Header paint

Tomorrow, my lake headers should arrive. My plan is to paint them with black high temp paint. I bought some VHT Flame Proof primer and black spray paint. I also have a can of Rustoleum High Heat BBQ grill paint. The reason I have these two different paints is because I'm unsure which one will give the best results.

I have used the Rustoleum on an intake and it worked great, but an intake doesn't get as hot as an exhaust. It also leaves brush strokes, but I have some foam brushes for that. It's rated to 1,000 degrees. I know good prep is needed with either one.

The VHT is supposed to be good stuff and is a spray, so no brush marks. My concern with it, is what I have seen on car exhaust in the past. Shortly after application, it looks like crap. Peeling and blistering. But the last time I saw some used was over 10 years ago, so maybe the quality has changed? Or perhaps the person didn't prep well enough.

So, I have a few questions. I'd like to hear from people who used either one and how it turned out. Is the primer actually needed with the VHT? Is the Rustoleum better? Will foam brushes lessen the streaks? Will the VHT hold up for at least a year? Will the Rustoleum flake off sooner?

Any input as to which one will yield better results? Thanks.

 

When painting my headers we ran out of high heat(2000) and had some rustoleum bbq in a spray can. Figured well this will work, they cant get that hot.....wrong! That one header we sprayed with bbq flake and blistered real fast and real bad. But i have painted mufflers and headers with VHT, the mufflers stay nice, no flakes or blisters, but the headers have peeled and flake...etc. So i dont know what works the best. Ive probably painted my headers 3-4 times and the most recent time hasnt been to bad. I need to just spend the money and get them coated.

 

I just can't swing for coated right now.

 

I know, its expensive. I guess thats why it lasts so much longer.

 

Maybe, but I've seen it blister and fade also. There's got to be a paint that works, otherwise what are people doing with the ones I've seen that looked good.

 

use the VHT, but follow the directions!
Bake it like they say, don't just paint them and run them, it won't last.

 

Subscribed, I'll be buying my lake headers before turkey day.

 

I used VHT on some ramhorns and "baked" it on like the directions said. Just ran the motor for a bit let cool etc....now 20k miles later it still looks great. So I'd imagine it'd hold up on headers. Only one way to find out!

 

Use the VHT and with proper prep you will be pleased...Ex easily get above 1000 degrees at certain parts of the ex system... like the headers... near the ports.

 

Man, I've read those instructions a thousand times. It makes sense to heat, cool and heat again to cure it. The BBQ paint just says brush on a coat with a quality brush. But I've heard good things about BBQ paint as well.

I'm not expecting a miricle coating or look. I just don't want my headers to look like crap.

 

Edit: used VHT


Same here did some ramhorns too. Bead blast them real good, de-grease and don't get any fingerprints on them. Spray several light coats and bake.

I also did a set of big block headers the same way but heated them with a propane torch (up the collector) until hot. 2 years now and they are fine.

 

The very best coating to use on exhaust manifolds is "Ceramic Coating."
Most powder coating shops can apply it; and it lasts forever.

It's NOT that expensive.

 

"Individual results may vary"...even with ceramic coating. Factors like ceramic powder quality, prep and applicaton skill. Jet-Hot and the like are about the most reliable.

 

I have had extremely good luck with John Deere muffler paint. I heated up the pipes with a heat gun first. Hasn't come off yet.

 

I used VHT and have no problems. I have to recoat them every year with a light coat but no pealing or anything like that. I just scuff it down and then shoot it with brake cleaner. once that dries completely i coat it lightly with three coats. I recommend this on headers open to the elements. (mine are run open hood in the rain)

 

i heard coat the clean headers first wit white vinigger or trns fluid. then burn that stuff off with heat before you paint. i;m paintin my headers white today, while they are off, and i just want them to stay white, any sugesstions. ill paint with vht,i'll use my reddy heater for curing.wish me luck.

 

I bead blasted my new hedman's right out of the box being careful not to finger tha surface to be painted.Shot em with vht black. new engine came few days later. slid a pair of loose pant legs over collectors so as not to scratch them during install in ot pickup. drive it every day no problems.have to touch up underneith once in a while from stone chips.over 4 yrs now.Good luck

 

well after many yrs of trying to find some good header paint ive got it narrowed down to the same 2 you are askin about.and ive had good luck with both.but i also treated them like i was paintin a car or bikdel like clean and c lean some more.now this doesnt maKE much sense but the ones ive primed with highheat primer dont seem to last as long as the ones ive just bead blasted, wiped down and painted. ive got a pair now that have been runnin for about 2 yrs that i used bbq paint on and they still look damn good.another pair my buddy runs is going on a yr with vht and they still look good so i dont know really what to tell ya...

 

I have used this myself. I bought a touch up gun from Harbor freight and had the headers sandblasted. Sprayed on a light coat and installed wrapped in Saran Wrap to keep from scratching. Start up the engine to cure and 3 years later they look as if I just did them.

http://www.techlinecoatings.com/Exhaust.htm

 

Hirsch : This is the stuff

http://www.hirschauto.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EMPT-SPRAY

 

Here is a link to the stuff we used on the raven's headers. The summit part number is VHT-SP102

there are several colors to choose from, the flat black actually cures to a charcoalish color.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/vht/product-line/vht-flameproof-coatings?autoview=SKU

 

I had bad luck with this stuff. I used the Spaceage Silver version. Had the pipes sandblasted, then solvent wipe down. Air dry then heat cured before install and they rusted in less than 1 year.

 

oooh man, i've never had any luck at all with any product. i know vht didn't work for me.

 

Chrome them, you know you want to

Dan

 

I must be the only person that has had good luck with the barbeque paint. Six years on my avatar and I think I touched them up once.

 

Home Depot barbeque in black and white! Works great on headers and complete exhaust.

 

I tried it, but it was too thin. I brushed it on with a foam brush. I don't have a spray gun.

I sanded my headers down and repainted with the VHT today. Two light coats and I'm letting them sit over night. Tomorrow, I'll put them on and see what happens.

 

I think I am going to drag this thread around again. I picked up some of the BBQ flat black paint to do the headers on my latest project. I will revisit this thread again every few months just to update how this stuff works Here is the exhaust system on day 1

 

I did headers for my car, I sand blasted them. Wiped them down made sure no grease or oil, then stuck a heat gun in the collector. Gottem hot as I could and painted them with header paint. These where brand new, guy told me the original coating will flake off shortly. Said to gottem hot from inside out and spray'em. They worked for me, factory coating on others I had wore off in no time.

 

My best? Stove paint, way better than bbq paint, go to a wood stove store, get the good stuff, not the bbq-stove paint stuff. Good quality stove paint has been on my shorty headers on my 36 going on 15 years now, will get its first recoat this year.