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I am strongly considering wrapping my (sidepipe) headers to reduce under hood temps. Currently they are OUT, so now is the time. It seems like it would be worth it, although it's not cheap, especially for side exhaust. I would probably just wrap them until before they exit out the side of the car. I'm figuring almost 200 ft of wrap. Any reason why I shouldn't? (besides $$)
While it does work well for heat reduction.....it's butt ugly and doesn't last forever for starters. It can hold in too much heat and shorten life of the pipes.
I use it on parts of my turbo setup...but not the headers themselves.
I'd suggest getting a good coating on headers on the INSIDE as well as the outside. It will cut down a lot of heat.
JIM
Last edited by 427Hotrod; Oct 26, 2018 at 12:45 PM.
I am strongly considering wrapping my (sidepipe) headers to reduce under hood temps. Currently they are OUT, so now is the time. It seems like it would be worth it, although it's not cheap, especially for side exhaust. I would probably just wrap them until before they exit out the side of the car. I'm figuring almost 200 ft of wrap. Any reason why I shouldn't? (besides $$)
Hi Jim,
Check out DEI's Titanium header wrap. We are the original Lava Rock (basalt) based header wrap. Basalt wrap does not have to be soaked or dampened, it's less itchy than glass fiber, and will handle more heat. Wrapping your side pipes with Titanium wrap will hold anywhere from 30-40% of the heat in the pipe. Also, you will not get burned immediately if you do accidentally momentarily touch the pipe with wrap on it. When wrapping side pipes or headers you only require 1 layer of wrap with a 1/4" overlap. Do not double or triple wrap as the wrap will hold too much heat and you can see metal fatigue. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
We run across this topic a lot. Wrap itself does not promote rusting pipes. Bare steel when subjected to water and oxygen causes rust. A wrapped bare steel pipe will rust at the same rate (if not slower) as a bare steel pipe. We always like to recommend our HT silicone spray or some type of high temp header paint to seal the metal before wrapping to help cut down on rusting pipes. Also, keep in mind any moisture that is introduced to the wrap will typically burn or steam off immediately due to exhaust temperatures, no different than a hot bare steel pipe getting wet. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
I've been told wrapping pipes can make them brittle and crack. Dunno.
What I do know is I had mine ceramic coated inside & out and I'm amazed at the under hood temp reduction. Opening the hood after a drive and the difference is striking.
I was about to ask this exact question. I got a great deal on a set of Hooker sidepipes and some redneck-engineered 4" pipe extensions (they would otherwise be in the bed of a diesel truck, and be used to smog Priuses). On my 80, these would be the only chrome on the car, so I'm interested in dechroming, and also not burning my legs. I'll pick up some DEI black wrap. Thanks!
Last edited by Bikespace; Oct 26, 2018 at 06:41 PM.
Unless your primary pipes or stainless steel you can't rap them mild steel will just melt underneath the rapping I know from experience.
Would it work if they are ceramic coated already? I don't much care about the engine compartment, I just want to wrap the turns as the come out from under the car, the collector, and the pipe under the doors.
I just researched new headers for my big block from Hooker, Hedman and Sanderson.
They all suggested coating the headers inside and outside and all stated that using wrap on their headers would void the warranty.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
At the time I wasn't sure I wanted side pipes so I picked up a set of used headers that had surface rust already, I had them blasted and powdered coated . I fought engine temps for a while so in order to try and lower under hood temps I wrapped my headers. They've been that way for years now with no issues, the temps dropped to what is equivalent to the ceramic coated header temps. I really don't know the condition of the headers as I have not removed the wrap but I can say they don't leak so they are at-least in decent shape.
I do think that the ceramic coating is the best option and if I replace mine some day I will get a set that are ceramic coated.
I'll also say that when you wrap the headers the heat moves to the side-pipes and they will get very hot, before I wrapped mine the side-pipes got hot but like they do now.
I would us the coating on the wrap if I did it again just to help seal the wrap and keep it from soaking any liquid, not sure about the lava rock wrap though may need to check on that.
Neal
Last edited by chevymans 77; Oct 28, 2018 at 09:40 AM.
Jim, is this a new engine you are installing? Do you know what HP it develops?
Horsepower is heat, right?
My 13.5:1 434ci SB is a proven 690hp @ 7100 rpm. PLUS, a NOS BIG SHOT system which can be jetted to 400hp, not used the largest jets, yet.
I have had this car for many years and NEVER had a problem with overheating. NO header wrap.
Just wondering what advantage it can possibly give you.
Well I went ahead and wrapped them with the DEI stuff and wow is that stuff cool! Looks like gold! I used one 100 foot roll and most of a 50 foot roll. I only went as far as before the pipes exit the side of the car. Lots of conflicting info on this stuff but it seems like it would only help keep temps down. I did paint the headers before I wrapped them so they have a good couple of coats of header paint on them. This was before I was going to wrap them. As always, wrapping pipes is a pain in the butt. Lots of feeding the fabric around the pipes and then when you get to the end, hopefully you don't cut it too short (like I did) or too long and waste it. On the passenger side, I ended up grouping all three middle pipes for a short section because they are so close together. They definitely look cool! (not hot lol)
I also used almost three packs of the Summit clamps and bought the DEI clamp tool.
Looks like you did a great job! We appreciate the support and are more than willing to bet you will be happy with the lower temps. Feel free to contact me on any exhaust wrap myths or urban legends as I will be more than happy to dispel them. Also, If there is anything I can do to help out down the line simply reach out to me. timm@designengineering.com
Header wrap - opinions
