cleaned up headers

[chevyboy1983]

putting on a new head gasket and with the headers off I decided to clean them up.

[CruzinHigh]

Looks good!

Did you paint them with VHT high temp header paint?   Been wondering if that stuff really works.  I was gonna media blast mine and paint em.

[chevyboy1983]

Looks good!

Did you paint them with VHT high temp header paint?   Been wondering if that stuff really works.  I was gonna media blast mine and paint em.

yep painted them with that tonight I'll Find out when i get the heads put back on and get it started.

[VileZambonie]

It'll burn off within 60 seconds. Go for a good coating.

[dustystrucktoo]

Make sure you use new head bolts.  The old ones have already been stretched.  Please do not use the old bolts.
On the header gasket, I used the reusable aluminum and they have yet to have had any problems.  Ususally they tend to leak when it comes to the paper ones.

I myself noticed the loss of coolant in the overflow, and a lot of liquid coming out of the exhaust tips.  I will be needing to change my head gaskets as well. 

[chevyboy1983]

It'll burn off within 60 seconds. Go for a good coating.

I bought the paint that is made for headers the paint the is made for headers.  I have put a good coat on it i am going to put another coat on it tonight b4 i put them back on the truck.

[Blazin]

The only thing i9 have found that last on headers is sand blast them, and wood stove black polish. The header paint, the hight temp paint, the stove paint doesn't work. it burns off in a matter of minutes, The stove polish last a couple months.

[76 k10]

It'll burn off within 60 seconds. Go for a good coating.

man your a buzz kill lol

[beastie_3]

Ya but look how much time and elbow grease it would have saved.

[VileZambonie]

Don't ever waste your time with header paint. High temp coating is the only way to go and if you're breaking in an engine don't use your new headers, use old manifolds or headers or they will discolor.

[Swims350]

I've had good luck with header paint working for me and staying on. Only time it ever came off was if it was painted on over old factory paint. I did the manifolds on my 88 and they stayed the same for over a year.

I heard alot of ppl rubbing antiseize on them and it holding up well.

[Blazin]

The anti seize thing might be something. You can't wash that crap off with a wire brush! 

[bobcooter]

Don't ever waste your time with header paint. High temp coating is the only way to go and if you're breaking in an engine don't use your new headers, use old manifolds or headers or they will discolor.

Why is that Vile? I know I repainted my brand new Summit headers (factory job was pretty crummy) with VHT header paint (lookin good) and put them on my newly rebuilt 350 and they did just like you said. The paint literaly lasted a matter of seconds. The smoke was everywhere! When I reinstalled my factory manifolds back on the same engine after 20,000 miles, I painted them with the same VHT flat black paint and they have hung in there for around 5,000 miles and still look good. I thought it was because of the thicker iron on the factory manifolds. What the deal with breaking in an engine?

[Swims350]

usually on break-in the timing aint exactly spot on or the air fuel mix and can cause it to run lean or rich and it usually runs hotter being new and breaking in anyways getting the rings seated and cam broke in and such.

[VileZambonie]

Pretty much running the engine at high rpm without the air currents and as mentioned by swims timing off, lean etc with the thinner metal tubes they get so hot so fast they will essentialy destroy any finish.