Header coatings - Part Two

[Jeff Lee]

Ya think?

[Jim Kaekel]

Here's my .02. Like everyone else, I had to buy new headers every five years or so due to rust. I got them coated every other year to try to keep them in good shape. By the time I took my mild steel custom headers ($800.00) and had them coated twice over the course of their lifetime, I realized I could have bought a set of stainless headers and be done with it. I've run the same set of stainless headers the last 5 years or so and they still look like new and do not need coating at all. To soften the initial hit, I just bought a set of custom stainless headers, less collectors, and used my mild steel headers for a season. The following year, I purchased a set of stainless collectors.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by A56

The use of mild steel these days is pretty much coming to an end in the header industry. I get many customers that have old tired rusted headers that I end up just replacing with stainless ones. In the long run, like Jim said, it just dosent make sense to use mild steel anymore on headers. I have to admit that stainless headers are pricey, but once you've had a pair of nice quality stainless headers you'll understand that there worth the extra money, and you'll have a header that will last a lifetime which you'll never have to coat. Ive been building headers for high HP applications for well over 10 years and have never found a company that can keep the coating from burning off the inside of the primary tubes, with the amount of heat a high HP engine makes im just not sure its possible. In addition once a set have headers have been coated there really hard to repair or modify, the coating makes a mess of things when you try and weld even after you've carefully ground it off.

Mark Lelchook
#704 E/SA

Call Kevin at NitroPlate, I'm sure he's up for that challenge

[Jack Matyas]

Holy Cow -- time does fly by -- with the racing season started here in Division One and business a little better this has just slipped by - I've got this big box in my garage from Damon at Competitive Edge Coatings with headers in it ..........I'll take some pictures and post them shortly ............and do they look great ! ! !

[Dave Casey]

Garrett,

I have central ct coated headers on both my cars and they are 3 and 7 years old and look good, did you take them back to Gene ? He has been good for myself and many others. See you soon

[Darrin Christen]

Jack I hope you have good luck with the new header coating. After two different brand headers and two different coating companies I got tired of my headers falling apart from the inside out after only three years. I decided to call Mark Lechook and purchase some stainless tubing and some stainless merge collectors and build my own headers for my chevy II. Mark was very helpful in getting me started in the right direction. I've been running the headers for 3 years now with no problems at all. I don't even have to sweep up the pile of rust on the trailer floor when starting the car after its been sitting for a while. The extra cost will pay for itself in a few years in my opinion.

[Terry Cain]

Mark was very helpful on a set of collectors for me.

[gmonde]

Originally Posted by Dave Casey

Garrett,

I have central ct coated headers on both my cars and they are 3 and 7 years old and look good, did you take them back to Gene ? He has been good for myself and many others. See you soon

dave : gene has been real good to me ,i did go back a few times and he did prorate some of the work to be done ,i also understand he uses a new compond for the header coating ,, gmonde

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by Darrin Christen

Jack I hope you have good luck with the new header coating. After two different brand headers and two different coating companies I got tired of my headers falling apart from the inside out after only three years. I decided to call Mark Lechook and purchase some stainless tubing and some stainless merge collectors and build my own headers for my chevy II. Mark was very helpful in getting me started in the right direction. I've been running the headers for 3 years now with no problems at all. I don't even have to sweep up the pile of rust on the trailer floor when starting the car after its been sitting for a while. The extra cost will pay for itself in a few years in my opinion.

Darrin - Stainless headers offer some advantages but the $3,000 price tag scared me off - and I can buy a good broom at Home Depot for under ten bucks ..................

[Jack Matyas]

OK - Easter is over and I'm out of excuses so here are the long awaited photos that I finally took . Was it worth the wait ? You bet it was - these pipes are looking like fine jewerly - plenty of shine and no rough edges what-so-ever .It's a shame that they have to go on an engine and send hot dirty exhaust through them . And thanks again to Tommy at GAS Racing as the repairs he did coupled with the downturns he added look like they were done at the factory .

I can't thank Damon and the staff at Competitive Edge Coatings enough .They can be reached at 860 882-0762 in Hartford , CT or check out their website at WWW.COMPETITIVEEDGECOATINGS.COM.

These pipes are slated to go on my '04 GTO and will surely look terrific .See you at the races .......and if my hood is open be sure to have your sunglasses on .