Here is the results and I have no knowledge of vinegar and NOT 409 stainless as HeyYou mentioned as I thought they were the grey type that were unfinished for coating ? Maybe , but these look really good . What would be the next step for keeping them from flash rusting, which will happen within a few minutes , yes 3 to 4 at minimum as it happen on the grey coating ? .

 

Those are not stainless steel.

High temperature paint? Though it better be awfully "high".... as headers tend to get rather hot.

 

Oh yes , I found these are coated with a grey color but will flash rust so there went the idea of a grey stainless 409 , SO what is the coating if it flash rustes over slightly , these are a old set from many years ago and seems I can not find a outlet that sells these 79540 model .

Going to do 1500 degree pait just do not know what the last cleaning should be after cleaned in vinegar then scrubbed down and rinsed and break cleaned ?

The hit them with a good 1500 degree primer then paint . What brand of high heat paint is best also ?

STeve

 

Hopefully it isn't just "primer", as in my experience, primer is not a sealer.... it will still rust thru.

The headers are likely just plain old steel. They may have been galvanized at one time, but, that likely burned off long ago. After you wipe 'em down with the brake cleaner, hang 'em, and paint 'em. Another option would be to send them out to have them ceramic coated, but, not an inexpensive endeavor. (inside and outside if it isn't too stupid expensive... no clue who does that these days though.....)

"Rusty Headers" is pretty much a given. Even brand new, they come painted, but, the paint burns off in short order, and the rust comes shortly thereafter. I bought some cheap chinese stainless headers for my truck, to replace the cheap chinese stainless headers that..... rusted out.... They are of decent quality, came with dead-soft aluminum gaskets, seal up good, and have been trouble free.

 

I thought about it more and went and checked the inside of the main collector and all in the tubes are grey also , and apperas to be the same like coating with no runs anywhere .

I took scotch brite to the 1 ( all I have ATM ) and no grey residue at all . So I will find if they have been coated from the person, my good friend/neighbor , I got them from , he a long time dodge/chrysler fan , and worked in a dodge dealership until he quit and started working from home , he does good

I would have bought a set of those cheapese headers also if I had not mentioned I was looking at some to buy and he said I got a set for 50 bux , Hedman Hedders for 50 bux that look this good and they have weight I throwed the money at him LOL .