Questions upon Header Wrap..
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Questions upon Header Wrap..
So for the past 6 months Ive had this feeling that I should have wrapped my headders, I hear about how it reduces heat and helps the engine bay.
Has anyone done it?
Does it really make that much of a diiference?
Whats the life span on these wraps?
Has anyone done it?
Does it really make that much of a diiference?
Whats the life span on these wraps?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
If you have quality COATED headers there's no reason to wrap them on a DD street car.
IMO the cons outway the benefits on a street car.
Your question should be what is the life of a wrapped header on a street car.....
MIke
IMO the cons outway the benefits on a street car.
Your question should be what is the life of a wrapped header on a street car.....
MIke
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
That is a good point I can see wraps being used on the strip, and since my vette is used for the street i assume the life is much shorter,
Thanks!
Last edited by 90TorqueMonster; Mar 9, 2013 at 12:25 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I noticed that with my Hedman Elites (coated) the warranty on them will be voided if they are wrapped and then rust through. The wrap can hold moisture and rust will start to form where scratches or other damage would remove the coating.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Wow never heard of thought of that, I too have heddman, but ceramic, I think there great 1 5/8 long tubes, maybe I should keep em the way they are now haha
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
Likes: 568
From: Conroe Texas
i had a set of coated hookers that i wrapped, you could feel the difference in temperatures under the hood. once i dropped a bolt onto the headers while it was running and just reached down and picked it up with no problems. never drove the car in the rain so the wrap lasted a pretty time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I have never wrapped coated headers, but years ago I wrapped painted headers and within 3 years they turned to dust.. They actually disintegrated inside the wrap.I think using them on the street let them get wet a few times and caused this.problem.....Never again...WW
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
It will shorten the header life, depending on how well tuned the engine is the headers will last a 2 to 3 years before they start to leak as the metal gets thin.
This is why i no longer use the heat wrap, see what people say who have used the ceramic coated headers?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
For a daily driver that sees rain and wet environments, probably not a good idea with steel exhaust pipe even if coated. In my case if interested, I used the wrap on the aluminized steel exhaust pipe from the collectors back to the center muffler but it stays in the garage with minimal exposer to rain. I did this mainly to keep excess heat away from the floorboard and out of the cockpit. It does help and I saw no pipe deterioration over 6 years. I also use it on the ceramic coated headers fwd.of the collector next to the oil pan just to keep add't. exhaust heat from transfering to the oil since the header tubes run so close to the pan.
That's because I have Hard block half fill in the water jackets which will cause oil to run a little hotter anyway due to reduced oil heat transfer with the water jacket side. I don't run an aux.oil cooler and am able to manage oil temp without a problem. How much the wrap helps is hard to say but it can't hurt. I also use the aluminized sticky back thermal tape on the trans cooler lines that run next to the block to help control tranny temp. Just my 2 cents. I'm sure other peoples results will vary, but to each his own.
Rick
That's because I have Hard block half fill in the water jackets which will cause oil to run a little hotter anyway due to reduced oil heat transfer with the water jacket side. I don't run an aux.oil cooler and am able to manage oil temp without a problem. How much the wrap helps is hard to say but it can't hurt. I also use the aluminized sticky back thermal tape on the trans cooler lines that run next to the block to help control tranny temp. Just my 2 cents. I'm sure other peoples results will vary, but to each his own.
Rick
Last edited by PDQUIK95; Mar 10, 2013 at 10:28 AM. Reason: add
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
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From: folsom california
On a 75 Chevy V8 Monza (remember Motor Trends 1975 Car of the Year?) where the exhaust wraps extremely tight aound the oil pan , I used header wrap with great success, going from you couldn't get your hand anywhere near the exhaust pipe, to being able to briefly touch the pipe without being burned...huge difference. I was aware of the moisture trapping issues....so when I installed the wrap, I soaked each layer of the wrap (used five layers total) throughly in White high temperature ceramic exhaust manifold paint (spray can) which pretty much made them waterproof; it took a lot of paint but came out looking very good.
On my 96 I used the clamp on heat wrap (that allows air flow between the exhaust pipe and the wrap) on my exhaust where it is routed under the fiberglass rear spring; it worked well, but the only draw back is that it does start to look ragged from being blown around from the air passing under the car. But worth the cost and effort.
On my 96 I used the clamp on heat wrap (that allows air flow between the exhaust pipe and the wrap) on my exhaust where it is routed under the fiberglass rear spring; it worked well, but the only draw back is that it does start to look ragged from being blown around from the air passing under the car. But worth the cost and effort.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
If what your worried about is heat in the engine bay, get yourself a Dewitt's high speed fan.. I bought one of these 2 years ago when I put in my 383, it moves about 40% more air then the stock fan.. The air moving that fast through the engine bay drops the temperture significently to where I can put my hand on the motor after an extended drive..Before installing the fan I couldn't touch the engine for an hour after a long drive..Im sure my wire cables and all the plastic pieces will last much longer because of lower temps .
..WW
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..WW.
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Last edited by WW7; Mar 12, 2013 at 07:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
its true that it reduces heat under the hood, and its true that it eats the paint of your headers, here are mine after painting and wrapping header wrap on the top part of the header tubes, I have just taken them off after 8 months,
I have used wrap over the years on different things, it doesnt seem to affect stainless headers or chrome plated headers and i imagine they probably wouldnt affect coated headers.
I have used wrap over the years on different things, it doesnt seem to affect stainless headers or chrome plated headers and i imagine they probably wouldnt affect coated headers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
I had mine wrapped, and when I realized what happens when oil hits them, I carried around a bottle of water to dilute possible fire, and put this under the seat.
I removed the hedmans and removed the wrap, the ceramic coating flaked right off.
I removed the hedmans and removed the wrap, the ceramic coating flaked right off.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,253
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From: East Wenatchee (2hours from n e where) WA
In addition to the above wrap will very significantly increase the operating temp of the header material. Even if it stays bone dry and oil free the headers will be operating in a hotter more harsh environment.