Daily driver headers

usaf2006 · Feb 22, 2017

Give it to me straight here fellas..

I can't afford real stainless headers. Let's be honest lol.

Ceramic coated helps with under good temps and supposedly with exhaust flow as well.

That being said, is it a waste to buy plain headers and paint them with high temp paint? I don't race, or off road really. I just commute to work, and would like some more umph and sound. Will the non ceramic pacesetter LTs rot away without being coated?

chrisp2493 · Feb 22, 2017

I just commented on your other thread, but in case you didn't see it I'll add it here too lol. I was in the same boat, I didn't want to pay the extra $200 for the ceramic coating. I stripped off all the factory paint with a torch and wire brush then 3 coats of the vht exhaust paint. After only 2-3 months they are already rusted in a bunch of places. I can get some pics of the bottoms of the collectors if you want. I only daily drive to work, no off roading or anything. But I also live in north east Ohio so this winter has been super hard on the paint.

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ST-8 · Feb 22, 2017

Don't be cheap. At the least get the ceramic coated pacesetters.

DILLIGAF · Feb 22, 2017

JBA's ceramic coating is a ******* waste of money. Mine are all ****** after 8 months...lol..

Save your money and get ARH. You'll need a Tune with LT headers as well.

usaf2006 · Feb 23, 2017

Well if painted is that bad, guess it will be a while before I get headers, if ever lol

Marciel · Feb 23, 2017

I have jba's on my 5.9 r/t. The coating dulls from heat but has held well, granted that truck doesn't see water or anything.

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chrisp2493 · Feb 23, 2017

usaf2006 said:
Well if painted is that bad, guess it will be a while before I get headers, if ever lol

I've heard that more coats of paint was better, I should have done 5 coats at least. But don't think you have to spend a grand on headers just because arh are really good. My pacesetters work just fine and they fit very well. Not every can or wants to pay that much for a set of headers just for a daily driver

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usaf2006 · Feb 23, 2017

chrisp2493 said:
I've heard that more coats of paint was better, I should have done 5 coats at least. But don't think you have to spend a grand on headers just because arh are really good. My pacesetters work just fine and they fit very well. Not every can or wants to pay that much for a set of headers just for a daily driver

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I'm assuming that you mean surface rust when you said that they rusted. Here in Georgia, I don't think I'd have any issue with that really. I don't care what they look like.. I just don't want them to rot away, which I'm not sure why they would. Would wrapping them with exhaust wrap be better than nothing? I really want long tubes, but I would never pay as much as ARH wants, or other companies for that matter. I would have a hard time shelling out close to $500 for ceramic coated pacesetters lol. $300 for headers and $180 for the Y pipe is doable at least.

ST-8 · Feb 23, 2017

If the $200 is the deal breaker I would just keep your stock manifolds. I've had mine on for over 3years an they just look a lil dull. There y pipe is junk imo I wouldnt get another one, eventually I'll take it to a shop an get something done from headers back.

You know how much wrap cost?

usaf2006 · Feb 23, 2017

Nope lol. I'm guessing $20-30 for a roll of it.

chrisp2493 · Feb 23, 2017

I've read the exhaust wrap is worse, supposedly it traps moisture from the hot and cold cycles and rusts out the pipes even quicker. Something to look into

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usaf2006 · Feb 23, 2017

makes sense.. good to know

chrisp2493 · Feb 23, 2017

usaf2006 said:
makes sense.. good to know

Here's how mine have held up with just three coats of paint

You would have to move the catalytic converter back this far or put dual cats directly behind the collectors to work

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usaf2006 · Feb 23, 2017

Looks like surface rust to me. You said yours are exposed to salt right?

chrisp2493 · Feb 23, 2017

usaf2006 said:
Looks like surface rust to me. You said yours are exposed to salt right?

Yeah Ohio is terrible on anything metal. The winters are rough and a lot of salt gets used on the roads

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usaf2006 · Feb 24, 2017

Maybe they'd hold up better down here in no snow or salt or anything

DILLIGAF · Feb 24, 2017

usaf2006 said:
Maybe they'd hold up better down here in no snow or salt or anything

No snow and salt in Victoria and mine look as bad :puke:

HEMI_Finn · Feb 24, 2017

chrisp2493 said:
Yeah Ohio is terrible on anything metal. The winters are rough and a lot of salt gets used on the roads

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I'm just up the road from you, I'm thinking about long tubes but was wondering what options would would work in the winter salt, especially since ODOT started putting Brine down a couple of years ago...

chrisp2493 · Feb 24, 2017

HEMI_finn said:
I'm just up the road from you, I'm thinking about long tubes but was wondering what options would would work in the winter salt, especially since ODOT started putting Brine down a couple of years ago...

I really don't know for sure, idk how much better the ceramic coating holds up to salt

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Ian_Olivas · Feb 24, 2017

wait you want long tubes for a daily driver? you dont think that is a little overkill just for a daily? i would think that most daily drivers would just get some shorties and save the headache of replacing the whole y pipe

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