Header paint or ceramic coat?
Header paint or ceramic coat? Im on the fence about ceramic coating my mac headers and y pipe before install. Really dont want to spend what ? $400 to coat them when I could sand paper them and slap a good 2000 degree temp paint on them myself for $50. Any good header paint out there that actually last a few years? I hear some ceramic coatings dont last forever either?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 680
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From: Clearwater
Every painted header I have seen in person looks like a rusted pile of garbage after a few months regardless of what I read on the internet. Personally I have only bought ceramic coated headers which took a few years to start looking dull and about 5-7 years before any rust was visible (mostly around the collector welds). If you are going to entertain spending $300-400 (haven't checked recently but that seems on the high side) for ceramic coating then you might as well look at some of the less expensive stainless options available.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,740
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From: Nebraska
After having both ceramic and painted headers, I will never get anything other than Stainless....
Paint lasted maybe a month before it flaked off and showed rust. My current ceramic dynatechs look good on the primaries until you get under the car and see the crazy amount of rust that's formed after 5 years. Basically, just expect them to look like crap after awhile especially if you DD your car at all and get caught in the rain. I would guess my current headers would probably have be fine if I never drove it in the rain.
Paint lasted maybe a month before it flaked off and showed rust. My current ceramic dynatechs look good on the primaries until you get under the car and see the crazy amount of rust that's formed after 5 years. Basically, just expect them to look like crap after awhile especially if you DD your car at all and get caught in the rain. I would guess my current headers would probably have be fine if I never drove it in the rain.
Sounds like ceramic is mandatory unless you go stainless. Maybe I can find someone who can coat my mac mids and y pipe for 200ish? With all the new inventions you would think they would have a good header paint by now.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
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From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
I gather from your last response that the MAC headers are mild steel and not stainless? Regardless of what you do, they are going to rust. The speed and severity will vary based upon where you are located.
This may not be an opition, but I would get some of the cheaper LPP or Texas Speed stainless headers and have them ceramic coated. You will then have a header that will last the life of your car coupled with the performance benefits provided by ceramic coating.
This may not be an opition, but I would get some of the cheaper LPP or Texas Speed stainless headers and have them ceramic coated. You will then have a header that will last the life of your car coupled with the performance benefits provided by ceramic coating.
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Painted my Pacesetters with VHT before install and cured the paint with a propane torch. They started rusting in a matter of hours. The ceramic coating on my friend's headers also started flaking after a few seasons. Stainless is the way to go but ceramic is best if mids are your only option (dunno of any stainless ones).
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I cannot stress that enough. My ceramic coated Jet-Hot LT's look like garbage. I will be replacing them with some stainless headers such as LPP, Kooks etc. Years ago, I was most concerned with saving a few $$$, so I bought the Jet-Hot's vs. going with the more expensive stainless Kooks etc. However, in the end it is costing me more time and money to now replace the $500 headers with a nice set of stainless ones for another $500-$1000 out of my pocket. If it were me I would sell the Mac's, bite the bullet for some nice stainless headers and call it a day.
Pacesetter "Armor coat" that is available on all pacesetter headers is pretty decent in my experience, mine look brand new 6 years later, theres a few specs of rust near the collectors. I don't drive much in the rain if I can help it though, and certainly not in winter weather with salt on the roads.
Pacesetter "Armor coat" that is available on all pacesetter headers is pretty decent in my experience, mine look brand new 6 years later, theres a few specs of rust near the collectors. I don't drive much in the rain if I can help it though, and certainly not in winter weather with salt on the roads.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,740
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From: Nebraska
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,255
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From: centerville, ohio
Pacesetter "Armor coat" that is available on all pacesetter headers is pretty decent in my experience, mine look brand new 6 years later, theres a few specs of rust near the collectors. I don't drive much in the rain if I can help it though, and certainly not in winter weather with salt on the roads.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
I painted mine with Rustoleum High Heat paint. Baked the headers in a big oven after I painted them. Rustoleum has a black and gray paint available, rated at 2000 degrees. This paint is used on grills. You can buy at at any ACE hardware store.
The paint has help up quite well. Been on for 3 yrs now. The car is not a daily driver but has about 5k on the headers and header paint. Looks as good now as it did when I put the headers on.
The paint has help up quite well. Been on for 3 yrs now. The car is not a daily driver but has about 5k on the headers and header paint. Looks as good now as it did when I put the headers on.