I plan to use VHT "Flame Proof" header paint on an SS header, and am wondering if a couple coats of VHT "Flame Proof" primer does much to preserve final appearance. The color of my non-primed rear pipes has held up fine (ignoring road dirt), but they only get very warm at most. I believe I remember seeing a non-primed black W-R 4-2-1 after an extended time where the black wasn't looking so good anymore.

Anybody have experience with this?

 

i dont think the paint is gonna hold up regardless

 

^ Thats what im thinking, the header gets VERY hot.

 

If youre going to paint it why not just ceramic coat it. Thats your best bet to keep it looking nice over a long period of time.

 

http://v6f-body.com/showthread.php?t=2492

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/appe...mic-paint.html

Seems to work well when its done correctly!

 

While I had my Strup Header, I actually painted it a frosted titanium without a primer coating.

And for the year or so I had it, the paint held up really well.

I have pictures, too, if anyone wants to see it. It turned out great.

 

Yes, I'd like to take a peak at your Titanium painted header, I gather it was a different paint from the VHT Fire Proof (don't see that color). I'm also guessing the Strup wasn't ceramic coated.

 

I think I found the paint -- VHT Titanium Silver Engine Metallic.
(http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0487&ppt=C0171)

Only problem is the heat rating is much lower -- "intermittent temperatures of up to 650 Degrees F". I saw it at Pep Boys and it would definitely look great, but I'm guessing your Strup was ceramic coated, otherwise I don't think it would have survived the temps. The closest Flame Proof is Flat Gray (they're all flat), but I don't think it would have the same visual appeal as metallic. Still, I'll consider it.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0487&ppt=C0171

In case anyone's interested, the only local source I found for the Flame Proof primer is NAPA, and they had to order it from the warehouse for next day pickup.

 

I don't remember the exact type of Header paint I used, but it was a really high-grade one. I want to assume it was VHT, but it was a long time ago I bought and a long time ago since I ran out of the paint.

This is the header when I received it used in the mail:


But here's a picture of the day of install after painting:


It's looked this great since day one. The Strup header I had was not the ceramic one . It was the polished one. Because I bought it used, the header was tarnished, so I decided to paint it. I ran the header for several months before I finally sold it.

 

I've always wanted to paint my stock header but didn't think the paint would hold up

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

Ah-ha! Looking at that, I'm inclined to think it's the flat gray. I've only read unfortunate things about painting a used header, so that's interesting you were successful! Your photo gives me a point of comparison between the black and the gray -- thanks !

 

It gave it a nice-looking frosted sheen. Definitely a lot better than the tarnished form the Strup was in.

 

if the paint isn't high heat like 5000* or more be prepaired to smell burning paint untill it all burns off, happened to me in my miata.