Recently I purchased a set of Sanderson ceramic coated headers for my 55 F100, 351 Cleveland. The motor has been in the truck for awhile and has about twenty five hundred miles on it since the rebuild. Have aslo recently added a Holley 670CFM carb with two inch riser and about everthing else you can bolt on new, ie, plugs, wires, coil, etc. I have been told do not install those new headers on unless the engine has been timed and the carb set, if running to rich can potentially blue or discolor the new headers. Still waiting on a Griffin radiator so have not had a chance to do either but before I took her down she started as soon as you touch the ignition she started and ran perfect. Have some time to kill waiting on the radiator and would like to get those headers mounted, need to rework the pipes from the header to the mufflers, a little fabrication not much.

So, my rather long winded question is am I taking a chance of dicoloring the new headers or have enough of you done this to think I am ok to install?

 

Joe -

I have ceramic coated headers on my 351C. I have never heard of such a thing. The ceramic coating is pretty bulletproof. I can't see how running rich hurts anything.

I would install them. If they did discolor, I would tell folks it was "a new ceramic process...and no, I can't remember where I got them...but pretty cool, huh?"

Make sure you run it at least once with just the headers on. Nothing like that uncapped blast...at least once, just for the neighbors.

 

Once???? just once??? say it isn't so, some of the neighbors might be a bit hard of hearing, you might have to run it a few times, even drive it around the block so that they all get the full effect of those babies.
In all fairness for those that might be a little hard of nearing, maybe a little bit of tires smoke would help them to fully appreciate the truck
(hehehehehe)

Bobby

 

I could see it blueing chromed headers but not ceramic headers never heard of ceramic headers go blue

Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.— Oscar Wilde

gee ooh

 

been running harleys for years with straight pipes outta my garage so I am sure the neighbors are used to it by now...... thanks for the input will hook em up

 

We're getting to the point of new exhaust system on my '58 F-100 with 292 V-8 with an Edelbrock 500 cfm sitting on a Blue Thunder intake, and I'm embarassed to admit this. I never thought of running straight headers until this post. But now, the devil's horns are starting to show through my bald head. I love this group!

 

Dave,
You don't have to keep it as open headers, just enough to let everyone around know that the crazy guy that is always out tinkering in his garage is actually doing something

Bobby

 

Hook em up Joe. They won't blue. Also, I hope the bed caps have arrived. You can get started welding on those while you await the arrival of the radiator. Jag

 

Hey, Joe -

Just checked out your gallery. Lucille is puurrrty! Nice job on patching the spare tire well. That new radiator setup is really nice. I am very partial to 351C's.

Those valve covers are killer! What are they? Where did you get them? Were they very pricey?

 

they arrived and are installed and have the first coat of filler and primer ready to finsh. thanks again....

 

That is nice. I wondered if anyone had "patched" the spare tire well. Mine needs it.

 

That only applies to chromed headers. Install them, fire it up, and give the neighbors the sound of the "loud pedal" Good Luck

 

i drove my camaro 250miles with just a cat on the highway once it was damn loud and was way meaner

 

found a 25$ fender at Turkey Rod Run in November that was a piece of junk everywhere except the upper fender area. Overcut the donor fender trimmed and fit it in and stitch welded it to minimze warping. A little body filler and lots of sanding, so far was a better decision than spending 325$ on a new fender and is all metal.............

 

I agree with Fordgo and TBucketJack - Discoloration would be of concern with chrome headers.
Bruce