Painting headers
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Washington
Painting headers
I just bought a set of painted steel shorty headers for my 351. I have read that many headers typically burn up their pain and start to rust, with some estimates of the onset of damage at 10 miles!
I bought some black stove pipe paint, rated for 1200 degrees, and was going to paint these headers, hoping to prevent these problems.
Do I remove the factory paint first? Should I paint over the paint thats on them already?
Any input is appreciated.
-Steve
I bought some black stove pipe paint, rated for 1200 degrees, and was going to paint these headers, hoping to prevent these problems.
Do I remove the factory paint first? Should I paint over the paint thats on them already?
Any input is appreciated.
-Steve
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Washington
I did some digging around online, and this is what I've done:
Removed all of the old paint.
Painted it with black stove pipe paint.
baked it in the oven at 450 for 20 minutes. This makes a bit of smoke...
Gave it another coat while hot.
Gave it a third coat while cool again.
Baked it at 450 for 1 hour, then let it cool in the oven.
I'm putting these on next weekend while I replace the heads. I'll post back and tell you how it worked out. I just don't want the paint to flake off and accelerate corrosion!
Removed all of the old paint.
Painted it with black stove pipe paint.
baked it in the oven at 450 for 20 minutes. This makes a bit of smoke...
Gave it another coat while hot.
Gave it a third coat while cool again.
Baked it at 450 for 1 hour, then let it cool in the oven.
I'm putting these on next weekend while I replace the heads. I'll post back and tell you how it worked out. I just don't want the paint to flake off and accelerate corrosion!
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Washington
Keep in mind that I'm hanging my head in shame as I say this:
Pacesetters from Summit. I can hear everyone moaning...
Basically went with them because they had the 3/8" flange, 16 gauge tube, and teh price was right. Most of the problems with shorties, from what I've gathered in my reading about it, is thin tubes and flanges, and the paint baking off during break-in.
So I bought a set with flanges and tubes as thick as the more expensive ones, and am trying to rememdy the paint situation myself!
-Steve
Pacesetters from Summit. I can hear everyone moaning...
Basically went with them because they had the 3/8" flange, 16 gauge tube, and teh price was right. Most of the problems with shorties, from what I've gathered in my reading about it, is thin tubes and flanges, and the paint baking off during break-in.
So I bought a set with flanges and tubes as thick as the more expensive ones, and am trying to rememdy the paint situation myself!
-Steve
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta
i'm right there with you. i just had a set of Flowtech shorties put on. apparently they were a COMPLETE nightmare to put on. i didn't have the time so i left it up to a muffler shop. they had to really modify them to get them to fit. even though they were made for my specific application
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Washington
How is your under-hood temperature? People say that these will heat it up quite a bit in there, but I figure that it should get good air circulation if you are driving. Also, do you ever have problems with your plug wires?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta
i'll let you know wheni get some miles on them. picked it up yesterday. have only driven maybe 30 miles with them so far.
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I used some 1500* flat black engine paint from Schucks on my headers. the paint held up to the heat real well, never smoked or anything. Only problem is I did a bad prep job and they are starting to rust again, but it's been 8 years since I did it. I'll be getting new headers when I change the engine anyway. 
You didn't use your in-house oven to bake the headers did you? I have heard that if you bake paint or powdercoated stuff in an oven, any food you may cook later will have a paint like flavor.
You didn't use your in-house oven to bake the headers did you? I have heard that if you bake paint or powdercoated stuff in an oven, any food you may cook later will have a paint like flavor.
