what to do about headers

[sidewayzisbest]

I have mac longtubes headers. They been kinda of rusty and i bead blasted them and painted them with 1200 degree black paint.(just for looks right now that prob flake off or if anyone knows a good paint that wont). Well i was thinking of wrapping them with black header wrap also. Should i do it? or not worry bout it , cant afford or have time to get them cremic coated. thanks

if i should do the wrap how much should i get?

 

[Rick 91GT]

I used the DEI silicone high temp header/exhaust paint before and it held up very nicely. Summit Racing sells it is alum or black for around $7 a can.

If you used the Duplicolor engine high temp paint it will not hold up on the headers.

 

[FiveLtrRiceEatr]

get them ceremic coated it'll last forever i would def. recomend it

 

[pisgahhiker]

I do ceremic coating pm me and I might beable to help you out

 

[GRGT1994]

Before you do header wrap, run a few searches. I have read some bad things about it. It sounds like your headers will cook far too hot with the wrap, and melt or degrade rapidly.

But I know nothing about this first hand. So again, search on header wrap.

 

[90mustangGT]

I haven't tried this, so don't hold me to it but I have scene the results and heard from some older hot-rodders that this works.

With the headers clean of the paint and other components coat them with trans fluid, fire the engine up in a well ventalated area and allow it to burn off, then repeat this after it cools down. It leaves a gunmetal like finish and seems to keep rust off them and last a long time.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I haven't tried this, so don't hold me to it but I have scene the results and heard from some older hot-rodders that this works.

With the headers clean of the paint and other components coat them with trans fluid, fire the engine up in a well ventalated area and allow it to burn off, then repeat this after it cools down. It leaves a gunmetal like finish and seems to keep rust off them and last a long time.

Wow i've NEVER heard of that one....sounds crazy enough that someone's probably done it and it worked. Seems like it would burn and stink/smoke like crazy though.

 

[90mustangGT]

Wow i've NEVER heard of that one....sounds crazy enough that someone's probably done it and it worked. Seems like it would burn and stink/smoke like crazy though.

I knew a guy I used to work with and he had done it to his truck on a set of Flowtech longtube headers and he parks it outside and daily drives it everyday. He said the flowtechs had leaks the first time he started them up, had the leaks welded, they started to rust, he sandblasted them and then did this technique and never had problems with them since, but he reapplied it a few times over the years. He said it does make a lot of smoke and stink but goes away in a short time.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I knew a guy I used to work with and he had done it to his truck on a set of Flowtech longtube headers and he parks it outside and daily drives it everyday. He said the flowtechs had leaks the first time he started them up, had the leaks welded, they started to rust, he sandblasted them and then did this technique and never had problems with them since, but he reapplied it a few times over the years. He said it does make a lot of smoke and stink but goes away in a short time.

That kinda makes me wonder if you could do that and then use some quality hi-temp paint and make it last longer.....just not sure if the paint would adhere to the lubed and burned up surface. I'm sure my MACs will rust up eventually...i'll have to give it a shot.


Also, as far as the header wrap goes, i've heard horror stories about hot spots on daily driven cars, not to mention that the wrap collects moisture while the car isnt being driven, so if it's not a daily driver, it could add to rust buildup under the wrap. That aside, it's gotta have some benefits that outweigh the cons since it's been around for so long.

 

[Black1987Stang]

A guy from a classic car show told me about the trans fluid trick. Never seen it done though, he said it turns it white. I got some "jet hot coat spray" from a swap meet that is not supposed to burn off or anything. havent tried it yet.