OLDS Who's ceramic coated SS headers?

[DonF]

I've got a set of ARH's being made right now, expecting delivery in a couple weeks. So I know the benefits of coating headers, but is it 100% necessary with SS? I think the biggest hurdle is finding someone to do it local, researching DYI methods now including Cerakote.

 

[olds307 and 403]

I say no. There seems to be less heat come off Stainless and they don't look like sh*t and should last forever. For the price of ARH headers, they should come coated.

 

[403Olds]

I've used Cerakote on headers, it works well and held up for years. The last headers I had coated locally, they have been holding up better. There are better prepping techniques that make the coating stick better. Both of these were mild steel. With stainless, I'll be tempted to get out the fine steel wool and just polish them from time to time. I've done this with my tailpipes, and they are now to the point of looking like polished tips.

 

[Maverick's_Monte]

I took my headers off about 5 years ago and used a friends media blaster to clean them up. Then I primed and painted them with very lights coats of VHT paint. I baked them in a large old grill that I had no use for but still worked, on a low setting. The paint has held up great and only recently have I started seeing little spots of rust or discoloration starting to form. I keep the car garaged and I live in the north east, but the garage is not heated so with the temperature changes and fluctuations in humidity, they're not going to stay perfect forever. What I am trying to say is with the aforementioned approach, I have been happy with the results.

 

[DonF]

I say no. There seems to be less heat come off Stainless and they don't look like sh*t and should last forever. For the price of ARH headers, they should come coated.

I agree, I did get them on sale at summit for a couple hundred cheaper than on ARH's site. Local shop wants 450-475 to Cerakote C-series, has a warranty but that's crazy since it's air-cure and only costs 80 bucks for the needed amount. I'll probably just hold off and clean them up once in awhile

 

[gnvair]

I would never coat stainless headers. The coating finish can dull or burns off. Stainless if 300 series when it dulls can be polished back. Can't do that with a coating.

 

[johnnunez29]

i Just had my headers coated. Cant tell you how its held up as cars not yet running. But they do look great.