I plan on getting a pair of headers but don't have the money to buy them pre-coated or coat them. Seems like that itself is more than the headers . Is it safe to do this? I understand they will rust if not and the heat also. Their gonna be on an LT1 that will be used as a daily driver. Thanks.

 

Just clean them up and spray on some header paint. The stuff that's good to like 1500 degrees or there abouts. Should be able to find it at any auto parts store.

 

lol... yea thats perfectly fine...

people have been running them uncoated since... well.. when were headers invented? 1920s? hehehe..

yes you can do that...

just realize that they wont look as nice. header paint burns off. it WILL burn off. there is nothign you can do about it. some of the better header paints (VHT comes to mind) last a lil while, but MOST burn off within the first few times the car is run.... this includes the paint that comes on them from the factory.

 

Looks is the least of my worries....Well, when it comes to the engine compartment anyways. So what exactly is the jet hot coating for then? If its just for looks **** that. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

looks and its insulating... and it keeps them from rusting.

if its coated on the outside only... its just looks..

if its on both sides, it keeps the headers from getting as hot and keeps the exhaust gas hot...

the headers last MUCH longer... the heat and corrosive gases in the exhaust doesnt rust them out, and the bare outside metal isnt out in the air...

if you run your car with uncoated headers and park, when you come back a lil later the header will still burn you. when theyre coated, they arnt as hot...

 

oh, lil known fact..

silver coated headers have to have the coating polished to make em shine... thats one reason they cost $$ to be coated


if you request that they be coated black, its cheaper because they dont have to polish them.....

 

jet-hot not only looks good, it keeps more of the heat inside the tube, making it cooler, lowering under hood temps. supposed to be worth like 5% hp

 

So how much of a lifespan am I looking at without the insulation if it is drived daily and thanks again for the info.

 

Ok have another question, I have a v6 vehicle with a v6 exhaust system. I was told by my father in law I can't re-use the exhaust system . Is their any way I can try to salvage this? If not guess i'll be spending out of the wazoo for a new one, oh well.

 

buy the headers and Y pipe.

the headers bolt on. the y pipe bolts to the headers, and it ends where your cat starts... so you can attach the cat and the rest of the exhaust to it... its a system ment for the car.

headers for most older cars are not direct replacements and would require you to get a entire exhaust system to connect them... we have a "modern" car setup where its a bolt on because the header makers want you to reuse the cats...


as for lifespan, it depends where you live.
if you live on the coast near the ocean, or up north where they salt the roads, it may only be a year or two..... if you live in the middle of texas, where theres no salt in the air, and deciently dry, it probly will last years.

 

Awesome, im in Laredo and we don't get rain down here, im 5 miles from the border. As far as the Y pipe, that doesn't sound too bad, now what about the pipe diameter, if I have 2.5" on my setup right now will that defeat the purpose of the headers? Thanks.

 

Mr Dude, Mr Dude.... lol My header paint has been fine for over a month now. Before I pulled the 305 out, the headers were still black after at least 2-3 years of use. I blasted them this last time around and put a new coat on. The paint they usually come in is strictly for storage and shipping so they don't rust. You take off that paint and put high temp paint on.

 

heh, ive never EVER seen painted headers last that long.... *shrug*

well atleast on a regularly driven car.

 

So are thier any headers out thier using a 2.5" pipe and if they are will I still get some performance gain or should I just go all out and replace my exhaust with some 3.0" pipes?

 

Maybe they last a bit longer out here

 

what paint did you use? like the exact brand?


im going to paint my new headers in a few days anyway, i might as well try it...



i dont think its the area.. i mean i know im right next to the ocean, but i also see the same results in western Mass and Dallas... but i guess it could be alot of bad luck or bad prep from the burning stock header paint....

im planning on sandblasting the headers before i paint em, so they should be nice bare metal....

 

Dunno what brand it was... just picked it up at the parts store. Don't think it was the VHT brand though.

 

Yes the Hedman # 68470 mekes use of a 2 1/2 in y-pipe We here @ACS carry the headers for $229,00 coated inside and out and the black y-pipe for $95.00
281 446 6203