How to get that brushed look on stainless headers...

[John McIntire]

I've been looking online on ways to "brush" stainless tubing.

Is all you need is a Scotchbrite pad and some WD-40 and brush in one direction?

Anyone done this and have any input or pics?

I have this pic from one of DSE's builds. I like the way it looks and would attempt this on my stainless Hooker headers.

I know they probably grind all the welds smooth so it looks like one continuous tube, I'm not going to go that far, I'd just like to give it that brushed look.

Thanks!

Here's a link to the pic of DSE's work.

https://flic.kr/p/29wMWnJ

[WOLF44]

cs unitec makes the belts for graining tubing. FYI it's NOT going to stay looking grained very long if you run the engine.

[John McIntire]

Any other input on this? It doesn't bother me if I lose the "grain" look, I'd just like it to be uniform in color. I kinda like how they look a little bronze color after a few heat cycles. I'm not trying to preserve the stainless color.

Thanks!

[latoracing]

I built some equal length (primaries) Try-Y headers and brushed finished them. If the tubing is fairly scratch free, and depending on how good you want them to look, red scotch-brite will do the job without WD-40. The tubing will retain the brushed look but will discolor from heat. If the tubes are scratched or marred from forming, sand with some 180 or 220 grit, then red scotch-brite.

159690

If you want to achieve a better finish (which will be a waste of time on headers IMO) you can buff the tubes then go back over them with grey or white scotch-brite to give them a deeper luster. My exhaust tips were brushed in this fashion and have a uniform look to them.

159691

The key to all this is to go in the same direction.

[2yellow69]

It isn't very expensive to coat them in pretty much whatever color you want. It will help under the hood with temps and it should last a long time too! I think the company I used told me it was $175 to do full length headers. I know it wasn't what you were asking about but just something I thought I'd throw out there.

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[showdog75]

Don't grind the welds down. You won't have any reinforcement left if you do.

[TANKMASTERJ]

Whose mid lengths are those in the above photo?

[2yellow69]

Tankmasterj,

It has been so long since I bought them I had to dig out the receipt. They are Hedman 45060. I paid $349.97 from Summit back in 2014. They show them for $357.99 now. The picture on Summits website is wrong.

[TANKMASTERJ]

Yours on a first gen with stock sub and chicane conversion?

[TANKMASTERJ]

And how do you like the mods versus long tubes?

[2yellow69]

Correct. Those pictures are from before I switched subframes. It had a stock subframe with a hybrid Chicane/Detroit Speed coilover bracket. I was able to tuck 2.5" exhaust exactly even to the bottom of the subframe. It also had rack and pinion steering. Had to very slightly ding a tube for the steering shaft so I only used two u-joints. If I would have used the "big block" steering shaft kit (3 u-joints) there would have been a lot more clearance. The car now has a Speedtech pro-touring subframe and they still fit, using the same small ding in the tube for clearance. I think the engine sits lower in the new subframe because my exhaust now hangs about half an inch below the sub. If I hadn't coated my entire exhaust before the change I would have rebuilt the exhaust to tuck up a little higher. I was honestly just looking for an inexpensive brand name header when I bought these. I think they fit well considering they weren't designed for steering shaft clearance.

[TANKMASTERJ]

I've got the Speedtech pro touring as well.
Wanting to use KOOKS because they do the D Port Ls7 flanges. But so far no one can seem to tell me if there mids or long tubes is guaranteed fit. Tick performance has long tube kook's and a kook's special dirty dingo mount. But it's only guaranteed to fit a stock sub.
Everyone tells me go ultimate from Speedtech or Holley. Ultimate does not do the D Port Flange although they say it don't matter.
Several engine guys say it shrouds the valves.
I'm torn