Anyone Wrap their Headers?/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
Ok I just learned hoiw to reply again! 
I wrapped my old headers and was very happy with the performance and the results. The secret is to take your time ( as usual ;) ) and get the wrap wet before starting to apply. It makes the wrap much easier to handle. You may also have to pry the pipes apart allttle to get between or just wrap both together if that looks like it'll work better.
With the wrap on, it MUCH easier to change plugs, oil, etc..... without burning yourself. I would recommend it to anyone who also wants to lower the cabin temp in their cars also, as it really lowers the heat temp under the hood.
I wrapped my old headers and was very happy with the performance and the results. The secret is to take your time ( as usual ;) ) and get the wrap wet before starting to apply. It makes the wrap much easier to handle. You may also have to pry the pipes apart allttle to get between or just wrap both together if that looks like it'll work better.With the wrap on, it MUCH easier to change plugs, oil, etc..... without burning yourself. I would recommend it to anyone who also wants to lower the cabin temp in their cars also, as it really lowers the heat temp under the hood.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
I wrapped a set on a 69 camaro , and I told myself I'd never do that again. But , I just got some more wrap for my 71 BB. This time I bought sleeve wrap which I hope will be alot quicker to do(allows you to wrap 6 - 7" at a time). Summit caries all kinds. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,807
Likes: 0
From: Hoosier
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
A lot of people say not to wrap the headers because the contained heat eats them up in a short time. Anyone have experience with that?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: Valencia (near LA) CA
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (Road Fever)
I think I heard that the wrap can trap moisture, and cause them to rot :( But it seems to me that they would stay so hot that moisture couldn't build up :confused:
~Jay
~Jay
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 0
From: New York City NY
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
my 78sa came with duals and wrapped really well . they are on tight around the lower portion by the collectors and half way up . it hasn't loosened yet . my temps are around 190F :D
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Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Oak Hill, VA 20171
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
I have the hooker super comps and thought that header wrap sounded like a good idea so I called Holley and asked if it was a good thing to do this and their answer was ABSOLUTLEY NOT! They said that it works too good and builds up too much heat and will ultimately destroy the metal.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
I too am thinking of wrapping. I would assume it is a question of economics. I don't really care if it eats the metal as long as I get a couple to thee years of them. Anything that will cool of the cabin in these hot Mississippi summers is okay by me. However, what about a drop in performance. Does the wrap affect the performance of the motor and the ability of the header to scavenge exhaust. It would seem like it could if they were too hot?????? Any comments.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Anyone Wrap their Headers?/ (vettepowA)
They claim that the wrap will improve performance. From what I've read, the exhaust starts to cool from the moment that it leaves the cyclinder head. As air cools, it becomes more dense, this increasing air density becomes harder to push through the exhaust the further it cools and travels. The idea is to keep the air hotter further down the exhaust so there is less force to get it to exit.
I had my wrap on my headers for 4 years without any problems. My car is only driven in the summer, and ocassionally in the rain. I aslo wrapped the exhaust where it went under the fiberglass spring to keep the heat away from the fiberglass.
Heres a shot of the wrap under the spring.
I had my wrap on my headers for 4 years without any problems. My car is only driven in the summer, and ocassionally in the rain. I aslo wrapped the exhaust where it went under the fiberglass spring to keep the heat away from the fiberglass.
Heres a shot of the wrap under the spring.
