remove chrome and paint headers?

I just got a hair brained idea... I'm not ready to share it yet, but was wondering how one would remove the chrome from my 82 550 headers so that I can paint them with a high temp header paint?

I was thinking maybe acid wash? Or rough up the living hell out of it with some sandpaper?

About the only way you can do that is send them to a chrome shop and have them de-chromed, which I'm guessing would be very expensive. OR...I have done both sandblasting and sanding. Sandblasting explains itself. Just go over the chrome and get off any loose flaky , peeling chrome if there is any. I have sanded quite a few chrome pieces and painted over them. Been awhile and can't remember what grit I used but will guess about 220-300. You don't want it too course as it will scratch the surface so a heavy grit like 80-100 will leave grooves that will show through. You want to use as fine as you can that will still rough up the chrome. Experiment on a hidden area first to find which grit looks best. Won't be as coarse as you think though. It won't take a lot as you only need to roughen the surface enough to give the paint something to grab and hold on to. Paint in several light coats instead of a heavy coat also. When you first start bike up it will smoke like hell but after paint cures for a while it will stop.

OK. well, my idea is to maybe take the megaphone exhaust off, but still use my headers and attack some straight pipes to my headers. I'd paint the whole thing flat black to match the rest of the bike theme.

having access to a bead blaster.that has always been my prefered method of chrome prep in order to get the paint to hold.

i just blasted and painted a chrome meg.monday.
i have done several chrome parts(fenders.exhaust etc.)and they have always held the paint as well as something that was not chromed.

hth,

leon

p.s.the de-chroming at the chrome shop was fairly costly the last time we had some h-d parts de-chromed.seems like it cost almost as much to de-chrome as it did to chrome.

Ok. Done some more research... custom exhausts don't really look as desireable now...haha.

I was curious though what the consequences of removing and plugging the cross pipe in my exhaust system would do?

apbling wrote: Ok. Done some more research... custom exhausts don't really look as desireable now...haha.

I was curious though what the consequences of removing and plugging the cross pipe in my exhaust system would do?

Loss of low end power and torque.

BTW: header paint has to be removed and reapplied every couple of years. It is not very durable. Also: when you first apply it, get an industrial heat gun and gradually cook it to cure it before running. If not, it won't hold as well.

I have used VHT from NAPA. Its a cermaic based stuff that comes in a spay can. Its very tough stuff. I bead blasted the chrome to rough up the surface and clean off the rust. Heating the headers gradually will give you a more durable surface.

The cross pipe actually helps the bike run smoother, you won't notice much difference performance wise weather you plug it or not. Best to leave it though.

531blackbanshee wrote: having access to a bead blaster.that has always been my prefered method of chrome prep in order to get the paint to hold.

i just blasted and painted a chrome meg.monday.
i have done several chrome parts(fenders.exhaust etc.)and they have always held the paint as well as something that was not chromed.

hth,

leon

p.s.the de-chroming at the chrome shop was fairly costly the last time we had some h-d parts de-chromed.seems like it cost almost as much to de-chrome as it did to chrome.

I've had the pleasure to have a chrome shop as a sponsor for many moons now, no expert on chrome but they have taught me a few things....

Leons' got a good point that removing chrome is likely as costly as applying it in the first place.

Bead or sandblasting will remove enough chrome to give you a surface paint will adhere to.

Prep for chrome or paint is about the same- the better job you do prepping,the happier you will be with the end results.

Recently I saw bike with black pipe wrap which I though looked pretty good and I have been thinking of trying it on my 750. I did'nt know you could get black exhaust wrap and the light coloured stuff never appealed to me.

you have to remember that pipe wrap holds moisture underneath it(allowing it to rust underneath).so there is usually no going back after you use pipe wrap.

leon

I sandblasted mine to remove loose chrome and to rough the surface up. Then just used black BBQ paint from Lowes.

How long did the BBQ paint last?