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

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? :D

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

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.

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!

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.