Header life
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 39
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From: Livingston NJ
Header life
What kind of life expectancy could I expect from stainless steel headers from one of the major manufacturers (Kooks, LG etc). Could you relate it in either miles or years of use as alot of us don't necessarily put on too many miles annually.
Would ceramic coated headers last much longer than non coated.
I did do a search on this question but couldn't find a response.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Would ceramic coated headers last much longer than non coated.
I did do a search on this question but couldn't find a response.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
If you are talking KOOKS or LGs they should hold up as well as any other OEM part on your car.
The LGs midsection is stainless so it should last a good long time too.
Ceramic coated headers are usually made of mild steel, unless someone has gone to the trouble of having their stainless steel headers coated.
There are more than a few cases of failures after a couple of years and a few thousand miles involving ceramic coated mild steel headers
The LGs midsection is stainless so it should last a good long time too.
Ceramic coated headers are usually made of mild steel, unless someone has gone to the trouble of having their stainless steel headers coated.
There are more than a few cases of failures after a couple of years and a few thousand miles involving ceramic coated mild steel headers
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
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From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Originally Posted by EB20003
There are more than a few cases of failures after a couple of years and a few thousand miles involving ceramic coated mild steel headers
I should say I have ceramic coated FLP long tubes with 17000 miles on them and they look great.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 586
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From: Idabel OK
i have +40k on my coated TPIS headers and they still look pretty good. Especially considering i havent ever cleaned them.
i would assume that the Stainless Steel headers will probly live longer than you or me.??
i would assume that the Stainless Steel headers will probly live longer than you or me.??
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by runamuk
Where have you seen this
I should say I have ceramic coated FLP long tubes with 17000 miles on them and they look great.
I should say I have ceramic coated FLP long tubes with 17000 miles on them and they look great.
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
unfortunately the pics by AT&NB do not show up. But they did not look good at all.
The headers seemed to have rusted from the inside out near the collectors. There was obvious blistering and failure of the ceramic coating due to the significant rust beneath it.
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=108&arch=1
here
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45251 post #14
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...lp+heADER+RUST
and here, post #11.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
There are plenty more.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Jun 19, 2005 at 11:43 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Originally Posted by EB20003
The problem is described
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
unfortunately the pics by AT&NB do not show up. But they did not look good at all.
The headers seemed to have rusted from the inside out near the collectors. There was obvious blistering and failure of the ceramic coating due to the significant rust beneath it.
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=108&arch=1
here
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45251 post #14
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...lp+heADER+RUST
and here, post #11.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
There are plenty more.
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
here http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
unfortunately the pics by AT&NB do not show up. But they did not look good at all.
The headers seemed to have rusted from the inside out near the collectors. There was obvious blistering and failure of the ceramic coating due to the significant rust beneath it.
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show..._id=108&arch=1
here
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45251 post #14
here
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...lp+heADER+RUST
and here, post #11.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...um_id=1&arch=1
There are plenty more.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by runamuk
Those were not coated properly, the headers themselves are ok they just need to be done properly. I have 17,000 miles on mine and they look great.
But how do you know if the set of coated, mild steel headers you get, are "done properly"? ... Especially on the inside? ... If they are mild steel and not done properly then they will rust from the inside out due to the caustic components found in exhaust gases.
If they don't rust/corrode then great. But if they do rust then it can be a big problem what with removal and replacement.
Also, how long can the coating withstand the heat before it starts to break down????
With stainless steel headers, there are no such concerns. Stainless is much more corrosion resistant and requires no coating unless the owner opts to do so for heat reasons.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Jun 19, 2005 at 08:26 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Originally Posted by EB20003
But how do you know if the set of coated, mild steel headers you get, are "done properly"? ...
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 400
Likes: 2
From: Haskell, NJ 973-513-9955
We have our early prototype stainless ls1 headers back in 02. Still good as new. This is F Body headers when we where the first to introduce long tube stainless steel headers to the LS1 Market.
