Header wrap///
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Yes thermo-tec says that their wrap lowers engine compartment temps up to 70%.. I dont kno if it is tru yet, haven't started the engine. But i needed to try something to keep my feet a little cooler in the summer time.. If you are going to use the wrap do yourself a favor and soak it in water b4 you use it.. Your skin wont be as irratated by the fiberglass in it, and when it dries it will shrink so the wrap will be tighter an basically hold itself together..
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Originally Posted by jerrylee
thanx guys...i'm really concerned in engine temps...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
When I changed my carb, intake and headers my engine would get hot pretty quickly. Found out that car was running lean, had to change needles and springs in carb, now it's fine. HTH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
The wrap works amazing at containing the heat. You don't have to worry about melting your hands if you want to pull a sparkplug after parking your vette 
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Header wrap
I recently did alot of work on my 383 stroker. While having the engine all apart, heads rebuilt ect ect I decided to wrap the headers. Proir to doing this the engine compartment was very hot and the car ran anywhere from 185 to 200+ depending on the time of year. I installed a 160 degree thermostat at the suggestion of a Vette repair shop friend.
Under my hood is much cooler, the average temperature now is 165 to 175 depending on how long/hard I drive. The only concern I still have is my oil pressure. Once the car is warmed up the pressure is 65 psi when cruising and 40 PSi at idle. If I go for 15-25 miles at approx 70 mph the PSI drops to 60 and 30 idle. This may be normal but I don't know. It goes back up to 40 at idle if the car sits for about 10 minutes. I guess the oil thins due to heat. Even though I wrapped my headers my oil filter is still close to the header. I am thinking of relocating it to see if that helps.
Under my hood is much cooler, the average temperature now is 165 to 175 depending on how long/hard I drive. The only concern I still have is my oil pressure. Once the car is warmed up the pressure is 65 psi when cruising and 40 PSi at idle. If I go for 15-25 miles at approx 70 mph the PSI drops to 60 and 30 idle. This may be normal but I don't know. It goes back up to 40 at idle if the car sits for about 10 minutes. I guess the oil thins due to heat. Even though I wrapped my headers my oil filter is still close to the header. I am thinking of relocating it to see if that helps.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I wrapped my headers because of the underhood heat and the amount of heat transfered into the cabin. By lowering the underhood heat, I lowered the operating temp of the engine by 20 degrees (I run two temp guages, they both agree). I did it mostly because of traffic here in the city. Everytime I was stopped I started sweating watching the temp guage climb. Now with the underhood temps undercontrol, I've got to be sitting for a while before I have to start worrying.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Be careful with the header wraps, I've heard and seen it cause some rust issues. If the wrap gets wet but the car isn't driven and sits for some time it can cause rust on the headers unless of course you have stainless. This usually happens right before storing the car for winter. Usually just running the car for a bit would dry them out but damn condensation always finds a way back into them. Just an FYI to help make it last longer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Not sure about comparison but I just purchased the hooker comp side exit headers and 4" pipes. My main concern was rust and heat of the sidepipes. Stanless would have solved my rust concerns but not my heat and you don't wrap sidetubes. So I ordered the setup thru jet-hot and they ceramic coated the entire system inside and out for a very reasonable forum discounted price. Now I don't have to worry about rust or heat (i hope). I've heard good things about the ceramic coating. It looks good too, not as shiny as chrome, its got more of a cloudy look. And they fit perfectly. I'll be installing them after my suspension so I won't have pics for a month or so.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
Likes: 5
From: Clifton NJ
I just installed the wrap around the exhaust pipes as they run next to the tranny tunnel, and where they pass by the glass monospring in the back. Rust concerns me , but not as much as cooking my feet and or the monospring. Have not drove the car yet in warm weather, to gauge any benefits.
Cheers
BB NJ Ken
Cheers
BB NJ Ken
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Originally Posted by a1sensei
Be aware, the wrap voids every header manufacturer's warranty because of the rust issue. God bless, Sensei
There is some fine print in the Summit catalog under the header wrap stating that header wrap voids most manufacturers' warranties. You are better off having them coated or buying a set that is already coated, Hedman Elite, for example.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by a1sensei
Be aware, the wrap voids every header manufacturer's warranty because of the rust issue. God bless, Sensei
Header wrap is very effective at keeping underhood temperatures down but at the same time under hard usage the pipes run alot hotter then normal and become brittle.
I had a set wrapped for over 10 years without a problem but when I pulled the wrapping because it was getting old I found the metal had formed a crystaline structure and one pipe had split.
I did buy new headers, I did wrap them but next time I think I will go with coating. A friend just had his hookers coated locally for about $3something and we will compare how they perform against my freshly wrapped set.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: New York
Originally Posted by JoeRags
then you need to look towards your cooling system... radiator, water pump, t-stat, radiator cap. and make sure your coolant level/mixture is correct.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
Header wrap
While the wrap does a good job of keeping the heat in the pipe, it will literally cook the metal. Most carbon steel headers are going to start to break down at the molecular level when the temps reach above 850 degrees. I wrapped a pair of Hedmans about 10 years ago, and when I pulled the pipes the metal literally crumbled in my hands. I would get them coated. If you count the cost of the wrap, clamps and the labor to do it yourself, you could pay for the coating.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
I just placed an order thru summit last week.. i ordered the wrap as part of my order.. since i needed two packages they had a deal going that i would get high heat silicone spray that protects the headers from rotting due to moisture.. the hooker comps aren't too expensive anyway, so as long as my feet aren't roasting i can spring for another pair a few years down the line.. This does lower cabin temps correct??