Getting ready to replace the old steel headers on my 69 vert. 20 +years old and needs new gasket on one side, so thinking on replacing them. Have asked many local street rodders and they say stainless as the ceramic ones don't hold up. The ones on the car now are the close tuck in to the block center dump type. Rest of the exhaust system was done a year ago so want to use the same style so I won't have to make many changes to the existing system.

Thanks,
Mark Smith

 

The ceramic coating is applied as a thermal barrier, not to increase the lifetime of the headers, if that's what you were asking. Stainless radiates heat the same as uncoated mild steel.

 

...and ceramic coating can be applied onto stainless steel, right?

 

Off hand IDK, but I don't see why not. The best of both worlds that way tho.

 

I would convert it back to the OEM style iron manifolds that don't require gaskets.

 

Yeah and a 2 barrel carb, your engine will just sing

 

... headers don't produce any gain unless they're run uncorked? Yes, they will outflow the ram horn iron manifolds when they're both uncorked but when pushing thru the rest of the restrictive system they don't do diddly squat. Only x-pipes or h-pipes and high flow mufflers will produce any meaningful gain for street driven cars. Had headers been beneficial every 1960's and 1970's muscle cars would have come off the assembly lines equipped with them.

(personal comment edited out)

 

Yes, ceramic coatings can be applied to stainless steel, and it does lengthen the life of even plain steel headers. My coated headers have been on my car for over 15 years.

 

The ceramic reduces radiated heat thusly reducing the heat in the engine compartment and cabin. I have hooker side pipes with Jet Hot coating. I have bumped my leg on the pipe getting out and while I realized it was hot and I moved it quickly, it did not burn my leg like my old chrome pipes would.

I have considered the possibility of going to a standard type header and run the exhaust out the back. I think that if I did so I would coat the headers and the pipes.

 

Thanks for the replies, I have the stock cast iron ones that came with the car, however I just love the sound of headers. Besides that the bubba that had the car before me cut the air conditioning brackets off the compressor side and butchered it up really bad. The plain steel ones that are on there now are over 25 years old and it is time for them to go. I will probably go with ceramic as last year I rebuilt the steering box as heat from the headers cooked the seals out of it after all the years of driving a few miles a year.

Thanks,
Mark Smith

 

Good choice. Enjoy your extra performance!

 

I'm in the same boat. I have Heddman chrome plated headers that are starting to rust. Not bad, but want to fix before it gets bad. Was thinking about having them coated, but will probably go back and forth between SS and coating for a while. RA

 

If could have gotten SS I would got that route and get them coated. I've done it that way on other cars. The coating really cuts down on the under hood heat.

For the Corvette I ordered Hedman non coated because they only coat the outside. I had them done my self at a local place.

Made a huge difference in power.

 

I can't take it anymore. I have spent more time with my engine on a Dyno and witnessed what you are saying is UNEQUIVOCALLY not true. A properly sized header and exhaust system will run just as well with mufflers as without. And big pipes do not guarantee anything. .... Ok sorry, carry on.

(personal remark edited)

 

I am sorry at this point that I created this thread as it has turned into a rant of sorts. Why so many negative people lately, it is nutzzzzzz... Now I will get critized for mispelling nuts and other words when my original goal was to get opinions on stainless vs ceramic... I came from a drag racing family and know more about volumetric efficiency than most. However I don't care about that anymore. I came to this forum for info on a specific thing and don't care for that turning into a rant by some that think they are gods of all knowledge. I would think the moderators would agree. When responding to a thread stick to the reason that thread was posted. Also based on good values both work ethic and wise saving plus learning to live within my budget, I retired 2 weeks before my 55th birthday to work part time at a hobby business so I could enjoy life because of health issues.

Thanks,

Mark Smith

 

If it's in the budget SS and coated. The best of both worlds for cutting under hood heat and longevity.

 

Mark, for the last several months we've been dealing with a very "unique" person who has caused more problems and aggravation in the C3 area than any single person I've seen cause in any forum section here in all the years that I've been a member. I'd venture a guess that he's caused the moderators more time and effort as well, than any other single person has. You may not have seen enough other threads to understand the level of frustration that dozens of other members have dealt with on many and varied topics in the recent past. This person often has opinions, presented as "the" truth, that are not supportable with facts, and then refuses to acknowledge others who provide factual data disproving his statements. When he continues to inject those opinions, as he did in your thread, you'll sometimes see the frustration of others who have already been through the drill with him but to no avail.

I would suggest that you ignore him and also cut some slack to those who may show their frustration with him. It's been a challenge for many of us here but there are much more important things in life. You mentioned your own health- take care of yourself and enjoy your retirement. I just found out today that a close friend just lost the love of his life. It puts things into perspective. Please forgive my sentimentality.

 

So here's a question. Are ceramic coated headers coated both inside and out or outside only? Local coater company tells me no one coats the inside. They only tell you they do. Not sure if this is bs or not.

 

I only agree with you partially. Headers DO produce some gains but not as much as most people think. I'd say the majority of the time when someone buy headers they are likely replacing their entire system. THAT is where the 30-35 hp gain come from. But if you plan on going to a bigger cam, heads, etc. Not having headers is really going to kill your gains. It all works together as a system.

Having said that I'm sticking with the stock style headers on my '82 simply because I just don't feel like dealing with all the headaches that come with headers. Replacing gaskets twice a year, heat issues, clearance issues, and I always hated that "tinny" sound. But when your at the track uncapped it doesn't matter. For a track car, definitely headers is the way to go, no doubt. My vette sounds so sweet with the stock headers (equivalent to shorties) and the new duals with flowmasters. It's the best sounding system I've ever owned. And I've owned plenty.

 

My headers are coated on both sides - inside and outside.
Here's a pic - outside is polished / inside just coated as you can see by the collector:



It makes the biggest difference as far as cooling in the engine compartment.

65-StingRay