Register now to get rid of these ads!

Fenderwell Headers......

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by RoadFarmer, Oct 17, 2011.

  1. Did anyone ever chrome their fenderwell headers in the early 60's?

    I've seen a ton with white, and even a few with blue and red, but havnt seen any cars with chrome.
    I'm building a '55 and was thinking chrome would be cool too, but I want it to be period correct
     
  2. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,215

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    There was a popular saying in the 60's "If it don't go , chrome it" Nuff said?

    dave
     
  3. bobwop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 6,115

    bobwop
    Member
    from Arley, AL

    you might try getting them ceramic coated. The finish should stay nice and it supposedly helps with heat.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  4. SmokinBill
    Joined: Sep 18, 2009
    Posts: 846

    SmokinBill
    Member


  5. I have heard of folks getting there headers Ceramic coated after chroming to preserve the shine and so they will not blue or discolor. Anyone here done this, seems kinda pricey but cool is not cheap, I guess...
     
  6. From my memory in the So Cal area, only "Show Boats" had Chrome headers, like 2old2fast said - if it don't go, chrome it. Plus chrome on hard running drag cars will look like crap pretty quick
    Racers didn't care and the main reason white was used was White VHT lasted the longest. The other big thing was to Aluminize them, which has rough aluminum oxide coating that almost looked metallic - that was the Sheet!
     
  7. bobwop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 6,115

    bobwop
    Member
    from Arley, AL

    I sure like SmokinBill's 56!

    check out the 55 in the most recent Hotrod Magazine...ceramic coated and they look great. but did they ever get hot?
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  8. Ceramic will hold up fine if the "Tune" is right - problem is it is NOT Gasser Era Correct and looks out of place in my mind.
     
  9. SmokinBill:

    I really wasn't a fan of 56's but I am now. Perfect.

    Tom
     
  10. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,730

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC

    ceramic coating the interior not only helps preserve the header itself, and whatever finish you have on the outside, but also increases the velocity of the exhaust by holding in the heat.
     
  11. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    Couple of problems,

    first you must build the tubes just tacked together at the flange and collector. then bust it apart to have the tubes polished that way the plater can get into the insides. then you have to weld it all up again and have the welds polished. then it goes into the chrome process, even then if the tubes touch each other or the tubes going into the collector are too deep it will start to rust there first because the chrome wont throw in that area and will look like crap. better to paint or coat them
     
  12. Thanks for the inPut guys, I'll probably stay away from the chrome.
     
  13. Butch M
    Joined: Oct 14, 2008
    Posts: 1,633

    Butch M
    Member

    Me too I love that 56
     
  14. I guess white powder coating is a good choice? I have had several silver and one black sets ceramic coated and they held up great.
     
  15. bobwop
    Joined: Jan 13, 2008
    Posts: 6,115

    bobwop
    Member
    from Arley, AL

    here are a few shots from my cars
     

    Attached Files:

    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  16. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    To answer the question...NO In the early 60s the only thing we had was VHT header spray bomb paint. It was a big deal at that time. Yes it came in colors but white soon became the standard. It worked as good then as it does today...not very good for the long term.

    As I understand it header tubes like wheels need to be polished before assembly and then it can be chromed. There was no way to get a satisfactory polish once they were assembled. It was much later that the header manufacturers offered chromed headers from their factories.

    [​IMG]
    It was well into the 70s before aluminizing became popular which gave the white look but lasted a long time and could be touched up with the VHT spray bombs. I made these headers and had them aluminized....state of the art for 1976ish.:D

    If I were building a period gasser clone, I'd get them aluminized for the VHT look. The modern ceramic coating don't look good to my antique eyes.

    The headers were white my hair was brown.:eek::D
     
  17. Old&Low
    Joined: Mar 13, 2010
    Posts: 410

    Old&Low
    Member

    I think that'd be an accurate choice; my runner around '66 was a '35 Ford 5W, w/Vette sbc and 'build'em yourself' Cyclone fenderwells running 'light to light.' I painted them VHT type black, and often, to keep them looking as clean as the rest of the car.
     
  18. gas pumper
    Joined: Aug 13, 2007
    Posts: 2,957

    gas pumper
    Member

    you got to go with Tommy here. He's got good taste and experiance.

    Rust was always a problem with VHT. But we didn't know much about prep in those days. Just kept shooting more over the rust spots.

    Maybe the aluminized coating and than VHT on top of that would hold up and still look right, like the flat white of the VHT?
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  19. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    No. Powder coating is done at around 250 degrees, so every time you fire the engine up the coating would get sticky again. Needs to be ceramic or painted.
     
  20. rotten johnny
    Joined: Mar 14, 2009
    Posts: 535

    rotten johnny
    Member
    from Mi

    I had cereamic coating on mine for 3 years......Their still pretty good, lots of passes and a little street.
    If they were chrome they would be very blue at the flanges at this time


    [​IMG]
     
  21. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    The aluminizing held up real well as is but after a few years rust stains would show up anyplace that water could get into a crack to the base metal. A quick spits-spits hides the stain and blended well. Just a touch up. The knew rust stain removers might do the same trick too.
     
  22. johnybsic
    Joined: Oct 8, 2009
    Posts: 612

    johnybsic
    Member
    from las vegas

    I was planning on using the VHT white. I like the look, And seems to last longer than black.
    Im gonna sand blast um for a bit of texture, wax & grease remover, and spray.
    Hop they stay decent for a bit
    Ceramic coated is a nice way to go, But out of my budget.
     

    Attached Files:

  23. Von Hartmann
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 988

    Von Hartmann
    Member

    The old headers that I have on my Henry J were chromed back in the 60s. They came off a 65 chevy II gasser.

    They were beautiful when I put them on the car. Almost 8,000 miles later... they don't look as great.
    [​IMG]
     
  24. Von Hartmann
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 988

    Von Hartmann
    Member

    The headers on my dad's 55 are painted with VHT white. We are budget builders and the white VHT meets the budget and looks great.

    I don't care so much that the chrome discolors over time. My biggest problem with chrome headers, are they get f***ing hot! And they hold the heat. I have too many burns on my arms and hands from those chrome headers... they will really melt your skin.
     
  25. johnybsic
    Joined: Oct 8, 2009
    Posts: 612

    johnybsic
    Member
    from las vegas

     
  26. Do NOT Powder Coat ~ it won't hold up to the heat. Embee Performance in Santa Ana CA will White Ceramic them for you though.

    They do look good, but they don't look "period Correct" - Ceramic wasn't available in the "Classic Gasser" era.

    Same as you Tommy, just used to hit the Aluminized with a bit of VHT and they looked like new again.

    Don't forget VHT Blue was very popular (at least in So Cal) for a while. I honestly think it held up the Best of all the colors.
     
  27. Sorry, I should have said "white ceramic", not "white powder coat". I don't guess I have seen any around here that were white ceramic, any on here have them or pics??
     
  28.  
  29. Here's a picture from Swain Tech's home page. Swain Tech.gif
     
  30. I have heard that some Duesenbergs had ceramic coated headers. Someone said something to the effect of "We had to put wet rags on the headers so they ceramic wouldn't crack. Unfortunately I cannot find a decent source for that, so I have to take it with a grain of salt. My guess is that Jay Leno and about seven other people could answer confirm this.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.