Header wrap OR not?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,369
Likes: 3,258
From: Hartford WI
I believe I brought this up in the past. Hooker gave the same warning, no rebuild or new engine.
I think someone mention a particular cam (flat tappet??) will cause the coating to fail.
So, I'm to rebuild my motor, install stock manifolds, break it in and then install the headers....one word...Ridiculous!
I think someone mention a particular cam (flat tappet??) will cause the coating to fail.
So, I'm to rebuild my motor, install stock manifolds, break it in and then install the headers....one word...Ridiculous!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 397
Likes: 29
From: Jackson, mi
Do Not wrap the headers unless they are not expected to last more than two years, they rust really fast when water is absorbed by the covering wrap.
Don't bother putting a shield on your starter, remove the factory starter and replace it with a gear drive starter. They are smaller and easier to work with when you are working on the engine. They don't have the heat soak issues and they crank the engine right up.
The support people at Hedman Headers told me that you should never use ceramic headers on a re-built or NEW engine. The extra heat can damage the coatings. They said that even the heat from a Rebuilt engine can get hot enough to damage the first couple inches of pipe.
IF you buy Ceramic coated pipes and want them to last be sure to buy the systems that are coated inside and out. The racing industry like NASCAR use ceramic coatings but with their high compression and other tricks they are using a higher temp rated ceramic coating. You can have them re-coated with the Higher temp material for ~ $200. They burn off the old coating and install the higher temp ceramic coating and bake it until done.
Don't bother putting a shield on your starter, remove the factory starter and replace it with a gear drive starter. They are smaller and easier to work with when you are working on the engine. They don't have the heat soak issues and they crank the engine right up.
The support people at Hedman Headers told me that you should never use ceramic headers on a re-built or NEW engine. The extra heat can damage the coatings. They said that even the heat from a Rebuilt engine can get hot enough to damage the first couple inches of pipe.
IF you buy Ceramic coated pipes and want them to last be sure to buy the systems that are coated inside and out. The racing industry like NASCAR use ceramic coatings but with their high compression and other tricks they are using a higher temp rated ceramic coating. You can have them re-coated with the Higher temp material for ~ $200. They burn off the old coating and install the higher temp ceramic coating and bake it until done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,377
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
How many times I have seen an initial start up with headers glowing red from incorrectly adjusted valves, tune lean etc. Most of the time they are ok but with everything being half-assed who knows....no one is going to have a 2 sets. Best insurance is having them coated on the inside as well.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 483
Likes: 109
From: Fairfax, Virginia
I've wrapped a few dozen headers and only had issues with 2, both of which the owners had bought cheap stainless headers that used mild steel fill rod instead of stainless, the welds rusted within a couple years and leaked.
Can't remember the name of the stuff but there's a special dyed oil you can spray the wrap in after wrapping that helps repel water a bit and let's you change the color of the wrap.
Can't remember the name of the stuff but there's a special dyed oil you can spray the wrap in after wrapping that helps repel water a bit and let's you change the color of the wrap.
Last edited by ThatOneKid; Jun 17, 2021 at 06:17 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
I just spoke TPIS and no update on my headers. I ordered them on 3/2 and was told mid-may delivery. I mention that BTFloyd got his and is about 10 miles from me(she was wondering if his were non-coated, they went out right away). They said people ordered some in Aug. of '20 and haven't got them. The master welder was out for awhile, so everything got backed up . Mine are getting coated by an outside company (2+ weeks ago). I asked the woman who answered the phone if the were coated inside and out, she said on the outside but wasn't sure.
BTFloyd can you let me know if yours are coated on the inside? I hope so, for $1000.....
I never looked at ARH because I thought they too expensive and I didn't need the X-pipe section. I should've checked if they only sell the headers, if so I would've went for a couple of hundred more and had stainless steel, etc...
BTFloyd can you let me know if yours are coated on the inside? I hope so, for $1000.....
I never looked at ARH because I thought they too expensive and I didn't need the X-pipe section. I should've checked if they only sell the headers, if so I would've went for a couple of hundred more and had stainless steel, etc...
Last edited by vette196; Jun 17, 2021 at 05:17 PM.
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 147
Likes: 48
From: Rockland County, New York
I just spoke TPIS and no update on my headers. I ordered them on 3/2 and was told mid-may delivery. I mention that BTFloyd got his and is about 10 miles from me(she was wondering if his were non-coated, they went out right away). They said people ordered some in Aug. of '20 and haven't got them. The master welder was out for awhile, so everything got backed up . Mine are getting coated by an outside company (2+ weeks ago). I asked the woman who answered the phone if the were coated inside and out, she said on the outside but wasn't sure.
BTFloyd can you let me know if yours are coated on the inside? I hope so, for $1000.....
I never looked at ARH because I thought they too expensive and I didn't need the X-pipe section. I should've checked if they only sell the headers, if so I would've went for a couple of hundred more and had stainless steel, etc...
BTFloyd can you let me know if yours are coated on the inside? I hope so, for $1000.....
I never looked at ARH because I thought they too expensive and I didn't need the X-pipe section. I should've checked if they only sell the headers, if so I would've went for a couple of hundred more and had stainless steel, etc...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,018
Likes: 565
From: Conroe Texas
let me insert my $.02 worth.
the first set of headers i wrapped were the hooker steel long tubes that were ceramic coated inside and out on my 89 coupe. this was done sometime in 1992 and the car had about 10k miles on it and i wrapped them the whole length. i would be able to drop a bolt/nut/tool on the collector with the engine running and just reach down and pick it up. that is how much heat the wrap will retain. not so good for the steel tubes. no problems with rusting but the extra high heat breaks down the steel and makes it brittle. these lasted for a few years until i took them off and put the stock manifolds and exhaust system back on. when i removed the wrap it left an imprint on the coating but the headers were still good.
next set of headers were kooks stainless steel that were on the 2003 z06 i bought and the headers were turning a golden brown color at the exhaust ports that i did not care for, and the heat. so i pulled them off and sent them to jet hot to get their ceramic polished coating applied. the coating cut down a lot of the under hood heat and kept the headers form getting that golden brown color so i left them that way.
next on the list is a set of kooks stainless steel i bought thru jet hot that went on my 2007 z06 that is putting out 591 rwhp and i wrapped them for the extra ponies and heat. only this time i just wrapped from where the tubes started coming together thru the intermediate/x-pipe. this is keeping heat off the oil cooler lines, transmission lines, clutch lines, starter, oil filter, electrical lines and under the passenger cabin. wrapping the intermediate/x-pipe really made a difference in the amount of heat radiating into the passenger compartment. prior to adding the headers things were deteriorating, especially the electrical lines. it's been 3 years since i added the headers and wrap and i have had no issues with the wrap other than the smell of the wrap during initial curing.
lastly i just received my stainless works headers for my 1991 zr-1 and i had them jet hot coated the 2500* coating. we will see how this works out as i do not plan on wrapping them at this time.
the first set of headers i wrapped were the hooker steel long tubes that were ceramic coated inside and out on my 89 coupe. this was done sometime in 1992 and the car had about 10k miles on it and i wrapped them the whole length. i would be able to drop a bolt/nut/tool on the collector with the engine running and just reach down and pick it up. that is how much heat the wrap will retain. not so good for the steel tubes. no problems with rusting but the extra high heat breaks down the steel and makes it brittle. these lasted for a few years until i took them off and put the stock manifolds and exhaust system back on. when i removed the wrap it left an imprint on the coating but the headers were still good.
next set of headers were kooks stainless steel that were on the 2003 z06 i bought and the headers were turning a golden brown color at the exhaust ports that i did not care for, and the heat. so i pulled them off and sent them to jet hot to get their ceramic polished coating applied. the coating cut down a lot of the under hood heat and kept the headers form getting that golden brown color so i left them that way.
next on the list is a set of kooks stainless steel i bought thru jet hot that went on my 2007 z06 that is putting out 591 rwhp and i wrapped them for the extra ponies and heat. only this time i just wrapped from where the tubes started coming together thru the intermediate/x-pipe. this is keeping heat off the oil cooler lines, transmission lines, clutch lines, starter, oil filter, electrical lines and under the passenger cabin. wrapping the intermediate/x-pipe really made a difference in the amount of heat radiating into the passenger compartment. prior to adding the headers things were deteriorating, especially the electrical lines. it's been 3 years since i added the headers and wrap and i have had no issues with the wrap other than the smell of the wrap during initial curing.
lastly i just received my stainless works headers for my 1991 zr-1 and i had them jet hot coated the 2500* coating. we will see how this works out as i do not plan on wrapping them at this time.