Header Paint?

[TravisB]

Anyone have any words of experience on painting a set of headers? I picked up a pair of rusty truck headers and want to paint them before putting them to use. I really like the look of white but I don't have high expectations they would stay that way.

You guys use bbq paint, vht flame proof, standard rattle can stuff because nothing lasts? What about it?

 

[legopnuematic]

I used to use the white high heat paint, which worked good, but I tried the almond when I did my H pipe and found it to cover better than the white (but really cant tell much of a difference).

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This is the almond paint on my exhaust.

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The headers I hit with some of the white bbq paint, which has held up pretty good, but the headers had been coated with some type of textured coating that is now chipping/flaking off, but the bbq paint has stayed mostly on there. Theyre not perfect but over a year later still bright white.

 

[TravisB]

I used to use the white high heat paint, which worked good, but I tried the almond when I did my H pipe and found it to cover better than the white (but really cant tell much of a difference).

The headers I hit with some of the white bbq paint, which has held up pretty good, but the headers had been coated with some type of textured coating that is now chipping/flaking off, but the bbq paint has stayed mostly on there. Theyre not perfect but over a year later still bright white.

Thanks, I was afraid white was a lost cause but you have given me some hope

 

[waterpirate]

IMHO paint on the headers is a losing battle. Have you considered wrapping them with the white fabric for heat insulation like on chopped scooters? I saw some on the summit site.
Eric

 

[TravisB]

IMHO paint on the headers is a losing battle. Have you considered wrapping them with the white fabric for heat insulation like on chopped scooters? I saw some on the summit site.
Eric

I thought about that but someone on here said they would cause the headers to rust. Something about the heat and cooling trapping moisture etc. It made enough sense that I've almost dismissed the idea.

 

[82sbshortbed]

I bought these brand new had them sand blasted and painted with VHT silver. Hadn't had a chance to test it but, they look good.

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[Snoots]

I thought about that but someone on here said they would cause the headers to rust. Something about the heat and cooling trapping moisture etc. It made enough sense that I've almost dismissed the idea.

Yup. They will rust. If you're going to go to the trouble and $$ get'em ceramic coated and don't look back.

 

[hoagster]

Camar068, once told me and I quote, " You can spray those exhaust manifolds with Ospho (after cleaning with a brush) and let them sit overnight. Then spray them with Rust-o-leum Ultra high heat spray paint." Not sure if they have it in White, but it's worth a try!

 

[ali_c20]

VHT flame proof after sandblasting. No chipping or rust in six years.

 

[TubeTruck]

I thought about that but someone on here said they would cause the headers to rust. Something about the heat and cooling trapping moisture etc. It made enough sense that I've almost dismissed the idea.

It's a controversial subject but they rust whether you wrap them or not. If you wrap them well they will last a long time. I've seen many headers wrapped and 5 years later they pull the wrap off and the headers look fine, probably better than if they weren't wrapped. It is more of a "race" thing to get every HP out of an engine as possible. For DD use I would probably paint them, but saying that I'm a hypocrite because I plan on wrapping mine, lol.

 

[ShortBus]

I've had good luck with vht.

 

[wingman50]

Spray mine with Graphite. Low cost, easy to apply. The Graphite will wear off however lasts quite a while. Additional applications increase the durability. The color is carbon black.

 

[Arkansas_V8]

I painted the headers on my old Suburban with every variation of High temp paint. I used black and within weeks they were white. Nothing I used lasted. I finally said screw it and wrapped them. They were still going strong when I re-wrapped them 6 years later.

I went with mother nature’s rust on this suburban.

 

[idahovette]

I painted the headers on my old Suburban with every variation of High temp paint. I used black and within weeks they were white. Nothing I used lasted. I finally said screw it and wrapped them. They were still going strong when I re-wrapped them 6 years later.

I went with mother nature’s rust on this suburban.

Yeah, Brent old color reintroduced by Krylon or VHT??!!!

 

[Snoots]

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-hi-temp-internal-exhaust-coating-w-nozzle.html