Header wrap: how to attach/hold down?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Header wrap: how to attach/hold down?
How have you all successfully held down your header wrap on exhaust pipes?
I wrapped a short section(10" long) of the pipes only where they are near the tranny as an experiment today. I used some metal ties (a lot like a zip tie but I'm not crazy about the clamping...it doesn't really cinch well) at either end of the wrap in an attempt to hold it down.
I don't want this to come off...I imagine there will be a little vibration in the pipes during driving along with the normal bumps in the road.
Should I just use electrical tape to hold the ties to the wrap? Or use a metal band clamp instead?
I wrapped a short section(10" long) of the pipes only where they are near the tranny as an experiment today. I used some metal ties (a lot like a zip tie but I'm not crazy about the clamping...it doesn't really cinch well) at either end of the wrap in an attempt to hold it down.
I don't want this to come off...I imagine there will be a little vibration in the pipes during driving along with the normal bumps in the road.
Should I just use electrical tape to hold the ties to the wrap? Or use a metal band clamp instead?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 71
From: MA
You can get special stainless bands for this purpose, but they are $$. I think that you can find them on Summit Racings web site. I used brass wire that you can get at Home Depot. It works well and is cheap. I actually spiral wound my wrap the whole length and then circumference wrapped the ends. It has held up very well.
Make sure you understand how much to overlap the wrap. I think that it is 1/4", but check this because it was a quite while ago that I did this.
Make sure you understand how much to overlap the wrap. I think that it is 1/4", but check this because it was a quite while ago that I did this.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
You can get special stainless bands for this purpose, but they are $$. I think that you can find them on Summit Racings web site. I used brass wire that you can get at Home Depot. It works well and is cheap. I actually spiral wound my wrap the whole length and then circumference wrapped the ends. It has held up very well.
Make sure you understand how much to overlap the wrap. I think that it is 1/4", but check this because it was a quite while ago that I did this.
Make sure you understand how much to overlap the wrap. I think that it is 1/4", but check this because it was a quite while ago that I did this.
How does the brass wire clamp the wrap--how do you tighten/clamp or adhere?
Does Electrical tape sound like a bad idea? It won't burn. These pipes are not at the headers but at the trans.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
These are not the headers I'm wrapping (but using header wrap). These are the exhaust pipes that feed to the mufflers. I'm only wrapping the part right near the transmission. I'd like to keep the tranny more cool if I could do it.
I have SS clamps which are good for 2500F per package. But am I supposed to use them only on the ends? Middle to? They don't clamp much so I don't want them to move and have the wrap start to unwind.
I have SS clamps which are good for 2500F per package. But am I supposed to use them only on the ends? Middle to? They don't clamp much so I don't want them to move and have the wrap start to unwind.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 71
From: MA
Thanks! The ones I have are the special stainless ones and I think are for headers. But I just don't like that lack of cinch...they just don't feel tight. Pricy so I only have them on the ends of the wrap (4 ties...1 each end of wrap on 2 pipes).
How does the brass wire clamp the wrap--how do you tighten/clamp or adhere?
Does Electrical tape sound like a bad idea? It won't burn. These pipes are not at the headers but at the trans.
Thanks!
How does the brass wire clamp the wrap--how do you tighten/clamp or adhere?
Does Electrical tape sound like a bad idea? It won't burn. These pipes are not at the headers but at the trans.
Thanks!
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Has anyone tried the electrical tape w/ the stainless header ties? They are on there now so I could try it. If I take it apart I'm doing 01vetter's method.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 654
Likes: 1
From: chandler az
This might be worth a try. I found a pack of stainless steel tie wraps from Harbor Freight. I've used them near the exhaust, but never on anything that vibrated. If I remember right it was like 10 bucks for 25 of them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 825
Likes: 66
From: Baltimore Md
The electrical tape will fail due to the weather and repeated heat cycles.... I would either use the supplied ties (pulled tight using pliers) or worm clamps to hold the wrap in place. Wetting the wrap will allow you to install it more tightly, which will in turn increase its longevity as well. I would also recommend using vht flameproof ceramic paint on anything you plan to wrap, before wrapping it, to reduce the risk of corrosion.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
The electrical tape will fail due to the weather and repeated heat cycles.... I would either use the supplied ties (pulled tight using pliers) or worm clamps to hold the wrap in place. Wetting the wrap will allow you to install it more tightly, which will in turn increase its longevity as well. I would also recommend using vht flameproof ceramic paint on anything you plan to wrap, before wrapping it, to reduce the risk of corrosion.
