How to protect coated headers from rust?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
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From: Massachusetts
How to protect coated headers from rust? I have Exotic Muscle longtubes coming in soon for my vette. They are mild steel and ceramic coated. I put 20,000 miles/year on my car so I need to make sure these headers are protected from the elements (I live in New England). I know the ceramic coating only holds in heat and does not prevent rust necessarily. What can I do to prevent my headers from getting rusty?
- Vinnie
- Vinnie
I posted this in another thread a few down from this one regarding the Pacesetters:
Like any mild steel header they will eventually rust. Just keep in mind that the ceramic coating is for heat retention, NOT rust prevention.
If you want a good looking header that will stay good looking, get a set of stainless headers ceramic coated.
I have found that there isn't much you can do regarding rust prevention. Eventually whatever coating you put on there will fail. That's why it pays to go stainless the first time around. Why not sell the headers you just bought, or return them?
Like any mild steel header they will eventually rust. Just keep in mind that the ceramic coating is for heat retention, NOT rust prevention.
If you want a good looking header that will stay good looking, get a set of stainless headers ceramic coated.
I have found that there isn't much you can do regarding rust prevention. Eventually whatever coating you put on there will fail. That's why it pays to go stainless the first time around. Why not sell the headers you just bought, or return them?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I posted this in another thread a few down from this one regarding the Pacesetters:
Like any mild steel header they will eventually rust. Just keep in mind that the ceramic coating is for heat retention, NOT rust prevention.
If you want a good looking header that will stay good looking, get a set of stainless headers ceramic coated.
I have found that there isn't much you can do regarding rust prevention. Eventually whatever coating you put on there will fail. That's why it pays to go stainless the first time around. Why not sell the headers you just bought, or return them?
Like any mild steel header they will eventually rust. Just keep in mind that the ceramic coating is for heat retention, NOT rust prevention.
If you want a good looking header that will stay good looking, get a set of stainless headers ceramic coated.
I have found that there isn't much you can do regarding rust prevention. Eventually whatever coating you put on there will fail. That's why it pays to go stainless the first time around. Why not sell the headers you just bought, or return them?
Money is an issue for me, that's why I'm trying to figure out how to protect the headers that I ordered.
http://www.ssaccessories.com/servlet...Headers/Detail.
$559.
The EM long tubes are $770. You can have the stainless headers coated for around $200.
$559.
The EM long tubes are $770. You can have the stainless headers coated for around $200.
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from my experience, park it in the garage and dont drive it in the rain. my ls1 car's headers rusted all to doo-doo just sitting in the driveway. i put 8,000 miles on it in 10 years.
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Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
http://www.ssaccessories.com/servlet...Headers/Detail.
$559.
The EM long tubes are $770. You can have the stainless headers coated for around $200.
$559.
The EM long tubes are $770. You can have the stainless headers coated for around $200.
I don't have a garage, this car is my daily. I actually find that by driving it everyday and not letting it sit, it keeps the car sort of fresh.
So you would rather have an easy install than rusted headers? 
I HIGHLY doubt that an off-the-shelf specialized product for a specific application requires fabrication and metalwork to fit properly.
It sounds to me like the solutions have presented themselves. Good luck.
I HIGHLY doubt that an off-the-shelf specialized product for a specific application requires fabrication and metalwork to fit properly.
It sounds to me like the solutions have presented themselves. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
So you would rather have an easy install than rusted headers?
I HIGHLY doubt that an off-the-shelf specialized product for a specific application requires fabrication and metalwork to fit properly.
It sounds to me like the solutions have presented themselves. Good luck.
I HIGHLY doubt that an off-the-shelf specialized product for a specific application requires fabrication and metalwork to fit properly.
It sounds to me like the solutions have presented themselves. Good luck.
People on CF have had a hard time with those headers, you get what you pay for I guess. I'd rather pay $200 for installation than $600+.
I'm open to more ideas on how to protect mild steel ceramic coated headers, any help would be excellent.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 18
From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
I don't think you can do anything to prevent them from rusting. The best you might be able to do is slow it down by keeping them away from heat, which isn't really an option, and moisture.
TECH Veteran
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I don't know of a high temp clear coat and if there is one does it even help prevent rust on something that will eventually rust especially if exposed to winter salted roads..
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I would check with the coating company and ask if any product you can apply to their coating exists that would help reduce rust. The coating does not rust, the mild steel under it does.
I don't know of a high temp clear coat and if there is one does it even help prevent rust on something that will eventually rust especially if exposed to winter salted roads..
I don't know of a high temp clear coat and if there is one does it even help prevent rust on something that will eventually rust especially if exposed to winter salted roads..
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 18
From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
They're going to rust. Considering where you live, coupled with the fact it appears to be your daily driver, I would speculate that it will happen sooner rather than later.
Have you ever considered installing the headers yourself to save some money? I would imagine it's got to be a much easier install in comparison to an f-body.
Have you ever considered installing the headers yourself to save some money? I would imagine it's got to be a much easier install in comparison to an f-body.
I would check with the coating company and ask if any product you can apply to their coating exists that would help reduce rust. The coating does not rust, the mild steel under it does.
I don't know of a high temp clear coat and if there is one does it even help prevent rust on something that will eventually rust especially if exposed to winter salted roads..
I don't know of a high temp clear coat and if there is one does it even help prevent rust on something that will eventually rust especially if exposed to winter salted roads..
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
I installed EM headers on my cousins vette..Within a few weeks you could see surface rust on the bottom of the headers. I had to dent the headers where the bolts go because they where machined wrong and the stage 8 bolts would hit the header..for the price he paid it wasn't worth it..I would have gotten kooks instead.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 18
From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Are the OBX Kooks clones available for the Vette? Assuming the pricing is the same as the FBody variant, they might actually be cheaper than the EM headers.
If you're really paranoid about rust, you could cancel your order, get the stainless headers, install them yourself and come out ahead.
If you're really paranoid about rust, you could cancel your order, get the stainless headers, install them yourself and come out ahead.