Author Topic: Header, Exhaust - Aesthetic Options? (Read 3874 times)

Chachi · « **on:** March 04, 2012, 10:04:02 AM »

I have a 72 CB500 with a 4-into-2 exhaust. The headers have a good deal of rust, there are a few muffler dents on the left from the kick and center stand and there is some battery acid staining on the right muffler. I attempted to clean up the headers with non-aggressive methods: 0000 steel wool, 00 steel wool, Nevr Dull, SOS pads with water, etc. For better or worse I went more aggressive on the headers with a brown scotch brite pad. I definitely got some rust off, along with any remaining hope of chrome.

Without debating what I possibly could have done to clean up headers and preserve any remaining chrome - what are my options now? I don't mind a dull, stainless look, but I assume with chrome gone that rust is going to come on pretty quick. Further, I would like the headers and exhaust to have the same finish - even if it is high-temp black spray can.

I have resolved myself to the fact that I could have left the headers alone after my non-aggressive methods and just lived with them as they were, but now that I've started something with the more aggressive method I feel compelled to see it through and I am looking for advice, opinions, experience, etc.

Thanks.

Chachi · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:04:39 AM »

Another pic.

Chachi · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:05:02 AM »

Another pic...

Chachi · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:05:23 AM »

Another pic...

Chachi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:05:58 AM »

Another pic...

Chachi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:06:21 AM »

Another pic...

Chachi · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:10:53 AM »

Note: I know I could get them re-chromed or ceramic coated, but I am only interested in DIY temporary options for now. I would most likely buy a new exhaust before I paid to permanently re-coat this set up. Thanks.

RFogelsong · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:30:48 AM »

I have those same pipes on my 1975 550k. My headers are in much the same shape as yours probably were (read rusty). Good to know what not to do. I was looking to wrap the head part on mine but then decided against it since there's currently no leaks and they don't look completely horrible. At one point I thought of chopping it before the muffler weld and painting them black and fabricating some kind of tip or something. I'd suggest putting some kind of header paint (silver maybe since they're already kind of a matte) just to keep rust away and I wouldn't think you'd have any problem. Mine mainly got that way through the PO riding with a tiny worthless fender.

754 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:34:54 AM »

Do what Mick says, I see a rude pipe, and I want to paint it black.....

Ira · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2012, 12:10:15 PM »

I've painted my headers with VHT paint three or four times and it always burns off. I didn't remove the chrome (it's hard!) but i did sand off the rusty parts. Would it help the paint stick if I somehow took the chrome off? I would like a uniform black coating, but is that too much trouble if I'm relying on rattlecans?

754 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2012, 02:02:37 PM »

A light sandblasting help it stay on, and curing before use helps, makes a difference on the parts that donrt get full heat. Keep in mind havent done it for years and paints have probably changed...

Ira · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2012, 02:22:40 PM »

Would sandblasting produce a different result than a wire wheel? I have one of those. I've never cured the headers in an oven, just on the bike. My wife is going to be upset.

Chachi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2012, 03:16:55 PM »

The headers and pipes came this way; I've had the bike about six months. I would feel a lot worse if I had started experimenting on a nicer or stock set up. Also, the fact that I worked the headers over with a course pad and there is still significant rust makes me think there was no hope in salvaging chrome. However, I am totally open to the fact that I may be learning a lesson the hard way.

I've talked to some that have had good luck with VHT, Rustoleum, BBQ paint, etc. and seen some that have not. Prep definitely plays a part as well as expectations. Black spray seems to be the only decent solution I can come up with. Most of the replacements sets are black anyway. Feel free to pass along any other ideas or experience with specific high temp spray brands, etc. Thanks.

singedebile · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:01:31 PM »

i think your only option is to spray some paint like you said... and so what if you need to throw on another coat every spring, and in a season or two you might be ready to buy another set of pipes

754 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:12:04 PM »

This may, lookOK/meetbudget...
Lightly swandblast at a bit of distance, to just bite into the chrome..but not remove it..be frosty looking, might look sorta cool..

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 04, 2012, 10:23:09 PM »

ive used vht with all the special primers etc and it always lasts about 6 months,the cheap black bbq paint is still on nearly a year,ive painted a few exhausts,heres the vht paint,with the super duper high temp primer showing through

and heres the cheap stuff,youll need to get them dechromed for the paint to hold though.

JBMorse · « **Reply #16 on:** March 05, 2012, 05:02:23 AM »

I painted my headers black and was happy with the outcome. My headers were like yours in that the chrome was too far gone to shine them up.
Stupidly, I thought high temperature paints were one in the same and I used one that only goes up to 600 degrees. Well that lasted about a week and I got some VHT black after that. For prep, I didn't have access to a sandblaster so I just cleaned them best I could, roughed them up with sandpaper and sprayed them. I don't believe I cured them properly but the paint held up for a season, including my 10k mile trip. It could use a respray now but I didn't have any flaking off or melting.

In your case, I wonder if it would be possible to simply polish that metal with some buffing wheels and compound. Maybe that wouldn't last under the temperature? I would be tempted to try it, though, because I like the way the bare metal looks in your pictures.
Barring that, I would simply spray them black with either VHT or even BBQ paint. The nice part about that is you can easily retouch it later if needed.

Chachi · « **Reply #17 on:** March 05, 2012, 10:56:57 AM »

I was wondering about that too - leaving without painting. I assume rust is going to come on pretty quick, but I didn't know if there was something I could do the prevent that as an interim step to pulling and painting. Either way, I would prefer for the entire exhaust to have the same finish. I could always attempt to scotch brite the rest of the exhaust to match headers and see what happens. If it gets nasty, pull and paint and start hunting for a nicer replacement.

Ira · « **Reply #18 on:** March 05, 2012, 12:46:56 PM »

It would look really cool if you nickel-plated the headers. You'd have to really clean them, but it would prevent rust.

singedebile · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2012, 07:57:25 PM »

Dave500
what brand BBQ paint have you used? as I feel they might vary quite a bit in quality

dave500 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2012, 11:16:42 PM »

i think it was wattyl singeldebile,,an aussie brand here.

davis96 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 06, 2012, 09:29:27 AM »

The header pipe on the used exhaust I bought came BLUE

... :

I didn't go all the way to bare metal before I painted them. I used a wire wheel + sandpaper + wet sanded to get the surface even.

Hit em with 3-4 coats of this stuff:

Then used a little trick I came up with to cure the paint since my header was a 4-1 and would not fit into the oven. I have a very very small laundry room, basically only big enough for washer/drier and water heater. When I want to cure paint on a large part (I've done a gas tank and a swing arm with this method), I set the part up somewhere in the room, disconnect the drier exhaust hose so it exhausts into the laundry room instead of outside, and turn the drier on high heat for a cycle (you can dry clothes while you do it). I put a little foam tape between the doors to seal it up, and I've placed a thermometer inside showing that the room gets up to 110 degrees. Not harsh heat but hot enough that after about 45 minutes in the hot room, the paint was just about fully cured.

You can sort of see the finished product in this photo:

The paint is very smooth and has not chipped, discolored, or otherwise failed in any way since I painted it. Very happy with the outcome and it is well worth the 4 dollar can of BBQ grill paint.

dave500 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:02:09 PM »

yeah im staying with bbq paint for pipes,,ive had no trouble with vht engine paint ever and find its impervious even to petrol drips.

Chachi · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2012, 12:11:48 PM »

I know someone else that had good luck with Rustoleum whereas their complaint with VHT for headers was that it cured with a slight purple hue. Davis96... did you use the 1200 Rustoleum? I think they offer at least three different High Heat options...

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=112
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=371

davis96 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 06, 2012, 02:01:15 PM »

Quote from: Chachi on March 06, 2012, 12:11:48 PM

I know someone else that had good luck with Rustoleum whereas their complaint with VHT for headers was that it cured with a slight purple hue. Davis96... did you use the 1200 Rustoleum? I think they offer at least three different High Heat options...

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=112
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=108
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=371

The three you provided are flat/matte 1200, semi-gloss 1200 (both used for BBQ grills) and the high heat engine paint... I used the flat/matte "high heat spray." I think these paints are good for up to 1200 degrees intermittently, and 600 or 800 degrees continuously, which is plenty for use our exhausts.

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Author Topic: Header, Exhaust - Aesthetic Options? (Read 3874 times)