SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: Tomanyprojectz on July 24, 2012, 07:33:45 PM

Title: cracked header tube
Post by: Tomanyprojectz on July 24, 2012, 07:33:45 PM

I have over transom basset headers (short) and one of the headers are cracked... you can actually hear it leaking from the crack.. sounds like sh*t. Will this crack affect the cylinder causing it to miss fire or go lean? Whats a quick fix? Should i grind it and weld it up? If  welding it is my best choice whats a fair price for rechroming? Im not a fan of chrome tho so any other options

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: mobboss on July 24, 2012, 09:29:41 PM

yah you need to fix it not only will it get worse you could eventually burn or crack a valve. done it! not a big fan of chrome myself. look into jet coat its a silver nice looking. or you could go for big money and get them ceramic coated!

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: Horizonjet on July 24, 2012, 09:46:35 PM

I checked on re-chrome for a set I have here in Phoenix at a shop I had used before and he wanted 250.00 each header (estimated) and jet coat was going to be 225.00 for both plus jet coat wont turn blue.  Yea, fix the crack and or you will be sorry and once welded it wont be seen very easily.

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: GT Jets on July 24, 2012, 09:56:33 PM

If it is not cracked too bad, simply drill a very small hole at the ends of the crack and just braze them up..

You can weld them up too, I would recommend having the TIG welded. You should definitely get them fixed in one form or another...

Is the crack Rusty?

BBC or BBF?

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: TJS Nordic on July 25, 2012, 04:57:56 AM

Quote from: GT Jets on July 24, 2012, 09:56:33 PM

If it is not cracked too bad, simply drill a very small hole at the ends of the crack and just braze them up..

You can weld them up too, I would recommend having the TIG welded. You should definitely get them fixed in one form or another...

Is the crack Rusty?

BBC or BBF?

Yup I have TIG welded a few here on the east coast.
I tell the customer I have to grind and they have to rechrome it.
I have seen them temp. Paint with shiny silver in the repaired area till the season is over.

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: Tomanyprojectz on July 25, 2012, 06:07:07 AM

First off thank you guys for the replys... its a bbc and the crack is where the weep hole is.. theres alot of rust around all the weep holes and im sure its the cause of this crack.  Gt i like your idea and i will most likely try that first.I will remove the header tonight after work and post a pic. Thanks  oh i like the ceramic idea too

Title: Re: cracked header tube
Post by: GT Jets on July 25, 2012, 09:03:00 AM

Quote from: Tomanyprojectz on July 25, 2012, 06:07:07 AM

First off thank you guys for the replys... its a bbc and the crack is where the weep hole is.. theres alot of rust around all the weep holes and im sure its the cause of this crack.  Gt i like your idea and i will most likely try that first.I will remove the header tonight after work and post a pic. Thanks  oh i like the ceramic idea too

If they are really rusty you may have to settle on brazing them up...If they are that bad, you might consider replacing them, I have some pretty nice twisties I could let go for the right deal... :sly:

Good luck!

GT