Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
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From: Tulsa OK
Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers?
I've used the "search" feature and haven't been able to determine the consensus. I'm buying stainless steel long tube headers for my car and I am seriously considering having them ceramic coated. The headers are 300 series stainless, so the coating is not needed for corrosion protection, just for keeping down the underhood temps. Anyone had their stainless LT ceramic coated? If so, was it worth it? Anyone that didn't coat their stainless headers and wish they did because of heat issues? I know that LG offers a heat shield with their headers....is this necessary? If so, wouldn't I be better off just going with ceramic coating?
Thanks! :lurk:
Thanks! :lurk:
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,809
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From: ST LOUIS MO
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
A frined has stainless works headers that have been coated by Swaintech. On the way back form our 10 hour trip form SC last week I TOUCHED THE HEADERS 6 hours into the trip. That's six hours of straight driving and I could touch them. They were hot mind you but I did not get burned. I know I'm an idiot but I had to see for myself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,126
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From: Streamwood illinois
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (brrymnvette)
thats a rarity. Ive had ceramic coated headers on many cars and they still were way over anything I could touch. Thats qutie odd.
dave
dave
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (brrymnvette)
:crazy: I had ceramic coated FLP headers on my '99 SS and I saw them get red hot while the car was on the dyno. No way I would touch them.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Castle Rock CO
St. Jude Donor '15
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
I have run several sets of fully coated(inside and out) ceramic coated headers on several F-bodies. The coating is remarkable and dramatically reduces the underhood temps of uncoated header equipped vehicles(made several comparisons with other F-body club members). I am not sure if there is a difference between the Swain Tech coating and the other coatings mentioned, but I could touch my coated headers on the TransAm not too long after driving it(changed plugs on the car once about 20 minutes after driving it and they where warm only).
Stainless steel does a great job, but the addition of ceramic coating will help noticably.
Todd
Stainless steel does a great job, but the addition of ceramic coating will help noticably.
Todd
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
I run TPIS ceramic coated long tubes. No problmes here what so ever. one thing I have notices with the ceramic coating is that the foot wells in the car do not get anywhere near as warm as headers without the coating.
if you can purchase headers that are cermic coated from the factory and not an afterthought.
if you can purchase headers that are cermic coated from the factory and not an afterthought.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
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From: California
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
:crazy: I had ceramic coated FLP headers on my '99 SS and I saw them get red hot while the car was on the dyno. No way I would touch them.
Coated Grots on my '99ss would get HOT.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (AU N EGL)
I'm not worried about problems. I'm fairly familiar with ceramic coated headers......I'm just trying to determine why it doesn't seem popular to put ceramic coating on stainless steel headers. That makes me think the main benefit for ceramic coating is corrosion protection.
Thanks for the info on the footwells...that may be an extra added benefit to going ahead and doing ceramic coating on my headers. I emailed HPC to see if they had any temperature measurements done with ceramic coated stainless versus uncoated stainless. I haven't heard back from them. I need to get out some of my materials books, but I don't recall there being a huge difference in thermal resistance between mild steel and stainless steel. If that is true, it seems that thermal advantages to ceramic coating mild steel headers would also apply to stainless headers.
Thanks for the info on the footwells...that may be an extra added benefit to going ahead and doing ceramic coating on my headers. I emailed HPC to see if they had any temperature measurements done with ceramic coated stainless versus uncoated stainless. I haven't heard back from them. I need to get out some of my materials books, but I don't recall there being a huge difference in thermal resistance between mild steel and stainless steel. If that is true, it seems that thermal advantages to ceramic coating mild steel headers would also apply to stainless headers.
I run TPIS ceramic coated long tubes. No problmes here what so ever. one thing I have notices with the ceramic coating is that the foot wells in the car do not get anywhere near as warm as headers without the coating.
if you can purchase headers that are cermic coated from the factory and not an afterthought.
if you can purchase headers that are cermic coated from the factory and not an afterthought.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,018
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From: Deltona Fl.
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
They do run cooler with the coating, and if applied correctly looks like
chrome, but doesn't turn blue. :cheers: :cheers:
chrome, but doesn't turn blue. :cheers: :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
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From: Monticello MN
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
I'm not worried about problems. I'm fairly familiar with ceramic coated headers......I'm just trying to determine why it doesn't seem popular to put ceramic coating on stainless steel headers. That makes me think the main benefit for ceramic coating is corrosion protection.
Ed
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,458
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From: Northville Michigan
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
Rob,
My L.G. Motorsports Long-Tube Pro Headers arrived at Swain Tech on Friday morning for them to apply their White Lightning coating. I will have them in my possession in about two weeks.
When they arrive, I am going to first install a Thermo Tech tunnel insulation pad. Then I am going to install the ceramic-coated headers. Send me an e-mail about the 17th of April and I will relay my experience.
Swain Tech claims a 50% reduction in radiated heat with their coating.
I am also fairly sure that the coating will change the frequency of the sound that the pipes transmit under the hood and under the car. I am hoping for some help there too. Several Corvette Forum members have complained about how loud their cars were after installing the Long-Tube Pro Headers . I have purposely decided to use the Corsa Touring mufflers, instead of the Pacer Car mufflers to lower the cockpit noise levels.
Good luck with your decision. :seeya
My L.G. Motorsports Long-Tube Pro Headers arrived at Swain Tech on Friday morning for them to apply their White Lightning coating. I will have them in my possession in about two weeks.
When they arrive, I am going to first install a Thermo Tech tunnel insulation pad. Then I am going to install the ceramic-coated headers. Send me an e-mail about the 17th of April and I will relay my experience.
Swain Tech claims a 50% reduction in radiated heat with their coating.
I am also fairly sure that the coating will change the frequency of the sound that the pipes transmit under the hood and under the car. I am hoping for some help there too. Several Corvette Forum members have complained about how loud their cars were after installing the Long-Tube Pro Headers . I have purposely decided to use the Corsa Touring mufflers, instead of the Pacer Car mufflers to lower the cockpit noise levels.
Good luck with your decision. :seeya
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
Likes: 280
From: Tulsa OK
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (C5XTASY)
Ed,
I had not heard this and I still haven't heard back from HPC. Anyone else heard of there being adhesion issues between ceramic coating and stainless steel?
I had not heard this and I still haven't heard back from HPC. Anyone else heard of there being adhesion issues between ceramic coating and stainless steel?
I remember reading, here on the forum, that coating stainless steel headers works well from a thermal standpoint, but that the coating may not adhere as well on stainless as on mild steel. Don't know if this is true or if that person knew what they were talking about. Anyone? :confused:
Ed
Ed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
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From: Tulsa OK
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (Pumba)
Pumba,
I look forward to hearing your results....but I will need to make my decision before then. Can you tell me how much the Swain Tech coating is costing you? Thanks!
I look forward to hearing your results....but I will need to make my decision before then. Can you tell me how much the Swain Tech coating is costing you? Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
I'd also like to know coating costs...
Are there any performance advantages to coating the headers?--outside of just the plug wire protection.
Are there any performance advantages to coating the headers?--outside of just the plug wire protection.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
From: Macomb Township MI
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
Will ask Gary Cook of Performance Fab. and Engineering (custom header builder) which is best way to go.........Stainless Steel Coated or Stainless Steel non-coated.........Gary gets his stuff coated at QC Coating in Shelby Township, MI........Performance Fab. and Engineering is located in Chesterfield Township, MI (1-586-949-3400)
I've used the "search" feature and haven't been able to determine the consensus. I'm buying stainless steel long tube headers for my car and I am seriously considering having them ceramic coated. The headers are 300 series stainless, so the coating is not needed for corrosion protection, just for keeping down the underhood temps. Anyone had their stainless LT ceramic coated? If so, was it worth it? Anyone that didn't coat their stainless headers and wish they did because of heat issues? I know that LG offers a heat shield with their headers....is this necessary? If so, wouldn't I be better off just going with ceramic coating?
Thanks! :lurk:
Thanks! :lurk:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Mount NC
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (RobWilson)
My stainless works headers have the swain tech coating and the temps are noticably less. I too have changed plugs not long after driving without any painful reminders of how hot the engine gets. JME.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
Likes: 280
From: Tulsa OK
Re: Consensus on Ceramic Coating Stainless Steel Headers? (Purple Corvette Jim)
Jim,
Thanks! Let me know what Gary has to say.
Rob
Thanks! Let me know what Gary has to say.
Rob
Will ask Gary Cook of Performance Fab. and Engineering (custom header builder) which is best way to go.........Stainless Steel Coated or Stainless Steel non-coated.........Gary gets his stuff coated at QC Coating in Shelby Township, MI........Performance Fab. and Engineering is located in Chesterfield Township, MI (1-586-949-3400)