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I have heard that exhaust wrap helps to keep the heat down in the engine compartment, how about using it on the pipes toward the back of the car to keep heat out of the inside of the car? I have that silver stuff on the underside of the shifter tunnel but do I need it under my carpet? Soon to have a big block in the car and its sure to make big time heat!!!!
I've got the wrap on my pipes under the body for just that reason. Does it work? Maybe, dunno for sure, it's still very warm. Probably be warmer without it for sure. BTW, your car will smoke for a couple hours (like it's on fire really) until the wrap bakes some. I stopped at a gas station and the smoke just billowed out from under the body, pretty scarey 'til I figured it out. :D
I've heard that moisture can creep into the wrap and cause premature rust. Anybody had this experience first hand?
yes, but if you buy cheap headers your more likely to have a metallurgical failure first. i've been putting the summit shorties (cheapies) on mine and wrapping them for about four years. my second set is beginning to crack again. i don't think rust will be an issue for quite a while if you wrap the pipes a little ways back but don't know for sure. maybe in a few years i'll know a little more about that since this next time i'm buying some quality ceramic coated headers and will wrap from the collector a few feet back. i'm assuming since your saying your going to wrap the pipes farther back that your putting on ceramic coated headers and wrap from the collector back. would that be accurate?
Clutchdust, I have a set of Sanderson ceramic coated headers, I was planning on wraping them from the collector back to about where the trany support is?
I have a set of Hooker Super Comps, and in my quest for cool feet I thought wrap would be good. I e-mailed Hooker and they said dont do it!!!! It works too good and can cause metal failure. FWIW
I've had wrap on my headers for 5 years. Hi-temp painted before wrapping and they seem solid as the day I installed. I accidentally ripped a hole in part of the wrap installing a starter and the paint underneath looks like new. Don't know how any moisture could ever get under the wrap and stay there. Underhood temperatures are definitely cooler from when I had stock manifolds but I never compared to bare headers.
I had wrap on my headers in my camaro for 4 years on the same set of $90 blackjacks- the wrap works great , better than jet hot coating IMO. - in fact it may work too well. Every manufacturer will void any warrantee on their headers if you wrap them - however if you are just wrapping form collector back I expect you are safe. They make a silicone based coating to spray over the wrap that will protect the wrap from moisture and the like..
IMO - go ahead and wrap the pipes. If you wrap the headers you may, or may not. get accellerated deterioration of them. YMMV
My wrap has been on for at least 10 years and my headers have not had a problem. When you have been running on the expressways and stop along the way and lift the hood that head wave does assault you. If you are checking plug wires after a hard run you don't burn your hand by light brushing the wrap. I really like the stuff.
When installing it for the first time I found that soaking it in water softened it and made it alot easier to install without tearing or wrinkling.
This is a shot after at least 10 years.