Restoring old headers.

[migsBIG]

I was looking to get some TTI 200’s headers or Doug’s 453’s as they fit the best with power steering on my 73 Duster. $1200 on a set of coated headers would hurt the wallet, but I found some early TTI ones for less than half of new. These are the early slip tube on the driverside, which makes maintenance much easier if I need to swap a box or starter. Though these have no thin spots, they are a little ugly even for a junk street hotrod. So I’m asking if there are some ideas I can do to make these look a bit more presentable with a brush/spray on coating? I do plan to clean them a bit, but coating them in a thermo film like Zybar or equivalent would work.

 

[Murray]

Bead blast first, then spray with high temp paint.

 

[jimjimjimmy]

It's a little more work but bead blast and use cerakote . I use , I think it's called alien silver . awesome stuff and won't rust for many years .

 

[MidnightSwinger]

I like Rustoleum Ultra BBQ paint. It’s a few bucks more than the regular bbq paint but much more durable.

Blast, wash, dry, wipe with a grease cutter(I use 90% iso alcohol) dry, and paint.

 

[dano]

I would buy the new stainless Doug's and not mess with someone's bashed headers. Too many times I've tried to buy and use used stuff and it always seems to cost close to or as much (or more) in the end to correct former owners misuse or modifications. Just food for thought. And yeah, the upfront new price sucks too, but you get a sticker as well.

 

[migsBIG]

Thanks for the info guys. That bright silver looks good. Might work nicely with polished heads going on the car.
Nothing wrong with used headers, but I will be mocking up the heads to the flanges to see if they fit ok.

 

[MMissile]

Think beat-up headers matter?

 

[mopar head]

tti stopped using the slip tube?

 

[Divenut]

I've had very good luck with POR-15's manifold paint. Held up very well 2 years in.