SROACH

I want to buy a set of stainless long tubes headers for my 95Z over the winter to replace my rusting Jet Hots. When I get them should I have them coated even though they are stainless? Also my 3 inch Jet Hot y-pipe is still in good condition. I`m wondering if it would bolt up to the new headers?

96capricemgr

If it will bolt up to the new headers is basically going to depend on if you can by the same header just stainless this time.

As tight as the engine bay is I would consider still getting them coated even if they are 304. If you get something in 409 then there is no maybe just get them coated.

In my experience coatings fail at some points on the header period. Buying stainless will stop them from rotting out when small areas of coating do fail.

SROACH

Thanks Dwayne. I think I will get them coated. It`s not that much more to get them done.

96capricemgr

I have had mild steel coated and recoated and then sold those headers to a friend and he had to have them coated again after some Wisconsin winters.
Then I tried a set of 409 with coating and they developed rust at the collectors pretty quickly but being 409 like the stock exhaust would have probably never rusted out.
Latest set of headers is 14 gauge 304 uncoated though the heavy tubing helps hold heat some, I tried to polish them up but they just discolor as soon as you start the car and even with my extra space underhood(compared to an f-body) them make me nervous and I have lost a couple plug wires.