Hi Mar
until I phoned Wolfgang yesterday to ask about buying a new set of three chromed headers, I had absolutely no idea that a set of three chromed header pipes for a 180 is almost $500, and a new collector is now almost $200. Ouch!
I have at least three spare sets of 180 header sets, although one is silver ceramic coated, one is black ceramic coated, and the third set is still dented and rusty. Plus the set on the bike, which were really crappy chrome, so I had them sand blasted, black ceramic coated, and because I didn't bother fixing the dents, I wrapped them in black heat tape and painted that with black high heat paint......
Wolfgang is having new stainless steel header pipes made, in a larger 38 mm diameter, which means a new collector is required, which Wolfgang has in a new tapered design apparently based on Uwe Witt's testing, larger diameter than stock, but smaller diameter than a Jota collector, so I am tempted by that setup, although everything is stainless, and at the moment I am craving nicely scorched blued chrome downpipes......
anyway, I am going to gather up the various sets of header pipes and go visit a chromer to get an idea on possible finished chrome quality and cost, maybe I'll get a few sets down in fresh chrome, then stick the extras on eBay, who knows.
Still haven't decided about the wheels, although I am going ahead and stripping the tires off the thick web wheel set, remove the bearings etc, and am going ahead and using aircraft stripper to get them to bare castings, so a colour choice will be required soon! Black or dark dark grey are the leading contenders at the moment.
Paul LeClair