My first muscle car build thread (lots of pics)

You've come a looooooooong way with this car & you should be proud. I surly couldn't have done all you did when I was in college.
As to your headers---ya, you could beadblast 'em but it would take ALOT of time & materal and you could grind/sand the coating off but now your screwing up the metal & again spending alot of time. If it were me, before I did that, I'd find the nearest coating dealer (Jet-Hot or similair) and ask them if they could strip the coating off for you. If you're so inclined, you may be able to swing a deal & work for them part-time in exchange for coating your headers. Assuming that's not do-able, and you have to paint 'em, prep is everything. Clean 'em up as best you can--strip e'm, snd/scotchbrite 'em, use plenty of solvent or thinner to clean 'em & don't handle them barehanded. Use latex gloves while handling them. Once you start painting them, use multiple thin coats, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before adding the next. IMO, 5 or 6 coats (rememebr I said THIN coats) should do it. Some guys will use regular 'ol heat lamps to cure the paint, but unless you already have them, that's extra expense. With the headers painted, follow the paint manuf. directions on curing the headers once they're on the car.
Of course it goes without saying that you should trial fit the headers before any painting in case you have to clearence a tube or two.