Member Contributer adkfinn Posted May 8, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted May 8, 2018 Hey gang, I am planning to have my factory headers ceramic coated as a part of the refresh of my '98 5th Gen. There appear to be some decent shops within a few hours driving distance from me. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for? Is Cerakote brand worth seeking out over non-branded coatings? My thought was to get something as smooth and close to chrome look as possible (similar to Cerakote Glacier Silver). I may end up wrapping the upper rear sections to cut down some of the heat like others have done. Any thoughts? So far I have been quoted $250 to media blast and coat them. Pics of the headers are here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uN2y9YJAhresEE4X9 Does this sound like market price given the condition of my headers or should I be expanding my search for vendors? All input is welcome, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer adkfinn Posted May 15, 2018 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 15, 2018 Brief update for those following along: Best quote received - $250 for media blasting, Cerakote Glacier Chrome, and tumbling to polish after baking. In the end I decided to save the money and do them myself, with my thinking being that I will save my money for when one of these mythical aftermarket performance headers come out for my '98. So, into the sandblast cabinet they went. I used VHT Flame Proof primer, paint, and clear coat. I've used the primer and paint before with decent results. My prep was much more thorough this time so I am optimistic about the results. I blasted, prepped, and painted them on Sunday. My paint setup sucks if I am honest, and rattle can isn't the best, but it gets the job done for now. I basically hang the parts in the doorway of my barn and spray away. I'll upload some pics tonight or tomorrow. Total cost - $40 in paint, $10 cash after returning some old batteries for credit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer adkfinn Posted May 22, 2018 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 22, 2018 Before and after pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3CQofZ2ef3OGmtTy1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer FJ12Ryder Posted May 23, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted May 23, 2018 They look pretty sharp. Nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer adkfinn Posted May 23, 2018 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 23, 2018 30 minutes ago, FJ12Ryder said: They look pretty sharp. Nice job. Thanks for the kind words. I would call them 'good enough'. As stated earlier in the thread, my painting setup is crapola, and I wasn't really very concerned about runs or even a few finger prints (as you see). My goal here was to clean them up and get them coated to preserve and prevent further corrosion, which I think I've done. Also, for a $12 investment I won't feel conflicted about pulling the trigger on a performance replacement (if one ever makes it to market). Had I just spent $250 on ceramic coating I wouldn't be feeling so inclined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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