Header Wraps
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Header Wraps
What are your thoughts. Over the years I've heard many opinion on them. I'm thinking about getting a set of headers and wrapping them to help cut down on some of the heat and the ugly rusted header look. It's that or ceramic coated.
What say ye?
What say ye?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Just a $.02 opinion- if the wrap gets wet, it stays wet and can accelerate the rusting. Ceramic coating won't rust. I've also seen that some header manufacturers won't warranty wrapped headers too.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
That's one of the big arguments that I have heard about wraps. While the proponents say all you have to do is run the engine for a few minutes to dry them out. It's not a major concern of mine because the car will never see rain if I have anything to do with it; only a garden hose on a Saturday afternoon.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,599
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
The stuff is U-G-L-Y.......BUT......I've had wrap from the collectors down under the floorboard on my '34 SBC truck for 7 years. I unwrapped the ends a year ago to check for damage because of negative comment concerning wrap---NO RUST!
*****BUT IT'S A DAILY DRIVER!******
The wrap never stays wet for days/weeks/months at a time.
I'll bead-blast the headers/coat with hi-temp paint/wrap them also.
(Go ahead.....I put my flak-jacket on
)
*****BUT IT'S A DAILY DRIVER!******
The wrap never stays wet for days/weeks/months at a time.
I'll bead-blast the headers/coat with hi-temp paint/wrap them also.
(Go ahead.....I put my flak-jacket on
)
Last edited by doorgunner; Mar 4, 2014 at 11:42 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
My engine builder is very much AGAINST wrapping headers. He has seen the results of the heat that is stored behind them and the resulting cracking and things...especially at the 'bends' of header pipes.
The moisture issue along the sidepipes would be an issue as well.
The moisture issue along the sidepipes would be an issue as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Coated also means the inside and outside of the tubes are coated.
I've seen 1st hand with with stainless steels headers un-wrapped that they still seem to breakdown the metal.
Found this with a google search.
I've seen 1st hand with with stainless steels headers un-wrapped that they still seem to breakdown the metal.
Found this with a google search.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
My 2cents. I wrapped headers on a 78, mainly to cut down on the heat in the cockpit. It did help a bit, but now I have a 75 with stainless unwrapped headers. But....this car has dyno-mat under the carpet. Thats the real answer to heat seeping through the floor boards. I had the 78 for about 8 yrs with the wraps. I used worm gear claps on the ends and painted them heat tolerent silver. Never had a problem, whatsoever. I kinda dug the wrapped headers, looked like a 60s throw back.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
NO...the heat coating is a specific coating that is applied. Powder coating...or at least I have never heard of it being used due to the whole issue is trying to provide radiant heat protection which I do not think powder coating has that ability.
DUB
DUB
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
Likes: 793
Thanks Dub for answering my dumb question
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
You will have to remove your headers to wrap them correctly. Its impossible to cover them completely if they are still installed. So if you are going to remove them, just go ahead and replace them with a set of ceramic coated headers. The look much better and have some heat retention capabilities. Go ceramic coated and you will never regret it. Header wraps are great on race cars where scavenging heat is necessary to pull exhaust at high RPMS, but they just arent all that effective on a daily driver.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 149
Likes: 7
From: Arkansas City Kansas
I wrap my headers as it cuts the heat under the hood tremendously. I also think if done correctly they look great and have little effect on longevity of header. I have had them wrapped on my daily driver for years with no problems. I use DEI silicone header paint and the more the better. First paint your headers and let them dry. The wrap should be cut a little longer then you will need for the tube you are wrapping. Soaking the wrap in water then zip tie your start end. The wrap will stretch nicely when wet and try to keep a 1/4 inch overlap. When finished zip tie the other end. Do all tubes with the last wrap doing the collector. I then let the wrap dry and then put on the stainless bands. After all this saturate the wrap with the DEI silicone paint. The more the better I use a couple of cans on a pair of headers. This will seal the wrap and keep them looking great. I think where people get the burned out headers is from incorrect fuel mixture causing high header heat.
