Quick Question about old, rusted Viking Pipes

[Disco]

I recently acquired my first rescue Valkyrie.  There is a lot of good, but it is going to be a big project. 

One of its good aspects is that it has Viking Pipes.  One of its bad aspects is that the headers are rusted and not just mildly so.  Have any of you encountered this in the past?  If so, which way did you go after sandblasting?  Ceramic coat or Hi-Temp Paint?

TIA,

DFG

[R J]

I went ceramic coat on my Chevy Trike.

My Viking pipes are, I done fur getted when I got them, but they are several years old, lots of miles and gas fumes sent through them, so far no rust or and blemishes.    If they do rust, I'll send them off to be Ceramic coated and reinstalled.

[John Schmidt]

My guess is if they're rusted like you say, they probably aren't true Viking pipes. But I'd go with RJ's suggestion, get them ceramic coated if it's not too late. Keep us posted on the rescue, always interesting to watch it come back to life.

[98valk]

My guess is if they're rusted like you say, they probably aren't true Viking pipes.

why would u say that?
 I have a set and they are not CRES material, magnetic test, strong pull, not a minor pull like some CRES. And it was stated a yr ago when I asked, that they were not CRES pipes. They are a higher grade of carbon steel.

[John Schmidt]

My guess is if they're rusted like you say, they probably aren't true Viking pipes.

why would u say that?

For the simple reason I've never seen a set of Vikings rust at the headers. As with RJ's, I've seen many sets with tens of thousands of miles on them....no rust. I'd love to find a decent set but these days it's only a dream.

[Thespian]

My guess is if they're rusted like you say, they probably aren't true Viking pipes. But I'd go with RJ's suggestion, get them ceramic coated if it's not too late. Keep us posted on the rescue, always interesting to watch it come back to life.

 What constitutes too late? My pipes have allot of little rust spots but there small. Can it still be done? Google'd ceramic coatings and it looks like a good way to give new life to old pipes. what's the expected cost for this? I see blacked out rims in my future. 

[Free Pass]

Dave,
A couple of years ago I picked up a set of used Viking pipes.  The headers were pitted and rusted, maybe not as bad as yours.  (Do not have the headers sand-blasted).  The company that did mine used a bead blaster with high velosity ceramic beads.  They bead blasted the inside of the headers also.  They powdercoated the inside and outside with a ceramic coating called CERMAKROME.  The whole process of blasting, coating, baking and polishing was $250.00.  They turned out beautifully.
The name of the company that did mine is FRP Customs, Inc.  in Redding, CA.  the guys name is Tony, phone number is 530-221-7335.  Just in case you want to call him and pick his brain.
Dave, I am running these on my Interstate now.  I am thinking about coming to Friendswood, Tx , April 1st.  Maybe you can see them then.

Free Pass

[Free Pass]

Dave,
I am thinking that yours probably come from a state that salts their roads in the winter.  I know that is what the problem was with mine.  I don't have that problem here in No. Calif.  and I am thinking that mine will stay like new forever.
Free Pass

[Disco]

Thanks for all the replies.  I've added pics so hopefully someone can confirm that these are or are not Vikings.  They were advertised as such and the bends look right to me, but Viking was already long gone by the time I got here.  While they are fully rusted, the nasty flakes are burned paint that didn't hold up from the PO's attempt to clean them.   

Thespian, you should be fine.  I had a set of OEM headers ceramic coated after doing a glasspack mod.  They looked great for a while, but the coater either didn't adequately rough the chrome with sandblasting or didn't bake hot/long enough or got some bad powder because they were not as durable as I thought they should have been.  (maybe it was the great deal I got...)  But, I strongly believe that experience was the exception to the overall ceramic coating success.

Hey, Dick!  How's it going?  I learned my lesson the hard way about how destructive overzealous sandblasting can be.  If I can get them in the cabinet, I'll be as gentle as possible while I determine their actual condition.  If I have to do them outside, I'll use distance as my friend.  Friendswood?  April 1st?  Come on over/down!  HotGlue's BBQ is a wonderful time.

[98valk]

http://www.techlinecoatings.com/Exhaust.htm

this the company that makes the cermakrome.  it one has an oven large enough u can do it at home. some buy a cheap old oven off of craig's list so as not to upset the wife.

[Westsider]

Think we need more pics of the whole bike....you know.. to get a better bigger picture of this project...

[R J]

On this set, the muffler comes off of the header right?

If not, then they are not Viking.

Can't tell too much from your pictures.

[DFragn]

My Viking headers rusted on day-one.
Why? Because I thought I had a bad weld at the coupler on one of them due to exhaust ticking and thought I could see light inside one of 'em.
So I plugged coupler end on both and filled with water overnight to check for leak-downs. No, it wasn't a header gasket or two!!!

Next morning both headers were rusted up externally, about 20%.
I was very disappointed because they [Viking] advertised there system as 100% stainless in the early days! Turns out the baffles were/are the only stainless in the system. Another disappointment with Viking. Nice advertising. I still have a screenshot of their Stainless claim somewhere on one of my computers!

I lightly "Scotchbrite (ed)" the headers and they cleaned up very well.
Problem was, by my determination, that the ceramic coating was porous. The rust was only where I left water beads on the outside of the coating!

Although, the cans rusted terribly internally. I have removed the Viking pipes and have been sitting on the baffles and headers for sometime now. The headers [stored in the garage] have not rusted since.

My conclusion: That bike was stored either outside or in a very high humidity area.
I doubt they would clean up much compared to my overnight rust up.

PS, I don't want to sell my headers or baffles. So if someone wants them you'll need to make a ridiculous offer. So please don't ask.

[DFragn]

On this set, the muffler comes off of the header right?

If not, then they are not Viking.

Can't tell too much from your pictures.

Looks like Viking Headers & Baffles to me.