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View Full Version : DIY Old headers; new again.



cyryl07
26-06-2010, 11:36 PM
Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!

Hey guys this is only my first post so I apologise if I sound like a beginner lol.

So I wanted my old headers to look new and shiny again. It was pretty easy. I guess you just need patience and motivation.

Materials:
1 x 400 Grade sand paper
1 x 800 Grade sand paper (ALL WET AND DRY SAND PAPER)
1x 1200 Grade sand paper
1 x 2000 Grade sand paper
Metal polish
100% Cotton cloth
Bucket

I'll recommend that before you do anything, taking the headers out of the car might make the job easier. I didn't do it though, and that's why I recommend that you should lol...

Step 1:
First you need water, so fill the bucket with it (I used a bucket to save water lol).
Then grab the 400 grade sand paper, divide it into 4 and use each peice of sand paper for each pipe.
The area that you're sanding needs to be wet while your sanding it.
Try to sand in one direction.
Your aim is for the silver metal finish to show.
When you're sanding, try not to put too much pressure on the pipes.
Like I said, you need patience if you want it to look good.

Step 2:
After you've done all 4 pipes with the 400 grade sand paper, it should already have that silver metal finish.
After this, move on to 800 grade sand paper and repeat the same procedure.
This will help reduce the scratches and scrapes that the sand paper made on the silver metal.

Step 3:
Use the 1200 grade sand paper and again this will help reduce the scratches and scrapes.
Continue with the same procedure.
The only difference with this one is that I only used a quarter of the sand paper sheet for the 4 pipes.

step 4:
Use the 2000 grade sand paper.
Try to make the metal really shiny!
Again, this will help make the scratches and scrapes of the sand paper on the metal less obvious.
Here, I also only used a quarter of the sand paper sheet for the 4 pipes.

step 5:
Use the cotton cloth and dip it in the metal polish.
Do this part exactly like how you would if you were polishing your car.

When this is all done, your headers should be almost look as if they were brand new.

If you have any other ideas in regards to doing this, or maybe you have anything to say, feel free to add comments or ask me questions. :thumbsup:

It's not really my exhaust manifold but it looked exactly like this. Old and rusty lol.
http://image.automotive.com/f/images/9551565+pheader/130_0804_07_z+1989_honda_crx+mugen_headers.jpg

Because the exhaust gets really hot, the metal turned from shiny silver to a gold colour ...
after photos:

DLO01
27-06-2010, 12:12 PM
Good write up. Wheres the AFTER photos???

cyryl07
27-06-2010, 03:06 PM
after photos are up

WATAJK
27-06-2010, 05:04 PM
HOLY S*IT Well done... VERY NICE

thegame888
27-06-2010, 05:55 PM
Good write up. I did this a few days ago as well. This method works well on mufflers also.

You can use a scourer sponge with some polish instead of wet sanding to get a similar result.
But it depends on the severity of the discoloration. Wet sanding is a faster way but also
presents the risk of damage for the inexperienced.

I find that Mothers metal polish paste works the best of the polishes; it's a quality product. It's
pricey but well worth it. It cost me $20 for a small tin from Autobarn. Autobarn have 20% off
at the moment for those of you who are interested.

Tip: an old toothbrush works wonders for tight spots.

And yeah, as stated, taking your headers off makes the job a lot easier and you can get a
much more complete finish. cyryl07 I'm sure you would agree that you weren't able to get to
every part of the headers on the car. Great result anyway!

Last thing, make sure to degrease the headers prior to running the car. The heat from the
headers will burn your oily fingerprints onto the metals' surface otherwise. You don't want black
fingerprints on your shiny headers!

cyryl07
27-06-2010, 06:27 PM
Thanks for the positive feedback guys.

Yeah the muffler was actually my next DIY post. It would look good on the ED since the muffler goes across.
Anyway, taking the headers off would have actually made it a lot easier but I didn't want to take the risk of
having an exhaust leak when I put it back on. I could have bought gaskets but I wanted to save money lol.

I didn't get most of the exhaust but I tried my best to get as much as possible.

Thanks again for another method of getting it done 'thegame888'.
Like I said feel free to post comments if you have other ideas to make it a little bit easier for all of us.

dougie_504
27-06-2010, 11:28 PM
Very nice write-up. Thanks, because my RS*R headers are filthy and ruined and a long time ago I was asking around to see if I could polish them up but everybody said it was hopeless unless I get them re-painted or ceramic-coated etc.

I'm building my head so will do a good job on them when they're off for port-matching.


Thanks!

cyryl07
28-06-2010, 04:00 PM
yeh man thats what i thought as well. lol

MrJohn
28-06-2010, 04:04 PM
wow thats very good!!!!

mytfoz
30-06-2010, 01:43 AM
great write up.

DC28OY
30-06-2010, 01:27 PM
this is the berry good ones cyryl, looking berry new now ah lol ... clean engine bay too lol

VT3C
01-07-2010, 05:29 PM
Mother's metal 'Polysh' I think it is called I'd agree is the best i've used..

IMO use Brake-Cleaner rather than Degreaser as the last step before you start-up the motor.

cyryl07
02-07-2010, 12:47 AM
Mother's metal 'Polysh' I think it is called I'd agree is the best i've used..

IMO use Brake-Cleaner rather than Degreaser as the last step before you start-up the motor.

brake cleaner is it? what do you do? do you just spray and wipe?

cyryl07
02-07-2010, 12:48 AM
this is the berry good ones cyryl, looking berry new now ah lol ... clean engine bay too lol

thanks bro. hahaha yeh man better than before. engine bay isnt looking too good lol.

euromandeluxe
02-07-2010, 01:54 AM
over time the polished headers will re-corrode and return to their rusty appearance, yes?

a spray of extra-high temp clearcoat over the top might give the shine a longer life. at least, that's what i'm going to do when i polish up my mufflers next week :)

cyryl07
02-07-2010, 05:15 PM
over time the polished headers will re-corrode and return to their rusty appearance, yes?

a spray of extra-high temp clearcoat over the top might give the shine a longer life. at least, that's what i'm going to do when i polish up my mufflers next week :)

let us know how it go with the high temp clearcoat

nickk
13-07-2010, 06:10 PM
brake cleaner is it? what do you do? do you just spray and wipe?

It's similar to degreaser... however it evaporates shortly after contact, that way there are no wet terminals and dizzy's.... ooo and less of a burning smell after you start it as opposed to washing with degreaser.
Nice write up.