Coated headers?

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Oct 15, 2011 | 01:04 AM

michael l

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 19

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From: Texas

Coated headers?

Hi guys,
The stroked small block in my '69 makes great power...and lots of radiant heat! The cabin is about as well insulated as I've come across however, it still gets pretty darn warm in there. I have long tube Hooker S/C headers that are NOT coated. Besides wanting something that looks a lot nicer under the hood, would the ceramic/jet coated ones keep more of the heat from radiating out the sides of the pipes and instead, mercifully send the bulk of it out the back into the face of the guy behind me?

Thanks in advance.

Oct 15, 2011 | 02:06 AM

Oldguard 7

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 2,337

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From: Norfolk VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael l

Thanks in advance.

It is said that they do help keep things cool. But having them ceramic coated through vendors such as Jet Hot and Airborne Coatings are quite expensive. You can buy other that are already ceramic coated. I just painted my headers with VHT header paint. I took sandpaper to them and sprayed them with it. They do look good and only time will tell if the coating will last. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Oct 15, 2011 | 09:51 AM

Vette5.5

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2004

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From: Livonia MI

The coating places say it protects from radiating heat, but been more a battle against rust for me. Tried several prep/hi temp paint jobs over the years, and after awhile, rust seems to make it's way back. Have a car with Jet Hot coated headers bought new over 10 years, and still look like the day I installed them. Actually new from Summit racing, shipped through Jet Hot on their way to me. Shipping costs are something you'll have to deal with though.

Oct 15, 2011 | 10:37 AM

Red 69

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2004

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From: Space Coast Gator Territory

Do a google search for locations near you for places that do metal finishing. There may be one located closer to you than you think. I have a car with a set of jet hot coated headers and the finish is very durable, but doesn't keep the engine bay, or interior noticeably cooler IMO. Another car has an old set of headers that were ceramic coated and that I have since painted with VHT and then wrapped in Thermo Tec header wrap, all the way back to the mufflers. This made a noticeable difference to the interior temps. Before wrapping, I gave the pipes a generous coat of aluminum paint, than wrapped. After wrapping, the material was sprayed with silicone silver paint to shed water in rain. They have been there like that about five years now and still looks good.

Oct 15, 2011 | 02:57 PM

FKING1

Safety Car

Joined: May 2003

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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan

Had my 70's Hedman long tubes ceramic coated at a local shop. coating looks lke chrome.
Ceramic seems to reduce the heat a bit, but, not alot.

Oct 15, 2011 | 05:28 PM

MotorHead

Race Director

Joined: Apr 2000

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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.

I've had several sets ceramic coated and they look like chrome for about 6 months and then slowly they start to turn grey. I would not do it again but then again I have stainless steel headers now

To the poster who says his look good as new 10 years later, any pics ?, because I talked to the guy who did mine three times and he said you must be putting 1500degs ( or some outrageous number when my motor runs at 180 degs ) through them for them to turn gray like that. He said he would do the inside free of charge with some stuff truckers use for those big chrome stacks.

I thought problem solved, well it wasn't and they started to turn gray in about the same time as the first set.

Oct 15, 2011 | 06:00 PM

Vette5.5

Le Mans Master

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 5,116

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From: Livonia MI

Wow, 1500º exhaust temperatures, sure you’re not running lean, as coating places warn of this. I’m the one mentioned looking new after ten years, but aren’t glossy as they once were. Coatings all there though, with not a spec of rust in sight. Really all that concerns me, as probably would’ve gone with a less glossy color, if knew I had a choice at the time.

Oct 15, 2011 | 06:08 PM

dboz

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 866

Likes: 1

From: Northeast Ohio

Pull your seats and carpet and spray LIZARD skin on the firewall and floor. Cheaper and easier to me. If you have coated headers, you are just going to be moving the heat more under the car anyway. The heat has to go somewhere, if it is not lost at the headers, it will pass on down the pipe right under your feet. Lizard skin in your answer.

Last edited by dboz; Oct 15, 2011 at 08:32 PM.