Headers

[scapello]

I am sure this has been discussed many times but I can't find it. I see a lot of pictures of people with stainless headers and have also seen posts about people polishing them. Which years came with SST headers?

[SlowOldGuy]

All of 'em.  Polish the black coating off,

DavidR.

[scapello]

That answers my question, thanks David . Next one, besides good old elbow grease does anyone have a decent method to remove the black coating?

[Marsh White]

That answers my question, thanks David . Next one, besides good old elbow grease does anyone have a decent method to remove the black coating?

I actually used a Dremel with a small sanding drum.  Yes it took a while - and you have to have a gentle touch to not dimple the surface.  Then I just used a 3M scotchbrite pad going up and down by hand.  I'm sure there are easier ways - but that worked for me.

[scapello]

That looks good, do they discolor this evenly just from the exhaust heat?

[racerman_27410]

That looks good, do they discolor this evenly just from the exhaust heat?

yes they are silver when first polished but turn a nice golden color from hot exhaust gas running thru them.

i use a green scotchbrite pad to remove stains and for regular maintenance.

KOokaloo!

Frank

[pdxfj]

When I cleaned up the S/S Supertrapp header on my '87, like Frank I used a green scotchbrite pad, but added some Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish to the mix.  Worked great at removing the oil stains.

[Shaun]

I used a soft wire wheel in my drill press set on the slowest speed, keep the head pipe moving and don't stay in one place too long. The black coating powders of the pipe, note to self wear a dust mask. Next down to the local hardware store bought three rag type buffing wheels. One wheel for each different compound, Black, White, Green. Each colour compound is a different grit compound. If you mix compounds on the same wheel you have contaminated  the wheel, (i.e. if you use green polish on the same wheel you used black with, you will still be polishing with black compound) Careful with the black as it will remove a lot of material if you are not watching, just work your way up in grades to the fine (Green, I think it was green was the finest). Also found the best results came when I preheated the pipe, I used a small heat gun to blow hot air through the pipe while I was polishing another pipe. Apply polishing compound to the wheel not the pipe. Took me about 4 hours in the garage, and pipes look great, good luck and be prepared for some dust in the first stage.

Shaun

That answers my question, thanks David . Next one, besides good old elbow grease does anyone have a decent method to remove the black coating?

I actually used a Dremel with a small sanding drum.  Yes it took a while - and you have to have a gentle touch to not dimple the surface.  Then I just used a 3M scotchbrite pad going up and down by hand.  I'm sure there are easier ways - but that worked for me.

[Harvy]

Blair Layton (some of you will remember he had the misfortune of his FJ burning to the ground on the side of the highway a few years ago) popped his head up on the Yahoo group the other day with this offering:

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o85/sv-racing-parts/IMG_3615.jpg

Interesting to see that it is a 1-4 2-3 extractor type system.

I've always thought that this is a superior way of scavenging the  exhaust gasses.

The down side to this particular system is that the header pipes are  of unequal length...... I wonder if there is a system out there that is made with equal length pipes?


Harvy

[Pat Conlon]

Hmmm, I wonder where the pipe clamps are....? (i.e.connects the head pipes to the head)
All the welded aftermarket hearers I've seen have the pipe clamps installed before welding.
I wonder how that works...

[Harvy]

Hmmm, I wonder where the pipe clamps are....? (i.e.connects the head pipes to the head)
All the welded aftermarket hearers I've seen have the pipe clamps installed before welding.
I wonder how that works...

Pat, my Tranzac headers are the same.........they have a pair of half circle metal pieces that are flaired. The clamps bare down on them and they in turn press on the step at the end of the header tubes, which push the tubes into the head against the gasket....... they are shits of things, but they work.

Harvy

[Harvy]

While obviously not for an FJ, these headers are 4-2-1 and the headers are of equal length, which should allow for equal pressure pulses to all cylinders.

http://www.mez.co.uk/mezporting/4_2_1.jpg

Harvy

[Pat Conlon]

Pat, my Tranzac headers are the same.........they have a pair of half circle metal pieces that are flaired. The clamps bare down on them and they in turn press on the step at the end of the header tubes, which push the tubes into the head against the gasket....... they are shits of things, but they work.
Harvy

Oh ok, Thanks Harvy, carry on....