Ceramic coating on headers

35 coupe

35 coupe

Senior Member
Is ceramic coating worth the money on headers ? I want to put headers on a 50 ,f1 flathead and wondering if the coating is worth the extra and what the benefit of the coating is. THANKS>
 
Depending on the facilities' capabilities, there is a powder coating available that works just as well, does not crack, and is a lot less expensive.
 
My boss had the headers on his 57 Pick up ceramic coated and they started rusting the next day. On my 46 I powder coated the manifolds with 1200 degree powder and they still look good after two years of running them. The only bad spot on them is where the muffler shop muck them up. So I would say go with the P/C on your headers and save your self some dough.
 
I used "Black Satin" spray on coating on my shorty headers. Had them sand blasted and sprayed it on with an air brush. 3 years ago and still look good. Got it from Speedway. 4 oz bottle was plenty for shorties.
 
35 coupe said:
Is ceramic coating worth the money on headers ? I want to put headers on a 50 ,f1 flathead and wondering if the coating is worth the extra and what the benefit of the coating is. THANKS>
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35 coupe,
I had the head pipes on my B engine 'ceramicoated' by a nearby company that does this work as their only business. They did a great job and after 5 years of being in service on that engine, the job is as nice today as when picked up from them! When considering price, I'd consider whether the 'company' can do the job right...for the cost.
The company that I used applied the coating INSIDE and outside the header pipes. This is a BENEFIT, as the quicker you get rid of unwanted exhaust heat , the better. Inside/outside coating accomplises/facilitates this. Benefit is great look also, with no discoloration whatsoever. I got what I paid for from this vendor. Good luck.
BTW..can provide pic it you'd like.
 
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Powder coating will coat both the inside and the outside the headers if you tell the supplier that's what you want.
 
Go for it. I had my Fenton cast iron headers Jet Hot Coated 10 years ago and they still look brand new.
 
One downer to the ceramic coating, and to a lesser degree the powder coating: Heat transfer is shunted down the line to the exhaust pipes and mufflers, which will shorten the life of those components. The flip side is less heat in the engine compartment, so fewer problems with corn gas.

Ceramic coating the inside of the block exhaust passages is also done by some places (I think Jet Hot is one), is the gold standard for heat transfer benefits on a flathead.
 
I painted my Fenton headers with POR 15 Manifold paint and after one winter in an unheated garage (early warm spring temps and a cold floor) they were full of rust. I don't know if the ceramic would have helped either?
 
BILLF/TRF said:
I painted my Fenton headers with POR 15 Manifold paint and after one winter in an unheated garage (early warm spring temps and a cold floor) they were full of rust. I don't know if the ceramic would have helped either?
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Bill, POR 15 is neither a rust preventative nor a sealer against rust. What POR 15 does seem to do well is to provide safe haven for rust to fester unseen.
 
I haven't fired this 35 block up yet but these headers were custom made to fit with our RHD steering box and starter on the same side. The jet hot inside and outside look nice, will be interesting to see if the colour changes much.
 
Dan, you won't get a color change with Jet-Hot unless you run the motor lean, and for a long time. They would darken a bit and look a little less shiny. Does Jet-Hot still guarantee their product?
 
I have Red's headers on the 8BA in my 32 roadster. They were Jet Hot coated 7 or 8 years ago and after almost 3,000 miles they look as good as the day I put them on.
 
I've been sending my manifolds to Capp's Coating in Fresno, Ca. I've had excellent luck with their coatings.
I used to use the paint from POR 15 and from Eastwood. The early paint from Eastwood was very good. I bead blast the manifolds prior to painting. The later stuff from them allowed the manifold to start rusting a year or so after it was put on. The same for the POR 15. I will not waste my money on the manifold paint in the future.
 
DavidG said:
Powder coating will coat both the inside and the outside the headers if you tell the supplier that's what you want.
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I thought powder coating was only good for temperatures below 500 degrees F.


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