Anyone wrap their Headers?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
You might ask your header manufacturer what they think about header wrapping. Most deny warranty if they've been wrapped.
If they're mild steel construction, header wrapping will degrade the steel. I've seen mild steel headers literally crumble, held together by the wrap only.
You will benefit more from a ceramic metallic coating in the long run.
If they're mild steel construction, header wrapping will degrade the steel. I've seen mild steel headers literally crumble, held together by the wrap only.
You will benefit more from a ceramic metallic coating in the long run.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 27
From: Torrance Calif
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,469
Likes: 136
From: SacCityCorvette.com in Sacramento Ca Join us on Facebook!
St. Jude Donor '12,'13,'15,'16,'17
I herd it also helps complete the burn inside the pipes by making it hotter. Not sure if thats true or not.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Header wrap
I've been running Dynamax long tube headers for 7 years or more unwrapped with no serious engine bay temp issues and a much quicker exhaust "cool down" when the engine is shut off VS stock exhaust. SS headers are great.I've never been a fan of wraping exhaust plumbing.
Ed (C5 ZO6)
Ed (C5 ZO6)
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
The problem is that the header wrapping gets wet while being driven in bad weather, while the car is being washed, etc. The wrapping also holds any contaminants in the water like salts and other chemicals. The wrapping doesn't dry easily and your headers end up staying in that moist and potentially chemical laden environment longer than they should.
The moist environment will cause corrosion. Stainless steel is not immune to corrosion. It is just a lot more resistant to it, especially when given ample opportunity to dry.
AKA "The CLOWN"
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,261
Likes: 13
From: Chicago South Suburbs
Not a smart idea! Get them ceramic coated and be done with it and never look back!
And they look really fugly after awhile!
And they look really fugly after awhile!
Last edited by Blitzkrieg; Jan 26, 2012 at 02:42 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I wrapped a set of mild steel headers on my old Firebird. There are some other down sides. I found when installing on what was basically an LT4 engine at that time.
It is a royal pita to do. To do it right, you need to pull them from the car and reinstall without damaging/dislodging the wrap. The wrap interfered with the header bolts. I think they interfered with servicing the spark plugs too.
Ceramic coating is what I would do if given the opportunity.
It is a royal pita to do. To do it right, you need to pull them from the car and reinstall without damaging/dislodging the wrap. The wrap interfered with the header bolts. I think they interfered with servicing the spark plugs too.
Ceramic coating is what I would do if given the opportunity.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
i had my lg's coated by jethot, mainly to keep them looking good but also to help reduce the temps... i had the headers on my old trans am coated by jethot and 3 years later when i sold the car they looked the same as the first day i installed them... it costs about $300 plus shipping to have them coated which may be a little much for some people, especially after spending $1200-$1500 for a header system in some cases, but in the long run i think it's worth it if you have the cash to spend
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
then there is something else wrong. i am using GMPP wires surrounded the oem heat shields on my TSP headers and not one is even coming close to touching. A year later and the wires still look new under the shields.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: spring tx
I have not heard anything about a burn, but keeping the exhaust gasses hotter means the air will flow out of the exhaust faster.
The problem is that the header wrapping gets wet while being driven in bad weather, while the car is being washed, etc. The wrapping also holds any co§ntaminants in the water like salts and other chemicals. The wrapping doesn't dry easily and your headers end up staying in that moist and potentially chemical laden environment longer than they should.
The moist environment will cause corrosion. Stainless steel is not immune to corrosion. It is just a lot more resistant to it, especially when given ample opportunity to dry.
The problem is that the header wrapping gets wet while being driven in bad weather, while the car is being washed, etc. The wrapping also holds any co§ntaminants in the water like salts and other chemicals. The wrapping doesn't dry easily and your headers end up staying in that moist and potentially chemical laden environment longer than they should.
The moist environment will cause corrosion. Stainless steel is not immune to corrosion. It is just a lot more resistant to it, especially when given ample opportunity to dry.
100%
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
I swiched from MSD's to the GMPP's with the heat sheilds and heat socks also. It was okay for about a 100 miles and now my missfire is back. I had 3 plugs on the right side of the engine with carbon tracks on the insulators with the MSD's. I have a few of the boots that are a fraction of an inch away from the headers. I'm starting to wonder if I have a lean condition. I have heard that will cause that problem also where the spark will jump from the connector to ground inside the boot, rather than from the electrode to the ground with a lean condition. I'm not real sure about that one.