Header Paint

[basstrix]

After seeing a video posted here about molasses for rust removal, I set up a vat and soaked a few parts....a set of headers was one of the parts. The molasses was nothing short of amazing...now I have a bare set of headers in need of paint. They aren't worth the cost of ceramic coating but I'd like to use something that has some chance of surviving. In the past, I've tried various high temp paints without any long term success.

I've read that the VHT paint works well if properly cured. I'd like to hear experiences good or bad with various high temp header coatings.

Thanks,

BT

 

[73pony]

Powder coat? Not sure how it would hold up. the local coating place here in town told me they do them all the time though. Quoted me $75 to do a set.

 

[Don C]

They make high temp powder coatings.

Eastwood has rattle can high temp paint with an extension tube for coating the inside of headers

http://search.eastwood.com/ppc/exhaust+coating?SRCCODE=BNB00154

 

[c9zx]

The headers need to be 100% clean. Like bead blasted clean. Then Use the VHT hi-temp primer and top coat EXACTLY the way VHT says to use it. I did a set of shorties on a Fox 5.0 that last for over 4 years until I sold the car. Don C's Eastwood suggest sounds very good if you could get the inside of the headers super clean. Chuck

 

[Pastorpat]

I used the VHT paint as directed and it is hanging in there great.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[basstrix]

For those that have used the VHT, did you use the primer, base, and clear coat? How did you cure the paint? They discuss both on and off the car methods. I'd prefer to do it off the car but I don't have anywhere to bake them.

 

[73pony]

I'm having a set done by my local paint and blast place. They talked me into the ceracoat. Seemed like a good deal, they clean and prep inside and outside. They use an insulating coat on the inside good up to 2,500 degrees then coat the outside in gloss black good up to 2000 degrees. About a week turnaround but not a bad deal at $200.

 

[c9zx]

That is a VERY good price. Well done. Post Pics when you get them back. Chuck

 

[73pony]

I will went with the black over the chrome as the price was double for the chrome treatment and was only good to 850 degrees. She was honest with me and said it gets cloudy from the heat after about a year.

 

[Hemikiller]

.... and don't break your cam in with coated headers, you'll cook the coating right off.

I found through my own and many friend's experiences, that the coatings are not the be-all, end-all that the companies tout them to be. They will burn off, will rust through and will look dull after usage. I myself just went with POR-15 header paint and was happy with the results. It also wore off over the years, but was only $20 to freshen it up...

 

[73pony]

Got them back. Hope to have them on by Tuesday. I'm happy with the job.

 

[DK73]

Wow that is looking so awesome [THUMBS UP SIGN] Regards Lars DK73

Sendt fra min D2005 med Tapatalk

 

[basstrix]

They look great! I'm holding off on painting mine with the VHT because it says you need to cure the paint within 7 days....too bad they wont fit in the BBQ

 

[73pony]

Quick question. When I install the headers do I need some sort of boot or protection for the plug wires?

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

Quick question. When I install the headers do I need some sort of boot or protection for the plug wires?

Your wire looms should enable you to keep the wires centered and away from contact with the headers.

 

[Totalled]

I VHTed a set of explorer tube manifolds that lasted decently after 3 years on my wheeler till I got a set of the later, better flowing explorer manifolds.

 

[mustang7173]

73pony,

You will be able to tell a big difference in under the hood heat. I had my Shorty Headers coated with a Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) from http://www.getcoated.com/index.html.

I have run my engine with the installed shorties for an hour and I can tell a big difference in how much less the heat is coming from the shorties.

Here is my thread

http://www.7173mustangs.com/thread-exhaust-headers-protection?highlight=ceramic

The premier coating company in Ceramic Thermal Barrier coatings is http://swaintech.com

If you can afford to have your headers Ceramic Thermal coated, it is well worth the expense.

mustang7173

Got them back. Hope to have them on by Tuesday. I'm happy with the job.

 

[73pony]

73pony,

You will be able to tell a big difference in under the hood heat. I had my Shorty Headers coated with a Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) from http://www.getcoated.com/index.html.

I have run my engine with the installed shorties for an hour and I can tell a big difference in how much less the heat is coming from the shorties.

Here is my thread

http://www.7173mustangs.com/thread-exhaust-headers-protection?highlight=ceramic

The premier coating company in Ceramic Thermal Barrier coatings is http://swaintech.com

If you can afford to have your headers Ceramic Thermal coated, it is well worth the expense.

mustang7173

Got them back. Hope to have them on by Tuesday. I'm happy with the job.

Thanks the pic I posted was after the Cerakote was applied to the outside and insulkote to the insides. Looking forward to tomorrow when the job is done. While it is November in Iowa it was 70 yesterday and supposed to be nice and in the upper 60's low 70's through Wednesday!

 

[73pony]

Got the headers on. Sounds great. Passenger side manifold was cracked at the collector and one of the ears was broken off. They went in fairly easy. Passenger side was a breeze. Driver's side went in better than I was thinking it would. Just had to do a little grinding on the edge of a motor mount. I will try to post some pics later. Haven't had a chance to drive it yet. Need a shower bad. Didn't expect to be sweating this bad in Iowa in November but I'm not going to complain about 70's weather this time of year. Applied some heat to the old bolts to get them out. Only snapped off one and was able to get an easy-out in it and back it out without too much trouble.