You got some duds Dan, or you didn't have the slightest idea how to take care of them... I had my JBA's on for 2 years, Airborn coated, and driven in NJ winters with snow/salt, 15-18K miles per year. When I took them off to install the AS&M's, they looked like new. I sold them for a very good buck. My AS&M's were 2 years old when I bought them off a frequently driven 1000HP 30th SS. They were abused when I got them, and they looked like new. In the 9 years I've has them, they have about 15K miles on them... not a lot, but they are getting toasted with some outrageous exhaust temps on the 300-shot.

I think either you misquoted HPE, didn't have the slightest idea what they were talking about (as evidence by your quote of "false detonation or something of that sort"), or they had the bong out when they were talking to you.

 

My pacesetters came with a note... that paint is mainly for shipping purposes. It's meant to burn off. You can paint them with high temp engine paint if you want. You'll porbably blow the motor before they rust out... at least here in houston.

 

No offense, but I think maybe just Airborn is just one of the few quality coatings out there. I've had some experience with jet hot before, i used to like them. Now though, it seems like they've gone down hill, and spend more money on marketing than on their product.

As far as the HPE qoute, i did not misqoute anything at all. I actually just copied and pasted it from one of the tuner's blogs. I said "false detonation or something of that sort" because I couldn't remember the specifics off of the top of my head, and didn't want to put bad information out (like there is any of that on the internet )

here's the link of where I got the info .... if you can get past the fact it's on his myspace page, i think it's a good read...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ogID=309767102

 

I installed coated pacesetter headers like a year ago and I have to paint rust spots around the flange and collector with rust is coming through.

 

I went with coated Kooks. This thread is first place I've ever read anything suggesting that coating might come with some drawbacks. I always thought it was good to keep the heat confined in the exhaust gas.

 

I had bought some short pacesetters years ago for my last camaro, they were uncoated. I sprayed many layers of high temp paint on them.
If I could do it over I would have got coated ones in a heartbeat!!

 

The uncoated headers will last a long time if they are on a daily driven car or stored in a good garage. The only time you start running into rot on the headers is when your car sits for long periods of time out in the elements.
AVOID HEADER WRAP they will ruin the headers.
With the pacesetter uncoated headers you NEED to take off the black paint. It is not high temp paint.
The paint I used to use on mine was bbq grill paint. It holds up the best.
If you can find it with the 1700deg temp rating.

 

I've had Hooker LT's since around 2001; I got them uncoated.

I spray painted them with some high temp paint: it does NOT work, the paint burnt right away; now this was a home job with paint from autozone...

They look rusty, but after all these years, they still do not leak. If I was getting a new set, I wouldn't coat them either.

One of the tube got a dent from some crap in the street and yet, no leak. The only issues I've had with the Hooker LTs is the lost ground clearance and the ridiculous plug (lack of) access.

 

I have uncoated stainless stepped Kook's on my '95. They look as new, but I haven't/don't drive it that much and it stays garaged always.

I had previously on the same '95 a set of SLP's that I coated/painted myself w/1800 degree paint, and they lasted a very long time before pealing or fading. Use acetone if you do this, and to heat them run the car for about 5-10 minutes, then let it sit overnight and you should be fine.

My '93 has coated BBK's of unknown age, and they look like complete crap. Even if I were to sell them, I'd likely need to give them away (they look that bad).