Painting Headers

ChunkFunky · 12-10-2002, 07:40 AM

I bought a set of BBK ceramic headers off ebay... and they are in pretty good shape... but the coating has faded and it's not shiney.. it's just a dull dark gray at this point... there's a few knicks here and there.. but could I paint them, assuming a use a HIGH TEMP ENGINE paint.... just to get them looking nice and shiney again... maybe a chrome colored paint.. I mean, I'm sure I COULD paint them.. but has anyone done this, or would see a reason NOT TO... with the coating I would imagine the paint would hold better then your avaerage painted headers? right?

-as

cyberstang5.0 · 12-10-2002, 08:06 AM

They make a special paint for headers. Headers can get up to 2150F in temp. Normal motor paint won't hold that high of a temp. It might be hard to find at a local auto parts store, but I know Summit Racing carries it. I would not chrome them as far as performance goes. Chrome gets EXTREAMLY HOT (ask Topless in Texas

) Why would you make your motor hotter then it needs to be?

ChunkFunky · 12-10-2002, 08:39 AM

i didnt mean chrome them... I dunno how else to describe the color of the ceramic coating when it;s new.. it's kinda SILVER looking I guess.. so I thought I'd slap on some silver looking paint to just make them look pretty...
-as

cyberstang5.0 · 12-10-2002, 12:22 PM

I knew what you ment. I have 1 3/4" BBK long tubes with the cermic coating on them as well... I was just saying "if" you chrome them, don't... I'm sure they sell silver paint. Most of the header paint I have seen is black or grey.

stang4to8 · 12-10-2002, 05:17 PM

i glass beaded the mac shorties i have & used 1200 degree engine paint recommended for headers. it was a bright silver color & looks awesome & im finding is very durable!

chickendreamer · 12-10-2002, 08:33 PM

I would suggest if you already have the ceramic coating on them, ask around for a place that normally coats headers with ceramic coating. You could probably have them touch up the few nicks on them, and once you get those headers in the car you will never see the patch job. I think getting the nicks and scratches fixed would help solve possible rust in the future.

1BAD89 · 12-11-2002, 01:40 AM

Don't paint over the ceramic coating. Other than looking crappy, it'll be inaffective. And don't bead blast the cermic coating off, only to paint them. You can polish the coating up some what though (don't polish them hardcore with an abrasive or you'll wear the coating off), I'd start out be cleaning them first with something like an SOS pad real good. That should restore some of the shine.

12-10-2002, 07:40 AM	#1
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	Painting Headers I bought a set of BBK ceramic headers off ebay... and they are in pretty good shape... but the coating has faded and it's not shiney.. it's just a dull dark gray at this point... there's a few knicks here and there.. but could I paint them, assuming a use a HIGH TEMP ENGINE paint.... just to get them looking nice and shiney again... maybe a chrome colored paint.. I mean, I'm sure I COULD paint them.. but has anyone done this, or would see a reason NOT TO... with the coating I would imagine the paint would hold better then your avaerage painted headers? right? -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

12-10-2002, 08:39 AM	#3
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	i didnt mean chrome them... I dunno how else to describe the color of the ceramic coating when it;s new.. it's kinda SILVER looking I guess.. so I thought I'd slap on some silver looking paint to just make them look pretty... -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

12-10-2002, 05:17 PM	#5
stang4to8 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new hampshire Posts: 48	painting headers i glass beaded the mac shorties i have & used 1200 degree engine paint recommended for headers. it was a bright silver color & looks awesome & im finding is very durable! __________________ 1988 Saleen reproduction Red H.B./Gray Saleen FloFit int. Racecraft suspension Saleen/SVO 5 lug disc brakes Saleen 5 lug mesh wheels

12-10-2002, 08:33 PM	#6
chickendreamer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 53	I would suggest if you already have the ceramic coating on them, ask around for a place that normally coats headers with ceramic coating. You could probably have them touch up the few nicks on them, and once you get those headers in the car you will never see the patch job. I think getting the nicks and scratches fixed would help solve possible rust in the future. __________________ Chicken Dreamer 1995 Mustang GT

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12-10-2002, 08:06 AM	#2
cyberstang5.0 347ci of HORSE POWER!!! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,416	They make a special paint for headers. Headers can get up to 2150F in temp. Normal motor paint won't hold that high of a temp. It might be hard to find at a local auto parts store, but I know Summit Racing carries it. I would not chrome them as far as performance goes. Chrome gets EXTREAMLY HOT (ask Topless in Texas ) Why would you make your motor hotter then it needs to be?

12-10-2002, 12:22 PM	#4
cyberstang5.0 347ci of HORSE POWER!!! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,416	I knew what you ment. I have 1 3/4" BBK long tubes with the cermic coating on them as well... I was just saying "if" you chrome them, don't... I'm sure they sell silver paint. Most of the header paint I have seen is black or grey.

12-11-2002, 01:40 AM	#7
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	Don't paint over the ceramic coating. Other than looking crappy, it'll be inaffective. And don't bead blast the cermic coating off, only to paint them. You can polish the coating up some what though (don't polish them hardcore with an abrasive or you'll wear the coating off), I'd start out be cleaning them first with something like an SOS pad real good. That should restore some of the shine.