RUST!!

Hey guys... Looking for a little more insight here. I'm cleaning as I tear down, trying to save myself some time during the re-install process. There is a decent amount of rust on the inside of the header pipes. Any removal tips, or am I doomed for replacement?

 

If you have a container large enough, you could remove the rust by electrolysis, using a battery charger, if the headers are chrome, not so sure.

 

sorry to say...... doomed, anything you put on there will eventually burn off, you may be able to prolong the inevitable with getting the rust off sandblasting or whathaveyou and using header paint but not sure its worth the effort. best header paint is from eastwood if you decide to do it.

 

you may be able to use a specialty abrasive product called a flap disc to clean up the inside of the pipes - different diameters, length and grit sizes available on a .250 shank - it works by sweeping the inside diameter so choose a size slightly larger than inside diameter - power up inside hole not outside or the edge will cut the abrasive flaps off - I'm sure if you google the product name you can find a pick

 

Electrolysis would be my choice since it only removes the oxidized particles and leaves the healthy metal intact. It will work even with chrome, but unfortunately it will remove the chrome plating as well. Of course once chrome starts to rust it's pretty much gone anyway since it is razor thin. The nickel plating beneath the chrome will stay as it requires an acidic bath with electrolysis to remove. You could then paint your headers with high heat (2000F) ceramic paint. If you decide to do the electrolysis a trash can or large plastic tote would do the trick. You could also take them to a plating shop and have them redone, it would be pricey but if you do the prep for them less so.

After all the effort you would have some decent headers that should last a good while, but I doubt they would last as long as some nice newly chromed aftermarket ones. Keep us informed on your progress.

 

A bit of rust on the inside of the factory pipes - -

Are you folks kidding me, or what !!

Bolt it all up and blow it out. It's supposed to be stainless and the rust is just a bit of fluff anyway.

 

Most plating shops will likely refuse doing a replating job on used header pipes due to the carbon buildup in the pipes contaminating the expensive acid bath in the tanks.

Depending on how sever the rust is.
Light surface rust: Polishing compound, and a buffing wheel in an electric drill.
Medium/Heavy rust, obvious chrome loss: soda blast the pipes. Then have them ceramicoated. (Similar to powder coating but uses ceramic base to withstand heat). Can be color matched/contrasted.

Extreme rust. Holes in outer shell: Scrap materials for custom pipes.

Jet hot makes a high temp exhaust paint. Unless you can follow the prep/paint/curing directions completely will only last approx 2 years. Only comes in flat colors

Ghost

 

So...stainless steel won't rust and even if it does it's just like lint and will simply blow away? Surely you jest. Yes surface rust is not a big concern, but he did say a 'decent' amount of rust, which isn't fluff and can only be there because that metal is being converted. It will only get worse and faster as it goes. I seriously doubt these headers were made from ultra-premium stainless, which is the only kind which won't rust until a very long time has passed..