Header wrap pros and cons
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: oceanside N.Y.
Header wrap pros and cons
Thank you to all the forum members who responded to my post for the value of the underdrive pulley...had it installed with NO problems charging even with my battery in the rear of the car..Now another question...........Opinions on header wrapping....value???.Pros/.Cons??.....Has anyone done it on a C6........All opinions are appreciated...Thanks......NastyC6....... ...BOB
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I do not recommend wrapping your headers unless it is a race only application - and I do mean race only as in the car is a trailered race car....have the headers Jet Hot coated or going with a coated option from an aftermarket company's offering is really the best way to go on a street application - we have 2 different coatings we offer on our headers
it actually voids the warranty on our headers as well when people wrap them, some other aftermarket companies might say the same thing
it actually voids the warranty on our headers as well when people wrap them, some other aftermarket companies might say the same thing
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 4
From: az
I do not recommend wrapping your headers unless it is a race only application - and I do mean race only as in the car is a trailered race car....have the headers Jet Hot coated or going with a coated option from an aftermarket company's offering is really the best way to go on a street application - we have 2 different coatings we offer on our headers
it actually voids the warranty on our headers as well when people wrap them, some other aftermarket companies might say the same thing
it actually voids the warranty on our headers as well when people wrap them, some other aftermarket companies might say the same thing
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,120
Likes: 506
From: Greenville, NC
2025 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I think you would be better off with a coating such as Jet Hot as someone else said. I thought about getting my Kooks headers coated with Jet Hot 2000, but decided against it since they are stainless steel and there is room around them to let the heat disapate.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Southlake Texas
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
the headers get red hot and it can actually temper the steel and make it weaker. I have seen guys on jetboats do it and the weight of the collector caused the headers to warp and actually drop a couple inches. Too much heat for the steel.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,885
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
Wrap is not good for stainless LT's. Call the mfg and they will tell you.
Ceramic coating
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
stick with ceramic coating/jet hot coating
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: oceanside N.Y.
Thanks for all the input on the header wrap subject.........after considering all the qualified advice .....i've decided NOT to use the header wrap......Always looking for a few more HP.....NastyC6......BOB
FUBUZ06AMG
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
From: Southeast FL
it's not the best looking coating, but I am going with Swain-tech Coating . If it's good enough for NASCAR it's good enough for me.
I'm going to Swain-tech both the inside and outside of the pipes.
The entire from the headers back to the cat backs, NOT the catalytic converters.
Les
I'm going to Swain-tech both the inside and outside of the pipes.
The entire from the headers back to the cat backs, NOT the catalytic converters.
Les
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
I would also advise not wrapping headers. It doesn't last long under high heat. I would advise a good ceramic/aftermarket coating, although there are mixed opinions on coating the inside only versus inside and outside. I don't believe coating the inside would be a problem if you're staying N/A or supercharged, although turbo applications are where I'd personally only coat the outside. I also think highly of Swaintech offerings. I'm a Corvette n00b, but have run ceramic coated headers for nearly five years on a turbocharged Subaru.
San
San
San
San
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)
imo, wrapping isn't as good as coating, as long as you use a quality coating company (jethot, swaintech, etc.). wrap absorbs moisture, dirt, etc. coating leaves the headers looking good as new even after 20k+ miles.
i had my headers coated but i did use some wrap on the x-pipe and cat-back.
i had my headers coated but i did use some wrap on the x-pipe and cat-back.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 247
Likes: 27
From: Edmonds WA
wrapping headers
I wouldn't recommend it to any one in any condition. In theory it sounds like it would add H.P. to engine, being the engine bay would be cooler. But, when the headers get hot they retain the heat and it is just like you heat treated them. On my race car they would glow and each time I ran it they went through the heat treatment until they got so brittle they cracked into pieces. Get them coated and that is it!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,885
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
I would also advise not wrapping headers. It doesn't last long under high heat. I would advise a good ceramic/aftermarket coating, although there are mixed opinions on coating the inside only versus inside and outside. I don't believe coating the inside would be a problem if you're staying N/A or supercharged, although turbo applications are where I'd personally only coat the outside. I also think highly of Swaintech offerings. I'm a Corvette n00b, but have run ceramic coated headers for nearly five years on a turbocharged Subaru.
San
San
San
San
Mine are cast iron.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Bradenton Florida
You might want to take a look at the Melrose headers. They come jet hot coated, the fit is excellent, and life time warranty as long as you own the car. Some folks argue that they are only mild steel vs. Stainless steel. Mild Steel flexes better and less risky for cracks at the flanges. They keep a nice shine which helps if you're showing your car. Check out their FAQ on their website and decide for yourself. So far, my Melrose headers with long tubes and X-pipe have been performing flawlessly. Good luck. I do agree with the other guys here about not wrapping them. Jet hot coating will solve that for you.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 129
From: Amityville ny 631-608-1986
We also do not recommend wrapping headers because of the combination of heat and moisture built up within the wrapping. We also aren't a big proponent of ceramic coatings with our 304 S/S systems unless the application has forced induction. Feedback from some highly experienced tuners told us coatings on N/A applications, particularly those with greater than stock camshaft lifts and durations can cause excessive heat to back up into the combustion chamber promoting detonation. With mild steel, coatings are a must for longevity and mild steel simply won't hold the heat in as well as S/S. Therefore coating mild steel isn't nearly as detrimental.
Nick
Nick
