I've seen all the instructions and alot of places recomend sandblasting headers before you coat them, but I don't have a sandblaster. I was wondering, can you just use paint stripper/thinner or something like that to take the paint they are shipped with off before coating them? Has anyone done this? Thanks.

Since I'm a poor highschool kid , I'm thinking about getting the 2055 hooker headers and painting them with the VHT or whatever it is high temp paint.

 

I stripped the paint off my Headmans' with a rag and carb cleaner, worker pretty well and withing two hours they were really clean.

 

Look in the Yellow Pages under "Sandblasting". Very likely there will be somebody that offers do-it-yourself service. It may cost you $20, but it's worth it.

The problem with just stripping the black shipping paint is that the tubes are not "ready-to-paint". There will be rust under there that is best removed by blasting. The blasting will also leave a slightly roughened surface that the high temp paint will better adhere to.

After blasting, be ready to paint. Clean them with laquer thinner right after blasting, then paint.

 

five7kid: There will be rust under the paint when it's brand new???

 

ME Leigh: So you used high temp paint on it right? How long has it been on, and how well is it holding up?

 

Yes i used high temp paint, the highest temp i could find. Its holding up pretty good, no flaking. But it is starting to rust a little especially around the flange.

 

I didn't have any rust at all under the shipping paint. When i stripped the paint off all i saw we really nice shiny steel.

 

So how long has it been on?

 

About six months, with only about 200 miles on them, also i try not to drive in the rain or snow for that matter.

 

Ahh... well mine is the daily driver. I saw pics of your engine in another thread, the headers have a nice aluminium finish to them. It's prolly not gonna last long, but I think I'm going with this anyway....