If you can blast them clean, wash and dry them quickly and have an HVLP gun, do it yourself!!
The only pricey thing about high temp ceramics is the material itself. Contrary to rumors, it dries in the open air to the touch in about 15-45 minutes and continues to "cure" over the next five days whether they're still suspended on hanging wires, layin on your shop floor or installed on your car. Most colors do NOT require tumbling to achieve a desired finish either.
I recommend getting with your other local car guys / club members and see who else needs their manifolds and headers coated. Prep all of it at the same time and spray them out. Everyone involved then splits the cost of the ceramic.
I bought two quarts, satin black and a chrome replica, and with shipping it was almost $300.00. A little bit goes a long way!! Several sets of long tube headers, a couple sets of SBC shorties, an exhaust pipe for Billy's old Ford tractor, all 7 of my oven racks ... and I still have about a third of the quart of black left. You keep it in the refrigerator.
Considering that a pro shop will charge you at least $400 PER SET to prep and coat them inside and out, you and your car club members just got 13 sets of manifolds and headers high temp ceramic coated for around $12.00 a set!!!
Here's where to get the goods:
https://www.cerakotehightemp.com
