systems.
It had to be compatable for use with different metals, and I needed to clean a bunch of stainless once so I found this to be a very good cleaner for it and used it from then on.
Nitric acid doesn't sound familiar, in fact I'll see if I can find the product online and see what acid it had in it.
Edit: I did a quick search and the MSDS says Hydrochloric Acid.
It had to be compatable for use with different metals, and I needed to clean a bunch of stainless once so I found this to be a very good cleaner for it and used it from then on.
Nitric acid doesn't sound familiar, in fact I'll see if I can find the product online and see what acid it had in it.
Edit: I did a quick search and the MSDS says Hydrochloric Acid.
Last edited by 9000th01ss; Aug 17, 2008 at 09:45 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Thread Starter
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From: Las Vegas, NV
