header paint & wrap?

rod · 04-15-2022, 11:18 PM

while I have my headers off, it time for a new coat of paint. I also have had wrap on parts of 3 tubes. do I put the headers on and bake the new paint and then put the wrap on? or put the wrap on the pipe before installing them [way easier]. will the wrap keep the paint from baking correctly, stick to the paint and ruin both or ?
thoughts? thanks Rod in AZ

John Dinkel · 04-16-2022, 01:43 PM

Don't waste your money with junk paint. Get your headers ceramic coated.

lorenr · 04-17-2022, 01:48 PM

Ceramic coating really works and is worth doing. I don't see any power with ceramic, but it does remove heat from the engine compartment.

Billy Nees · 04-17-2022, 03:35 PM

IF you HAVE to paint your headers, the best thing that I have seen is krylon bar-b-q paint. Try to get them as clean as possible.
IF you can get the insides clean too, you can get this paint in a can. Plug the ends of the tubes and pour in some paint and rotate them around.

Jim Caughlin · 04-20-2022, 12:24 PM

As a long time header builder, I will tell you to plan on a limited life if you intend to wrap mild steel header tubes. I've seen them fall apart in as little as one year. Some of the header manufacturers even attach notes with new headers that their warranty is void if the tubes are wrapped.

Doug Hoven · 04-20-2022, 02:04 PM

I had heard good reviews about the VHT Header Paint, so that's what I decided to use on the header for the nova. Make sure to clean them well and use their high temp primer before the paint. I didn't really even follow the proper "baking" procedure and the white paint seems to be holding up well after a few outings.

04-15-2022, 11:18 PM	#1
rod Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kingman, NW AZ. in the middle of the longest stretch of Route 66 Posts: 314 Likes: 0 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	header paint & wrap? while I have my headers off, it time for a new coat of paint. I also have had wrap on parts of 3 tubes. do I put the headers on and bake the new paint and then put the wrap on? or put the wrap on the pipe before installing them [way easier]. will the wrap keep the paint from baking correctly, stick to the paint and ruin both or ? thoughts? thanks Rod in AZ

04-16-2022, 01:43 PM	#2
John Dinkel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pinckney, Michigan Posts: 507 Likes: 399 Liked 263 Times in 68 Posts	Re: header paint & wrap? Don't waste your money with junk paint. Get your headers ceramic coated. __________________ John Dinkel 3295 STK

04-17-2022, 01:48 PM	#3
lorenr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 48 Likes: 259 Liked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Re: header paint & wrap? Ceramic coating really works and is worth doing. I don't see any power with ceramic, but it does remove heat from the engine compartment.

04-17-2022, 03:35 PM	#4
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,488 Likes: 3,589 Liked 7,694 Times in 1,733 Posts	Re: header paint & wrap? IF you HAVE to paint your headers, the best thing that I have seen is krylon bar-b-q paint. Try to get them as clean as possible. IF you can get the insides clean too, you can get this paint in a can. Plug the ends of the tubes and pour in some paint and rotate them around. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

04-20-2022, 12:24 PM	#5
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 685 Likes: 82 Liked 805 Times in 245 Posts	Re: header paint & wrap? As a long time header builder, I will tell you to plan on a limited life if you intend to wrap mild steel header tubes. I've seen them fall apart in as little as one year. Some of the header manufacturers even attach notes with new headers that their warranty is void if the tubes are wrapped.

04-20-2022, 02:04 PM	#6
Doug Hoven Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Jersey Posts: 212 Likes: 190 Liked 834 Times in 164 Posts	Re: header paint & wrap? I had heard good reviews about the VHT Header Paint, so that's what I decided to use on the header for the nova. Make sure to clean them well and use their high temp primer before the paint. I didn't really even follow the proper "baking" procedure and the white paint seems to be holding up well after a few outings. __________________ 1189 F/SA Defunzalo Racing Enterprises