Anyone use header wrap ? Pros/cons ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ONTARIO
Anyone use header wrap ? Pros/cons ?
Well here's the deal. A bad tune has caused the ceramic coating to be burned off the headers, all the way down to the collector. Caused by a rich condition which had the fuel burning in the cats (glowing orange) causing the headers to be extremely hot.
Im debating on installing small header wrap on the primaries. I just went to a local speed shop and found they have neat kits with little metal ties that i can picture looking real nice. I believe they also come in black which im going to go with to compliment my black compartment. I also want to wrap the exhaust pipes back past the trans so the trans will run cooler too and so will my footwells.
For Pros ..
the most important one i can think of is reduced underhoot temps. I've heard ceramic coating can't nearly reduce temps like a good wrap. This is the main reason for me wanting to do this.
What would be the cons ?
I have also heard the temps in the pipes are increased so the headers will degrade over time. How long of a 'time' is this ? how will the stainless 3" exhaust pipes fare with header wrap on them ??
any input is appreciated
Im debating on installing small header wrap on the primaries. I just went to a local speed shop and found they have neat kits with little metal ties that i can picture looking real nice. I believe they also come in black which im going to go with to compliment my black compartment. I also want to wrap the exhaust pipes back past the trans so the trans will run cooler too and so will my footwells.
For Pros ..
the most important one i can think of is reduced underhoot temps. I've heard ceramic coating can't nearly reduce temps like a good wrap. This is the main reason for me wanting to do this.
What would be the cons ?
I have also heard the temps in the pipes are increased so the headers will degrade over time. How long of a 'time' is this ? how will the stainless 3" exhaust pipes fare with header wrap on them ??
any input is appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
They will hold moisture if they get really wet, which can lead to rust.
I've never seen it happen, but I have heard that oil soaked header wrap can catch fire from the heat of the exhaust manifolds. You may want to reconsider if you have any blow by or other oil control issues.
A buddy of mine did it to his Mustang and the wrap came loose. He was driving down the freeway and ran over it with the left front tire. It tweaked the **** out of the header. It could of theoretically ruined the head.
I've never seen it happen, but I have heard that oil soaked header wrap can catch fire from the heat of the exhaust manifolds. You may want to reconsider if you have any blow by or other oil control issues.
A buddy of mine did it to his Mustang and the wrap came loose. He was driving down the freeway and ran over it with the left front tire. It tweaked the **** out of the header. It could of theoretically ruined the head.
Last edited by neat; Aug 8, 2006 at 02:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ONTARIO
ouch thats a pretty scary thing to happen ! SO far theres no oil-leak related issues and it should never really get wet under my hood. Wouldn't any moisture dissapear when they get up to temp ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Unless you do it perfectly and I mean perfect, do not use!!!
More people have rusted out the pipes with tape in just a year or less, than there are corvettes. I have seen people use it successfully, but they were always professional racers or engine builders.
Get them coated and they will last and keep temps down.
More people have rusted out the pipes with tape in just a year or less, than there are corvettes. I have seen people use it successfully, but they were always professional racers or engine builders.
Get them coated and they will last and keep temps down.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Germany
I've heard ceramic coating can't nearly reduce temps like a good wrap.
The stock headers melted a hole in my brake booster ... with the LT headers and the coating you can touch the bb.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,142
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
A wrap wont suffice compared to a good inside & out ceramic coating, plus the coating protects the pipe itself from rusting out.
Wraps will let moisture remain, even the usual overnight condensation, and they'll begin to rust very quickly. I would not use it at all.
Wraps will let moisture remain, even the usual overnight condensation, and they'll begin to rust very quickly. I would not use it at all.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 0
From: Toronto ONTARIO
I guess maybe i could just paint them so they don't look so bad for now and re-coat them over the winter.
I still want to header wrap the exhaust pipes beside the trans and compartment footwells to keep everything cooler in that area. How would stainless piping do ?
I still want to header wrap the exhaust pipes beside the trans and compartment footwells to keep everything cooler in that area. How would stainless piping do ?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
I have Ceramic coat and Wrap on my collectors, took the wrap off @ 2 weeks ago after the last "wrap or dont wrap" thread.
I am pleased to report that after 3 years, NO rust, But, I do not drive the car in the winter.
I guess maybe the ceramic coating keeps the header from rusting.
I am pleased to report that after 3 years, NO rust, But, I do not drive the car in the winter.
I guess maybe the ceramic coating keeps the header from rusting.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by DieL
I guess maybe i could just paint them so they don't look so bad for now and re-coat them over the winter.
I still want to header wrap the exhaust pipes beside the trans and compartment footwells to keep everything cooler in that area. How would stainless piping do ?
I still want to header wrap the exhaust pipes beside the trans and compartment footwells to keep everything cooler in that area. How would stainless piping do ?
