Headers or no headers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Kannapolis NC
Headers or no headers
I have a 1980, stock engine compartment, corvette, and I was thinking about putting a set of harders on it. When I told my Dad he said, "Headers wouldn't be a good idea with such a tight engine compartment. They would melt the wires, and hoses, and make the area extremely hot." Not wanting to hear that 
I went to my mechanic and basically he said that with everything being so crammed in the engine compartment that it wouldn't be wise to put them in.
I've heard of header wraps to cool them down. Do they help any? What about ceramic coated headers? I can spend up to around $550 for the pair (More if I have to). Any fellow Corvette owners with the same engine compartment have any advice? Thanks
I went to my mechanic and basically he said that with everything being so crammed in the engine compartment that it wouldn't be wise to put them in. I've heard of header wraps to cool them down. Do they help any? What about ceramic coated headers? I can spend up to around $550 for the pair (More if I have to). Any fellow Corvette owners with the same engine compartment have any advice? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: SF East Bay CA
Do not, I repeat, Do not use header wrap. It will ruin your headers. I ran with the stuff for 2 years and then my collectors got crystalized. I had been told this before, but saw no problem until I was heading to a show and heard a horrible leak at my collector. You don't want to be in that siituation. Get them coated if you need to and are worried about heat. I am running hooker s/s now and the heat is not an issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I believe there are a few people on the forum who changed to headers. 
What were they thinking. 
I would get the ceramic coated headers and join the club. Next thing you be asking if it's ok to change some engine parts.
What were they thinking. I would get the ceramic coated headers and join the club. Next thing you be asking if it's ok to change some engine parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of members on this forum, including C5 owners (the most crowded engine compartment) running headers without issue. I doubt it will be a problem.
My stock cast iron manifolds & engine compartment get so hot, I can barely touch the air cleaner after a typical cruise. Can't get much hotter than that.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
My stock cast iron manifolds & engine compartment get so hot, I can barely touch the air cleaner after a typical cruise. Can't get much hotter than that.
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I think the point being is ...headers are much lighter weight and lower mass, and that fact helps heat dissipation when the engine is killed, and no fans circulate air....leaving the underhood to bake royally under those conditions....
headers in fact on average run cooler, even though the surface area maybe in fact larger, the energy storage in all that heavy cast iron is immediately lost, and not stored....blown off in the breeze .....
GENE
headers in fact on average run cooler, even though the surface area maybe in fact larger, the energy storage in all that heavy cast iron is immediately lost, and not stored....blown off in the breeze .....
GENE
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
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GO Here
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For Headers.... what else can i say?
http://www.mcjackscorvettes.com/
http://www.mcjackscorvettes.com/
http://www.mcjackscorvettes.com/
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http://www.mcjackscorvettes.com/
For Headers.... what else can i say?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Manalapan FL
Originally Posted by mandm1200
I hope she is good looking. At the prices they are charging I assume they ship a blonde along to help install them!
http://www.mcjackscorvettes.com/AdGirls1/Ashley8.jpg
D. Ocean
Miami, FLA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
My feet used to get hot with the stock manifolds on the car. I changed to Dynomax Ceramic coats and the interior temps went down. I KNOW the engine compartment temps must have as well.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i had the same concern on my car. i bought the car for a hot rod and this is the fix i came up with. first pic shows the solenoid moved straight up and out of the way of the hot headers. second pic shows the one large guage wire routed to the starter.
(if the pics dont post, its just a remote solenoid)
(if the pics dont post, its just a remote solenoid)
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i bought my car for a hot rod. i am using the old headers the previous owner had on it. the first pic is of the remote solenoid. i just moved the wires straight up and out of the way of the header. the second pic is of the one large guage wire routed down to the starter. i plan to get coated headers also but this was a cheap fix for now.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i had the same concerns about the wires on the starter. my plan has two phases. first, get the wires away from the exhaust and then invest in jet-hot inside and out headers. pic 1 is the remote solenoid simply moved straight up and out of the way of the pipes. pic 2 shows the one fat guage wire routed down to the starter. i got this kit from www.madelectrical.com