C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Wrapped Headers???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 12, 2006 | 04:07 PM
  #21  
boosted_z06's Avatar
boosted_z06
Pro
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 593
Likes: 1
Default

The biggest performance benefit of coated headers is that they help keep the heat in the exhaust system. As the exhaust gases cool, they also lose velocity.
By keeping the exhaust hot, the velocity will be higher and you will get more of a scavenging effect. At low rpm, reverse flow will be reduced also. By keeping the heat in the exhaust system, you also reduce under hood temperatures, which can really be a plus if your aircleaner is breathing under hood air.

Thermal wrap does a better job at insulating heat and reducing under hood temperatures, but they also tend to hold in moisture and cause rust.
If you use wrap on a street car, you should use a coated header to help it last. Headers will not last as long if they are run hotter, and wraps make the header run much hotter. The metal will fatigue much quicker. Gaskets will also fail sooner if the system is hotter, especially the collector gaskets.
Depending on what the header is made of coating or wrapping will cause welds to crack or cause like stainless steel to change shape.
Coatng CAT is stupid for the hotter they get the more excess fuel the PCM commands to cool the CAT off.
Changing the internal exhaust temp will effect the O2s and cause PCM to make AFR canges when it really was not needed so tuning the PCM is a must.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2006 | 04:44 PM
  #22  
TommyV's Avatar
TommyV
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
Default

Originally Posted by boosted_z06
Coatng CAT is stupid for the hotter they get the more excess fuel the PCM commands to cool the CAT off.
My mileage has improved, so I'm not sure what you mean. Cat's are suppose to run hot.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 10:49 AM
  #23  
boosted_z06's Avatar
boosted_z06
Pro
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 593
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by TommyV
My mileage has improved, so I'm not sure what you mean. Cat's are suppose to run hot.
No they are supposed to operate over a set temp range and when they get over that temp the PCM kicks in COT ( Cat OverTemp) which dumps fuel in to cool the Cat and why people call when at WOT being pig rich.

The PCM is assuming what the CAT temp is only by what the O2s report so coating exhaust also then reflects what the O2s report.
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2006 | 01:42 PM
  #24  
TommyV's Avatar
TommyV
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 50
From: Sandy Eggo Calif.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '16
Default

My AF's were right on during my last dyno, so I'm not too concerned.
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2006 | 06:30 AM
  #25  
Zig's Avatar
Zig
Safety Car
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 5
From: stafford country, va. Avatar: Me on turn 3 @ Bristol (The World's Fastest Half-Mile)
Default

Originally Posted by boosted_z06
No they are supposed to operate over a set temp range and when they get over that temp the PCM kicks in COT ( Cat OverTemp) which dumps fuel in to cool the Cat and why people call when at WOT being pig rich.

The PCM is assuming what the CAT temp is only by what the O2s report so coating exhaust also then reflects what the O2s report.
does that occur at a specific temp. or does it occur when the front and rear o2 sensor temps/readings are too close to each other.
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 01:16 PM
  #26  
heavychevy's Avatar
heavychevy
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,369
Likes: 179
From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
Default

Originally Posted by boosted_z06
The biggest performance benefit of coated headers is that they help keep the heat in the exhaust system. As the exhaust gases cool, they also lose velocity.
By keeping the exhaust hot, the velocity will be higher and you will get more of a scavenging effect. At low rpm, reverse flow will be reduced also. By keeping the heat in the exhaust system, you also reduce under hood temperatures, which can really be a plus if your aircleaner is breathing under hood air.

Thermal wrap does a better job at insulating heat and reducing under hood temperatures, but they also tend to hold in moisture and cause rust.
If you use wrap on a street car, you should use a coated header to help it last. Headers will not last as long if they are run hotter, and wraps make the header run much hotter. The metal will fatigue much quicker. Gaskets will also fail sooner if the system is hotter, especially the collector gaskets.
Depending on what the header is made of coating or wrapping will cause welds to crack or cause like stainless steel to change shape.
Coatng CAT is stupid for the hotter they get the more excess fuel the PCM commands to cool the CAT off.
Changing the internal exhaust temp will effect the O2s and cause PCM to make AFR canges when it really was not needed so tuning the PCM is a must.
Sorry to go digging but I have heard that wrapping on top of coating is not good because it causes the coating to crack. Does anyone else have an opinion on this.
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 01:59 PM
  #27  
RDunn's Avatar
RDunn
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: St.Louis Missouri
Default

a big +1 for jethot
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 02:16 PM
  #28  
TTRotary's Avatar
TTRotary
Race Director
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by boosted_z06
No they are supposed to operate over a set temp range and when they get over that temp the PCM kicks in COT ( Cat OverTemp) which dumps fuel in to cool the Cat and why people call when at WOT being pig rich.
This is not correct. I think you are thinking of the use of excess fuel to provide in-cylinder cooling on turbo cars, which is why you run turbo cars rich at WOT. If you add fuel to a converter, you are increasing the chemical inputs, which will result in more heat. Think about it. Empirically, excess fuel is the reason FI cars often burn out their cats.

In fact, hotter exhaust temps actually LOWER the operating temps inside the catalyst because there are fewer hydrocarbons to be processed.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 17, 2006 | 12:53 AM
  #29  
runutzzzzz's Avatar
runutzzzzz
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
Default

What about wrapping a jet-hot pipe? Is it no needed?
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:04 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE