Factory Header

[93.4dr.22A1]

Just picked up a factory header and everything i need from the junk yard today, 35 bucks! sweet deal.
But looking for any tips on cleaning it, and wondering if I should paint it, got some high heat paint, would it even be worth my time to paint it?

[MyDianaZ06]

I'd highly recomend to either header wrap or put your heat sheild on rather than painting it...

[Jon]

Wire brush it, wipe it down with acetone, and paint!

And yes it is worth the time to coat it so it doesn't just look like ass and rust like crazy.

[93.4dr.22A1]

might paint it later. But my next question was about the heat shields. Its factory so its got the factory heat sheilds, wondering if i should leave them on? or if i take them off if it'd make a big difference to anything(ps,ac,alt,radiator)?

[deevergote]

The heat sheild really does keep temps down. Heat will cause rubber and plastic parts to become brittle, so it's best to leave the shield on.

[93.4dr.22A1]

Figured as much, makes sence. So then im not too worried about painting it then.
Thanks guys.

[deevergote]

Painting really isn't all that necessary. Yes, it'll keep it from rusting... but it's been around for damn near 20 years already and hasn't rusted through yet!

[D1sclaimer]

The heat sheild really does keep temps down. Heat will cause rubber and plastic parts to become brittle, so it's best to leave the shield on.

Having the shield on also creates more heat in the header which creates faster exhaust velocity which you want.

[deevergote]

Also true. Well, it doesn't create heat, but it retains it.

[93.4dr.22A1]

right on guys. also I noticed that nowhere on the whole exaust is there a real gasket. Got some gasket matierial to make em, good idea?

[Brandoncb7]

Clean the heat shield up and paint it like you were going to do to the header. I don't know what kind of condition it's in but if it looks anything like mine it'd benefit from some paint lol.

[Teddy]

i got a ex header to day for my dx $22.00. i`m going to paint the sheld blue i`v got a red cb

[93.4dr.22A1]

The HP gains from the paint arnt enough for the work, it aint gonna last long either so, im gonna leave it.

But would like to know about the gasket thing, See that stock Honda exhaust gaskets are like little round tin pieces. On the header to DP,DP to cat, cat to IM pipe. I have some high temp gasket material, its not mettalic, but should I use it?

And I have to lengthen my O2 sensor to relocate it to the new spot behind the motor. I noticed the wire strands are not like speaker wire, but can I safely use speaker wire or is there a better type?

[choppacity]

just sand blast the whole thing! itll look clean plus will reduce rust buildup

[93.4dr.22A1]

Not worried about the looks too much, dont have any sand either.
and Im a dumbass about the gaskets, the material I have is only good for 400 degrees, so thats a no, but Still curious if the speaker wire spliced into the o2 sensor will hurt anything?