What to do with rusty headers??

[restomod22]

Can anyone tell me what the pros and cons are of using ceramic header wrap?? Or, is there anything else I can do to clean up my rusty headers? I of course thought paint, but didn't know how long it would last and if it was worth the trouble. I've heard good and bad about header wrap, the bad mostly regarding shortening the life of the headers. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks for any help.

 

[85GTlover]

A wire wheel on a grinder works amazing.....I stripped my entire car this way, does not harm the metal, it took a long time but headers would be done in no time. Even a wire wheel on a drill would work but not as fast. I have not heard of header wrap shortening the lifespan of the headers, it would help with heat, how much I do not know but I hear paint does not last. The header tape would last longer in my opinion. I cannot see how the tape would harm the headers.

 

[restomod22]

Yeah, I thought about that. I thought about possibly sand blasting as well. I just wonder how long before they rust again?? Can I apply anything to them to dress them up? Isn't there header paint? I've heard someone say that the wrap traps the heat so much that it may cause the headers to crack prematurely.....I dunno though, I have to plead ignorance on that one.

 

[allcarfan]

sand blast, wash with acetone and paint with some good high, heat paint and you will be fine.

 

[restomod22]

Thanks acf, that's what I'll do. I guess you've had luck with this? How long has the paint lasted?

 

[TurboDoctor]

wrap and tape will kill your headers in half the time. the tubes have no access to cool air beeing passed around them as a result the inside of the tubes get so hot that the gasses exiting the tubes start to take metal with them. So they eat themselfs up from the inside out. But hight temp paint works just fine. You can buy the paint that they use for bbq's ect ect. and it will stand up just fine. I actually bought a gallon of it and blocked off the collector and filled the inside of the tubes with paint about 3/4 of the way up to the flange and then unblocked the collector and let the left over paint drain out. Proably didnt come out super even but keeps the inside from rusting out as well