New Hooker Headers

Your situation is exactly why I would buy coated headers.
You will probably have to have the garbage hooker paint blasted off, unless an aircraft style paint stripper will get it done.
If you have a coater local, you could see if they'll strip the paint first.

I will say this, the problem with coated headers is when you have to use newly coated headers on a new engine build with a flat tappet cam.
Trick is breaking in the cam without burning up the header coating.