In the near future I'll be strapping a set of headers from a manufacturer of my choice to the 406 going in my C3. You may have just convinced me to get the non ceramic coated headers and wrap them in the heat wrap, then spray them with the black header spray, as I did for my truck. Does the ceramic coating help to keep engine compartment temps down as the wrap does? I'm not too clear on this, but if it doesn't help keep temperatures down I don't see why anyone would want a set of headers without the wrap on them. After having them on my truck I would never own another set unless they're wrapped. If the ceramic coating does/doesn't keep the temps down there's no point in paying the extra money if they end up rusting.

 

I was referred to this thread by a buddy on another Corvette-related forum, when I IM'd him for his opinion..

Today, I e-mailed the company I bought my headers from, for the same reason. These are almost 1 year old, installed (after break-in with stock manifolds) new motor which now has almost 500 miles on it. They are metallic-ceramic coated, supposedly 5,000 hr salt spray resistant, and are pitting in the same fashion. I found this when I uncovered the car to bring it out this spring:

http://www.corvettecrew2.com/pics/PICT7494.JPG
http://www.corvettecrew2.com/pics/PICT7499.JPG

Myself, I don't have a problem saying where I bought them, Stan's Headers out of Wa. What they do about this is up to them and will reflect the value they place in customer satisfaction. What they include or omit in their advertisement is also their risk and responsibility. I'll post their answer one way or the other.

Over $800 for headers that I've been led to believe will be protected from corrosion... having to remove and ship them back to be recoated then reinstall will be a major PITA, even if they offer to do it for free. The way I see it this never should have happened. I certainly would have ordered stainless if I knew they'd corrode so quickly. As I stated to them, flat black header paint would have protected the pipes longer. Perhaps we're the first to be stung by the "metallic" ceramic coatings? Don't like that feeling much, either. Hell, I don't even know what to do to clean them up, without damaging the coating.

 

Using Dynomax Jet Hot coated headers for almost 5 years with no rust problems.

 

Update - The header manufacturer referred me over to his coating company, saying that they could answer my questions. I forwarded my e-mail plus the header guy's response to the coater today.

To his credit, the headers themselves fit very well and mount without leaks. A very good tri-y design, excellent welds all over and top quality flanges. I'll let you know what the coater's response is, if any.