So, I'm getting a new set of headers for my T. I'm getting Speedways "cl***ic" style and can't decide between chrome or thier ANC coated. I dig the chrome, that's what I have now, but after sitting from the wreck, they have a little rust and just look bad. Plus they "blued" out. Although I kinda like the blue. Gives the T a "I ain't all show" look. Now, I know the AHC coating won't blue, but how good are Speedways? Can anyone give me thier experience with Speedways AHC coating?
id buy plain and have them coated the right way ..sandblasted clean pre baked and done right .. all they do is coat over rusty oil covered steel and it wont last or hold up .
Im trying to remember his hamb name.Alot of guys here are running his headers,,,Ill do a search and get back to this thread
Matt is the best Gear Drive Speed & Custom Website - www.lakeheaders.com HAMB name Saltflatmatt Shop # 651*485*8075
Geardrivespeed and custom lakeheaders.com ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,saltflattmatt gives a discount to hambers
I searched speedway and your using the T ones,My bad ,I thought he made those as well.Only thing I can tell you about the ahc coating is If your car is lean it will ruin the coating,Im setting my carbs up first before coating
Thing to do is run the old headers tell motor is in real good tune,then add the new coated headers,that should keep all pretty.
Well, she's tuned as good as I can get her. I'm still thinking about what to get. I like the chrome, but I just figured the AHC's would stand up better and look good. The chrome set is $80 cheaper than the AHC coated. So...... one week till I place the order. I'll keep reading suggestions, thanks everyone.
Fred, I always thought your car looked great with chrome headers. There is a Harley Davidson product that will clear the blue from the chrome or most of it. I'll try to remember to get the name later today when i am at the garage. One vote for chrome
Buyer beware, I got there sprint style headers on my T bucket, and I'm not happy no more from them. Looking for a replacement set.
weve run their coated headers. didnt seem to stand up very long.they didnt turn blue but they did dis-color very fast.thought i might have had the carbs out but i didnt.put the old rusty chrome ones back on to make sur every thing was go. then ordered a set of chrome and i still have them on with very little blueing.i took a liner that we use on new pipes for our custom bike builds that helps sheild the inside of the pipes. and it works.anyway i run that liner down every tube on the headers and let it set up and presto. no blue after about 3 yrs.
Hey Fred, I have AHC coated headers from Speedway on my car. I took care of them religiously and they are on a car with a hood but they did not hold up very well at all. After about a year they discolored, the next year the coating began to flake off and Speedway would not replace them.
A few years back I knew that Moore Power Coatings was doing the coating for Speedway headers. He did a really nice job on stuff. I had him do the exhaust on my race ATV, that thing got BEAT on, ran in mud, washed on accident and generally ugly. The coating he put on held up like a champ, stayed good looking despite my best efforts. If he is still doing the coating I'd recommend them for sure
Glad to read that you are still working on your 'T'. The Speedway (and others) AHC coated headers will hold up well if you will follow one simple step. Get your engine tuned and the timing set correctly using an old set of headers first. Then install the coated headers keeping fingerprints and/or any oil off the surface. I found out that if the timing was off (retarded slightly enough to cause the header pipes to glow cherry red after about three to five minutes of running at around 2500 RPM during the cam break-in run) that the coated finish would get dull looking and would stay that way. The next engine I built I broke in with a used set of headers and only after setting the timing and adjusting the carb did I install the new Speedway AHC coated headers. Still looked great after three years. The primary reason that chrome plated headers turn blue is because of the copper plating. If the same headers were plated using only nickel and then chrome the bluing is much less likely to occur. The timing is also very important as to having the exhaust change color. Stainless headers will turn a yellowish/gold color. My experience has taught me to break the cam in and time and tune the engine with an old set of headers first. Then install the headers you wish to run.
I had an enlightening chat with SaltFlatMatt re: coatings and he brought me up to speed. ALWAYS tune your carbs FIRST before putting on the chrome or they will blue. Same goes for temperature resistant coatings. Although many coatings withstand high temps, even they will fail if you're running too rich. Too rich causes pipes to get extremely hot. Hotter than the max the best coatings out there can handle. The coating will be compromised and breakdown if they surp*** their maximum heat ratings. Always run ****ty headers or manifolds UNTIL you're carbs are dialed in, and THEN UPGRADE once you're dialed in. Matt is a great resource and built me a beautiful set of lake pipes for my SBC. Can't say enough about how much great advice he had to share. Spend your money where it's appreciated. American made pipes from a true craftsman.
Thanks again for all the advise, guys. After a good nights sleep and reading your comments, I'm leaning waaay towards the chromies. Like I said, I really don't mind the bluing and I'll just keep better care of them this time around. As for design, the Sprint style are cheaper, but the cl***ic style fits the look of my car better. So, it's back to cl***ics. On a side note, if anyone has a set of bucket headers collecting dust, let me know. There's a guy on another forum looking for a used set. PM me info and I'll p*** it along.
I have a set of the AHC coated speedways......still have not run the motor.... These are the fenderwell fat fender units sold by them...have not run them yet, and figure if I do have problems, I'll eventually just paint them, most of the header is hidden in the wheelwell...... I would have ***umed that a "lean condition" would be much more detrimental than a "rich' one with regard to heat....... On my bikes (the only chrome exhaust I have), a lean condition will cause the bluing, and a rich condition will give the pipes an amber color......"blueaway" products work, but you will need to have to keep after them... Tom
Saltflatmatt is the best. We met him at Turkey Run and bought some stuff from him. He spent a lot of time telling us all we needed to know to build a set and is just a super super nice guy. His prices are also very good. Cannot recommend him enough. As for the chrome vs coated, I like them coated. The Limefires on my 27 were coated over 20 years ago and I could have actually reused them as they were when I redid the car last year, but had them redone just so they would look as fresh as the rest of the car. I have seen too many chrome headers on cars with rust and bluing. Don
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