Low cost SBC header coating..

[Redbowties88]

putting some longtubes on my vette and I can get the uncoated headman with just paint for 160 or so... the cheapest thing with any kinda temperature rated coating is over 400... that sounds a little silly just for a coating.


long story shorty i don't want them to look like total crap but i also don't wanna spring for the fancy coating...

any ideas for me? thanks

 

[HogAssWild]

What year vette u got?

I have a c5 with bbk shortys and there polished

 

[DIGGLER]

the coating will begin rusting within a year anyway unless you keep the car inside and dont drive it in the rain. i would consider sand blasting the painted ones and coating them with header paint from eastwood.

 

[Redbowties88]

its a 91 with the aluminum head L98 and 6sp. fun car. took it to the tack last night and bone stock besides a k&n filter it went 13.8@99 and did a 1.88 60' on street tires

 

[Redbowties88]

the coating will begin rusting within a year anyway unless you keep the car inside and dont drive it in the rain. i would consider sand blasting the painted ones and coating them with header paint from eastwood.

what if i just sanded them the best i could? would it work or no? how much does the header paint run?

 

[Mike_S]

Ive had good luck with VHT's flame proof paint. Only thing is you have to cure it (bake it) for it to hold up.

 

[Redbowties88]

Wonder if anyone has a pizza Oven I can use for a bit haha

 

[McRat]

I put ceramic coated headers on my 350 SBC El Camino.

I was driving down the freeway, and a huge plastic trash bag blew in front of me, and when up into the engine bay.

I smelled plastic burning, and pulled over, and there was smoke coming out everywhere. I popped the hood, and there was melted plastic all over the driver's header. I threw a bunch of cusswords at it, then drove home.

In the morning, I went out to clean the plastic off the best I could to get rid of the stink. It all wiped off with a dry shop rag, and I mean all of it.

I'm sold on ceramic headers. They aren't just for rust. Nothing sticks to them.

 

[Ryan T]

the VHT paint works very well! check ur local NAPA auto parts , they sell it.. its called flame proof, it comes in black , white, red, and ceramic colors..:thumb:

 

[seth999]

Go old school just get black header wrap wet it and wrap it tight...like the diamond eye DP looks...I've seen several sets done this way and honestly if its done right its not that bad looking...Just an idea

 

[Sledhead]

I had all my piping from Trent ceramic coated at a local shop, it was only about $200.

 

[05smoker]

VHT works well.

 

[ZeroGravity58]

ive run two sets of the cheap headman headers and they all sucked. The flanges are thin and they always start to leak. You get what you pay for.

 

[Redbowties88]

Well if they crack or leak they have a lifetime replacement guarantee.

Header wrap is not really an option as it will advance corrosion and void the warranty.

Thi vht stuff sounds nice but where the he'll could I bake longtime headers?

 

[Mike_S]

If you are quick, you can paint the VHT on, and then let the vehicle run for a while. There are suggestions for alternatives to baking on the can itself. I have in fact used the alternative method on pipes for my snowmobile with satisfactory results.

 

[Redbowties88]

No way i would be able to paint them on the car and not make a terrible mess. Not
much room in C4 vettes

 

[Mike_S]

No no, paint the headers and let them dry, then shortly after they are dry to the touch install them and run the engine. :thumb:

 

[Redbowties88]

Quess that would work. Also wondering about maybe like cutting a 55 gal drum and building a fire then putting the headers over it.