Getting headers coated

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Mar 23, 2007 | 08:03 PM

Stingray55

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Apr 2006

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Getting headers coated

Would like to know if coating the inside of headers is necessary?
Does it reduce the inside diameter to the point of hurting performance?

What should I expect to pay to do the headers all the way back to exhaust?

Thanks

Mar 23, 2007 | 08:06 PM

Wayne88

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 18,725

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From: Bergen County, NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingray55

Would like to know if coating the inside of headers is necessary?
Does it reduce the inside diameter to the point of hurting performance?

Just my .02

It seems that coating the inside of headers will clog the cats if the inner coating starts to flake.

Mar 23, 2007 | 08:10 PM

lvjetboy

Racer

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 462

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From: Las Vegas NV

Coatings are relatively thin, insignificant change in xsect area or flow. Might help by keeping exhaust temp up and underhood heat down. Just a guess.

jer

Mar 23, 2007 | 09:04 PM

Batman7

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 750

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From: Shorewood IL

Coating the inside of the headers is not necessary, most likely a waste of money. I guess the only reasons you would want to coat the exhaust all the way back is if you were showing the car or just want to know it looks nice. This is not a bad thing.

However, you don't want to keep the exhaust temps up too much by coating everything, especially if you are staying with using cats. You want some of the heat to escape as the higher temps can increase the likelihood of detonation and you don't want that.

I have a set of headers on order and I am just having the outside of them coated, then for my x-pipe I am just going to use the hi-temp ceramic based spray paint by duplicolor so it will look decent and cheap enough to repaint if I choose.

Mar 23, 2007 | 11:00 PM

Wayne O

CF Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 23,313

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From: Tucson Arizona

I had my LGM long tubes coated. I've heard differing opinions on the benefits (or lack thereof) of coating headers. If for no other reason, I think it finishes them off nicely and I did not encounter detonation or other problems. I think the coating was in the neighborhood of $400.00. I'm happy with them both from an appearance and a performance standpoint.

Mar 23, 2007 | 11:02 PM

opus1111

Pro

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 547

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From: Dayton Ohio

I firmly believe coating exhaust components is a waste of money unless you do it for looks alone. Trusted drag racing and tuning friends told me this before I bought mine, and after install I believe it. I would've chipped the hell out of a couple places on them during my install... If you have any interference issues, you'll also be chipping the hell out of them.

I'm assuming you go with quality stainless headers, like 304 SS. Just my opinion- others will swear by coating. I chose to put the $$ into other mods.

Mar 26, 2007 | 04:41 AM

lvjetboy

Racer

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 462

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From: Las Vegas NV

I think Wayne88 has a good point. Flakes and cats may not be good. That said a good coating may not flake.

As for detonation? The post about letting some exhaust heat escape and so on to avoid detonation...not buying that.

jert

Mar 26, 2007 | 10:45 AM

Atomic-Vette

Drifting

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 1,629

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From: Edmond OK

I had my headers coated on my previous supercharged car by Jet-Hot. they look great, I can't say for sure about under hood temps though. As for chipping them durring install, the coating is WAY more resielient than that. Unless you're using a hammer to do your install with you're not going to have any chipping problems. For the record my LG's for my Vette are going to be coated inside and out. Most quotes I've gotten for inside/outside of both headers is 250 bucks.