I posted this on another forum but I would like to compare your answers.

Ok, I have $400 to spend on my 91 vette and this is what I came up with
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-68440/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-94008/?rtype=10

That should leave me enough to paint the headers and have someone fab me up some true duals
or I can buy the coated headers and wait for more cash
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-68448/?rtype=10

 

$200 wouldnt be enough to have someone fab up a complete dual exhaust system, from what Ive researched its usally $250-300+ for just a fabbed ypipe.

 

links fixed

 

its a vette just staright back no y pipe

 

The paint they put on looks good on headers, until an engine runs. Then it burns off.

 

I understand that, I was trying to say that the full dual exhaust should cost as much or more than a ypipe, which is more than youll have left over.. Also I second getting them ceramic coated.

 

I already have a quote for $200 He does all my exhaust.. Maybe he is just nice to me for that reason.

 

I used the VHT paint and backed them in the oven(I'm not married). Be sure to leave the oven open for a few days afterwords.

Had them sandblasted first, then I acetoned, and painted.
Here's what they look like after a few hundred miles so far:


The dark is dirty hands from cleaning plugs repeatedly from running rich while tuning.

 

Looks great! That kinda what I was thinking of doing.. But how long will they last Is the question.

 

Here is what mine look like after 6 years and 12,000 miles.


This is how it looked when I first sprayed it.


The key is to sand them down very well, clean with alcohol to clean off dust, skin oils, etc, and have ONE THIN EVEN coat. Do not touch the header with your skin after cleaning with alcohol. Multiple or thick coats will burn off. I'm shocked how good mine look to be honest with you. Your mileage may vary.

My recommendation is just to save up and get them ceramic coated. I wish I would have.

 

That looks great!! So only one thin coat no tack coat ? did you bake them?

 

No tack coat. I found the paint I used stuck very well to the bare metal after sanding and cleaning. My headers were new at the time. It would probably be harder on used headers. I used duplicolor high heat aluminum. The sprayer on these cans is very nice. I did not bake them. I don't have a parts oven and figured the engine would take care of that.

 

POR 20 or (Paint Over Rust 20)

used them on mine looks to be the same stuff as above or atleast the same kind of high heat silver paint. dad did his almost 3 years ago and they still look new. it actully bakes on. rubs off easy before it hardens but after it does its almost impossible to scratch off

 

It's usually around $200 for jet-hot to coat them, i had a local place do mine for about the same price. Other than losing the shine they are still holding up well.


silver ceramic is nice just don't ever run the engine lean, the coating will turn white and can blister off the pipes. Mine got pretty close to that on the dyno but i was able to polish them back to normal.

 

i have a set of used slp ceramic coated headers but the y pipe is not coated and i was reading through this and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on high temp powder coat for the y pipe. need to get it done soon getting married and need to put the exhaust together asap.