I've got a pair of old headers that have accumulated quite a bit of rust. I've got the engine out of the car with the headers off so I was going to try and clean it up and do some painting before I put it back in. I was wondering what the best way would be to dress them back up before putting them back on. I've already started sanding on one.
Thanks

 

take them to a fab shop and have them sand blasted then paint them with some paint that is good for 1500* and your done!

 

Thanks for the reply. By Fab shop do mean like a body shop or something else?

 

thats a nice SS man...the Z06 wheels look right at home on a Z

i agree sandblast them paint them

a body shop SHOULD have a sandblaster..

 

1500º spray bomb crap is just that... crap. If you are going to spend the money to have headers sandblasted, don't **** it away putting "high temp" spary paint on them unless you want to watch the rot come right back and lots of smoke at the same time.
TechLine makes a high temp, no bake coating for headers which I would put my $$ on being one of the best per dollar. I've had great luck with their Cermakrome line over the years.
Some people have their faith in POR15 products. I've never used any of their products but, I've yet to see a bad comment about thier products.
You could also find something through Eastwood Company.
At the very minimum, if the rust is just light scale, you could wash them using Muratic Acid to remove the rust, an Acetone rinse, dry and spray on a very light coat of primer or crappy paint to keep the rust from reoccuring until you find a coating you want to use.

 

What kind of money are we talking about? I want them to look nice but I don't want to brake the bank either.

 

Maybe your better off buying new headers? I dnt know what this is going to cost but i mean if it costs even half of what a new set would be that is what i would do.

Good luck

 

I'm gonna have a friend bead blast them and then I'm gonna spray them with an aluminized coating. Shouldn't cost more than $40.00 and they'll look better which is all I'm wanting.
Thanks

 

Most of TechLine's coatings range from the $20(4oz)-$200(gal) range (4-6oz has always done a pair of F-body shorties for me).
If the 'aluminized coating' you're planning on using comes in a rattle can... well... good luck.

 

The spray is no good? Enlighten me please. I've never done this before so if there is a better way let me know. I wouldn't even mess with them except for the fact that they're off of the car and it would be a lot easier to clean them up now if I'm gonna do it.

 

Do it right the first time and it will be the only time you need to do it. High temp powder coat.

 

High heat spray paint can handle descent temps but, usually not impressivly more than standard Wally-world 98¢ paint. The 'high temp' is usually a flash temp or the max temp the paint can take intermittantly (like a speakers RMS and Max wattage rating). 'Curing' it through baking might yeild slighty better results but, I seriously doubt any real durability (like Cermakrome, JetHot, Powder Coating, etc) by following the directions.
If you want to see first hand results. look below (I did not recommend using spray bombs but... )....

 

ya thats the same stuff i used. Man why they sell that crap, it dont work, its got a picture of a friggin engine there and their sayin it works? Meh i learned my lesson.