has anyone found any really cool header paint that doesnt burn or flake away bought some high temp a few months back for my lil trucks zoomies and dammit if it hasnt almost burned completely off looks like **** too pipes are half silver and half rusty, kills the look of the truck
VHT make some good high temp paints, I have used the 'Pot belly stove grey, and not only does it look good it never flaked off. Doc.
I use VHT high temp paint on all my exhaust but i get the headers blasted and phosphate coated first which is cheap, Last's a good 12-14 months before it needs doing again. Steve.
I've had really good results with "The Eastwood Company" high temp coatings. I beleive they call it stainless steel coating, available in quarts or spray cans. I use the brush on (no overspray less mess). I've used it on new and old headers and manifolds. As long as you wire brush any loose scale off and follow the dirrections on "curing" them the finish lasts years. A caution on the curing, it really is important to get them hot that first time, and make sure that the car is outside(fumes are toxic).
I guess jet hot coatings are out of the question?? Expensive but all I hear are good things about them.
no doubt on the Ceramic coatings- there is a fella either in Boerne or New Braunsfels that does header coatings for us...I can't remember his name! I need a cuppa coffee. it will come to me. he's both of the ideal situation,too...good and inexpensive!
I've used VHT, as with any painting the key is in the prep. Get a Sanderson catalog for a great step by step instruction.
I like a bare cast iron look on my headers and will try Gibbs Penetrating Oil on my current built. Works also for anything else to preserve a bare metal appearance, or at least to seal against rust under primer and paint. It's available for less than the link advertizes.
Have you considered hi-temp powdercoat? Lots cheaper than ceramic, and should last longer than paint.
I have used the POR grey header paint. Its been on my fltahead 2 years. The only thing is you brush it on. Its really made for iron manifolds but in my shoebox it looks good on the steel headers. If you look close you can see it was brushed on.
I've used the POR-20 paint on headers several times - if prepped properly it's always held up well - two times it was on a race car and once on the drag truck so they were put through some abuse... Another thing I've been told by several racers to keep the steel look of headers - burn off the paint, then apply ATF every time you get back from a run for a couple dozen runs - the oil will 'bake' into the steel and seal it up and give it a nice color - the racers do it every time that they cleaned their car, and then every couple times after that once they're 'sealed' - never tried it but many swear it works well and I've seen them and it looks good
VHT. Sandblast CLEAN, don't handle with bare hands, paint in light coats, and also blow a bunch of paint in the tubes to mimic the flow of the hot exhaust. Don't kill yourself with this, just blow some paint inside. Now, install without much contact with your oily hands. Either whistle clean hands or gloves. Start and run your motor at a slight fast idle just til you see a whisper of smoke coming off the painted headers and shut motor. Let cool to room temp and repeat a couple/three more times and you're good to go. I've had the paint stay like this for years. Periodically you can scotch pad and touch up as necessary
I use the BBQ spray I get from Wally world. Lasts a Season on the race car ,still on the modified so I don't know how long it will last.
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