Header coatings - Part Two
 

What a process this has been .First I want to thank those of you that sent me PM's and phoned with advise .And of coarse those who responded here on ClassRacer have added many choices into the mix .

Because of the Holidays and some of the companies taking their time getting back to me not to mention I've been a little busy its' taken a little longer than I would have liked . Here we are in March and now the red rush is on ...........All that and the fact I wanted a change on these pipes before they were coated .They took a short trip to GAS Racing in Allentown , PA where Tommy Goldman welded on a nice set of down tubes so that the underside of my GTO would no longer get black and filthy . Tommy got it figured just right so that the exhaust will exit toward the side and I'll be plenty happy . Tired of waiting to see who I picked - here it is - after speaking with several companies that were recommended I chose Competitive Edge Coatings in Hartford, CT.I spoke with Damon there several times and felt his company would be the right choice for me .Besides racers and myself liking this company several commercial companies I spoke with have done business with them and had many good things to say .

As you will see from my pics the headers I just sent them we're ugly even though they were done a little over two years ago - bad enough that I won't mention the name of the company that did them first .Plenty of rust and scale for sure ........

Boxed 'em up nice and off to the Post Office .

You can check out their website at WWW.COMPETITIVEEDGECOATINGS.COM or you can call Damon direct at 860 882-0762 if you have questions .

I'll try and keep you informed on their progress and how they turn out .

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Jack,I think that's the old Air Borne facility.I had my headers done in 2001 by them and they still look good.I think you'll be satisfied with their work if it's still the same quality as when mine were done.I believe the present owner was a worker there when it was Air Borne and he bought the business.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

thats now central ct coatings,i had a set done there and didnt last a year,the place jack is sending his stuff is in hartford as well ,dont know how there stuff last but we will find out ,i work 10 minutes from both places gmonde

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

I guess since their affiliation with Air Borne is no more the quality went south.Too bad.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Central Connecticut Coatings



Gene Schaeffer...

"Born and raised in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. Gene graduated from Millersville University in 1976 with a degree in biology. His career began as a chemist developing high temperature coatings. In 1987, he was hired by High Performance Coatings™ (HPC™) in Manchester, CT as General Manager. In 1994 he co-founded AirBorn Coatings Inc.™ In January of 2006 AirBorn Coatings™ CT changed its name to Central Connecticut Coatings Inc.
Gene has 30 years experience in coating formulation and coating processing."


has been coating my headers as well taking care of all my powder coating needs since '95.

Just had my wheelie bars powder coated.

His product and service are second to none. Good guy and every racer I have recommended to him has been very happy with his product and service too.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Ed good to know. Just 45 mins from the house.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Or you could have sent them to NitroPlate. They not only have an outstanding product, and great customer service, they also support class racing. In an era where less companies are really supporting class racing, I'd go out of my way to support those who support us, but thats just me

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

I agree..........

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

When I post something about a good experience & product (torque plate I posted about recently as an example) along with an easy reference website, it gets deleted by the admin. :mad:

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Ken just doesn't like you Jeff. LOL

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Ya think?

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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 ! ! !

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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 ..................

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

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 .

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Ya know Jack , even with the quality coating job you got on the tubes at the rate it's taken to get the motor done they may rust again ..... Just pay the man will ya ????

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Yes, I understand the cost issue, thats why I built them myself. The broom is not a problem, but Home Depot or Walmart don't carry new headers when your hundreds of miles from home and the headers are falling apart! BTW your headers look great with the new coating, nice job.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Do you guys just not pay attention to stuff between races, or do you just run it till it quits? I don't ever remember having headers "fall apart" at the races.

The tubes look great, Jack!

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Ok, so maybe I exaggerated a little with the "falling apart" statement. I've had a collector almost fall off due to the tabs on the primary tubes breaking off due to rust from the inside, not very noticable when the ceramic coating on the outside looked fine.

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Your downturns are pointed inward not down....or at least that is how it looks to me....

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

The collectors are are on the wrong sides Rich , Kinda like tubes 2 and 4 .
Thats why Jack pays the bills and I do the work!

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

That was my guess Tom.......

Did you tig weld the turndowns on ? I have never had much luck tig welding on previously coated headers.....Tried it on my old dragster....no matter how much I cleaned the area it was not good. Mig welding them was a snap and a little ceramic paint and they looked fine....

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Rich - You are correct -- and that's what happens when you hurry - but they looked good for the picture .And by the time they get on the car I'll point them in the right direction or I'll never hear the end of it .Sorry I can't tell you about the welding stuff - that's Tommy's department .................

Re: Header coatings - Part Two
 

Rich, I tig them.
I use a 2" Rolock scotchbrite wheel to remove the heavy coating on the area being welded.
I've found cranking up the gas flow ,and using ER70-6 wire instead of the more common 70-2 works to give a clean weld on a coated tube.