Hey guys. Ive got a set of fenderwell headers, In raw steel...Which wont look good for too long. As far as painting um ive searched around and gotten some good recomendations on header paint. But what is the procedure for doing this? Just wipe um off and spray? or what.
I used POR-15 paint on my Block Huggers. Sandblasted, paint with a brush. I did the whole twin exhaust, incl. mufflers. You have to fire up engine pretty soon and the heat cures the paint. Do it outside, because the ****** smoke it causes filled my garage for about 10 mins. The POR-15 is the best heat proof paint I, or any of my mates have ever used. Friends have used it 6 or more years ago and pipes look like they were painted yesterday. If you are going to use it, buy a small tin, it goes a long, long way.
I have gotten good results by sandblasting them and then immediately spraying them with Eastwood High Temperature Exhaust Coating. I buy it in the pint sized can and spray it out of a conventional siphon spray gun. I thinned it a bit with xylene I think. The directions are on the can. I sprayed two coats on some exhaust components and the stuff has lasted for years.
Ahh yes...Sandblasting, God i thought i was done with you! at least for a while Makes sense. never thought about having to "Cure" or bake the paint, considering my engine aint gonna be ready to fire for a while i guess ill hold off, but good info to know. Ive heard good things about the Por15, Good things indeed.
I've always had good luck with black BBQ paint. Install them and run the engine for a few minutes, then let them cool down and rub the tubes with a newspaper. Then run the hell out of them. I'm too cheap to buy header paint.
bbq paint works ok .the best stuff ive used is por 15's cast grey manifold paint then id say eastwoods cast grey manifold paint vht paint is junk dont waste your time or money
I've had good luck with Eastwood's brush on stainless steel header paint. I bead blast them first and then use a foam brush usually 2 coats.
I have a set of fenderwell headers on my BB 56 Chevy. Sand blasting would be the best for adheasion. I hosed mine down with brake cleaner and let them air dry for an hour then shot them with white VHT header paint. If you follow the directions on the can for curing the paint (it is very specific) you will have a coating that will not burn off. I painted my headers three years ago and they still look great, minus the bugs and road debris that you get with a set of white headers being directly behind the front wheel. I have even spilled brake fluid on them and it wipes right off without damaging the coating. Good stuff, cheap and easy to touch up if you have too.
we had a set powder coated at the resto shop i work at just to see what would happen. month later i had them in the sandblaster and we put the eastwood stuff on them it seems to be working pretty good eastwook makes some nice products. would like to try to POR15 stuff though and see how that looks.
X2 If you are going black, consider getting them coated in Metallic Ceramic Black Coating. It lasts longer then paint and holds the heat in the header creating better exhaust velocity while keeping the outside air temp down.
Johnny, I used a #m scratch pad on my new headers,wiped down with laq.thinner,Let dry a good hour, then hit it with several LIGHT coats of VHT paint I used white but I used light coats no runs and I've been running around for a couple of months and no problems. Leaked some brake fluid on then and it wiped off. Took like 3 cans at like $100.00 per can I believe. Something like that but I think being on a tight budget I believe that not too bad. Just don't lean into them while trying to set the timing and turning the dist. You'll have a weinie roast in your pants. Don't ask me how I know.lol.YRUHOT.....Doug
I sandblasted then painted mine with white BBQ paint. Says it holds up to 2500 degrees. They look great, but I haven't run the engine yet.
I had mine sandblasted then went over them with 120 grit sandpaper to smooth them out a bit then sprayed them with VHT header paint, followed the directions on the can for curing process. Never had any problems with blistering or flaking I even got caught in a rain storm last week for about miles week and the cleaned up fine with a little scrubbing.
The Jalopy Journal
