uncoated kooks headers
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Pickens SC
uncoated kooks headers
Do I need to get my kooks headers coated? Does coating significantly impact the heat radiated from headers? What items could be affected other than plug wires? Any information would be much appreciated. 
:o
:o
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 154
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From: Kansas City Kansas
Have had mine on for about 2500-3000 miles and no issues so far.
No coating on headers, x-pipe, or off-road pipe. Don't notice any heat related issues, although I'm not in much stop and go traffic.
Steve
No coating on headers, x-pipe, or off-road pipe. Don't notice any heat related issues, although I'm not in much stop and go traffic.
Steve
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
No need to coat 304 stainless headers. Kooks are 304 stainless. Unless you like the appearance of coated headers.
Heat has not been an issue in my case. I also prefer the look of the natural stainless after it has gone through several heat cycles.
Heat has not been an issue in my case. I also prefer the look of the natural stainless after it has gone through several heat cycles.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Oct 10, 2004 at 12:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Coating is not necessary, but the usual benefits of coating are: lower backpressure do to higher exhaust flow speeds, reduced electrical heat soak problems, sound attenuation (quieter) and finally reduced corrosion to the exhaust and other under hood components. To learn more, check out the Hot Rod mag website for the current issue of Racecar Engineering magazine.
Last edited by leaftye; Oct 11, 2004 at 03:52 AM. Reason: spelling
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,978
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From: Tulsa OK
It isn't necessary to coat them from a corrosion standpoint. I had mine coated to help keep the under hood temps down. I wouldn't say that it is a necessity, though. If you're trying to save money, I would just skip the coating.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by boblackhardtop
The headers are SS
Not that anybody would get them bear like that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,049
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From: kansas city MO
Originally Posted by LS1LT1
Are they all SS or are the Corvette versions also available in both coated mild steel and non coated mild steel just as the F-body ones are?
Not that anybody would get them bear like that.
Not that anybody would get them bear like that.
If you get the whole system the portion after the headers are ALUMINIZED steel.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,976
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Originally Posted by EB20003
No need to coat 304 stainless headers. Kooks are 304 stainless. Unless you like the appearance of coated headers.
Heat has not been an issue in my case. I also prefer the look of the natural stainless after it has gone through several heat cycles.
Heat has not been an issue in my case. I also prefer the look of the natural stainless after it has gone through several heat cycles.
They do look 
10k+ miles on mine with H&C too. Never had a heat prob. under all sorts of driving conditions from an hour sitting in Atlanta rush hour or 8 hr road trips. Also no cooling modifications to the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
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From: Morganton, NC, USA
304 Stainless Steel has a lot less heat conductivity than mild steel. A coating will add significantly to the tubes insullation and appearance. The downside is you will probably scratch the coating several places during installation.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by boblackhardtop
If you get the whole system the portion after the headers are ALUMINIZED steel.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by LS1LT1
Yes I knew that part, but there are many systems like that as well, many will agree that it's not all that necessary to have the mid 'H' section in stainless and it does save some $ also.
Just how necessary is it that the mid H section on back is 304 stainless? What is the stock midsection and x pipe made of??? I doubt its 304 stainless.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 1
From: kansas city MO
Originally Posted by EB20003
I have wondered this myself as it is sometimes used as a perceived shortcoming of systems which are not 304 stainless all the way to the mufflers.
Just how necessary is it that the mid H section on back is 304 stainless? What is the stock midsection and x pipe made of??? I doubt its 304 stainless.
Just how necessary is it that the mid H section on back is 304 stainless? What is the stock midsection and x pipe made of??? I doubt its 304 stainless.
However, the cost of coating the midsection is less than half that of the headers set. Swaintech charge me $150 which I think is reasonable considering the functionality and durability it add to the unit.
Another point is that when comparing system Kooks, LGs, Dynatech most people will tend to disregard this detail, the LGs for example are all SS.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by boblackhardtop
It's not really necessary to have the midsection in SS as it's relatively easy to replace should it rust too badly. The stock unit is aluminized steel.
However, the cost of coating the midsection is less than half that of the headers set. Swaintech charge me $150 which I think is reasonable considering the functionality and durability it add to the unit.
Another point is that when comparing system Kooks, LGs, Dynatech most people will tend to disregard this detail, the LGs for example are all SS.
However, the cost of coating the midsection is less than half that of the headers set. Swaintech charge me $150 which I think is reasonable considering the functionality and durability it add to the unit.
Another point is that when comparing system Kooks, LGs, Dynatech most people will tend to disregard this detail, the LGs for example are all SS.
So am I understanding correctly? The stock midsection is aluminized steel, and I have yet to see a post concerning rust involving it and the Kooks midsection is made of the same material?
