Header Coating
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Header Coating
Does anyone have experience with coated and non-coated headers?
I hear two stories on header coating. One says you are wasting your money if the are stainless steel, and other says do it, because it keeps the heat in the headers and keeps the engine compartment and tunnel area cooler.
Thanks!
I hear two stories on header coating. One says you are wasting your money if the are stainless steel, and other says do it, because it keeps the heat in the headers and keeps the engine compartment and tunnel area cooler.
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 10
From: Montrose Colorado
I had my Kooks coated by Jet Hot, besides keeping the heat down a little the cosmetic value alone was worth it to me. I have none coated stainless headers on my ZR1 and they do discolor despite being stainless.
Last edited by vettl83; Jan 5, 2008 at 12:49 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8,155
Likes: 1
From: The United States of TEXAS www.corvettemotorsportsinc.com
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08
As mentioned above and speaking from experience; the Jet-Hot sterling coating prevents the polished stainless steel from discoloring and does significantly reduce the underhood heat temperatures associated with LT headers.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 6
From: Makena, Maui & NM
I had my Kooks headers coated with Jet Hot 1700 Extreme Sterling for free from MarylandSpeed. They look good, jury is still out on the reduced underhood and cockpit heat until summer weather heat. I called Jet Hot to see if they clean the inside of the pipes of the grease and shavings prior to coating and they said they do. I sure hope so...it did look smooth from what I could see inside. Not sure how much coatings help but dont think they hurt.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Does anyone have experience with coated and non-coated headers?
I hear two stories on header coating. One says you are wasting your money if the are stainless steel, and other says do it, because it keeps the heat in the headers and keeps the engine compartment and tunnel area cooler.
Thanks!
I hear two stories on header coating. One says you are wasting your money if the are stainless steel, and other says do it, because it keeps the heat in the headers and keeps the engine compartment and tunnel area cooler.
Thanks!
Once you have had coated ones,
you'll never go back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 2
From: SOUTHERN CALI - Most of the time California
It's going to be hard to notice. With my headers, I first installed the tunnel plate. I didn't notice the difference much. My headers are now coated, and I still don't notice the difference much. There is too much heat coming through.
The best solution is to add additional insulation around the gear box area.
The best solution is to add additional insulation around the gear box area.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thanks everyone for your feedback! It sounds like the key is that it makes them look really good and the other value is marginal. The posted pictures sure do make them look "purdy"!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 10
From: Montrose Colorado
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,511
Likes: 22
From: Southern MD
We sell a ton of coated headers..and quite honestly an uncoated header would never touch one of my cars. The science is there behind the coating, which I have posted several times..and additionally, your part looks good longer.
In my experiance, the places that try to talk you out of coating do so because quite honestly, it is a hassle shipping the parts around..and having the customer wonder where their header is for two weeks. It is easier for them to just sell you an uncoated header..take your money, and get you out their face. Also, there is really not any money in coating..it is something you add at cost or so. So next time you hear someone going on about how coating sucks...take a deeper look...there is likely other motivation
We have a free coating sale going on here that is a great deal. It includes free shipping, and Jet Hot 1700 degree extreme sterling for free.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1873105
In my experiance, the places that try to talk you out of coating do so because quite honestly, it is a hassle shipping the parts around..and having the customer wonder where their header is for two weeks. It is easier for them to just sell you an uncoated header..take your money, and get you out their face. Also, there is really not any money in coating..it is something you add at cost or so. So next time you hear someone going on about how coating sucks...take a deeper look...there is likely other motivation
We have a free coating sale going on here that is a great deal. It includes free shipping, and Jet Hot 1700 degree extreme sterling for free.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1873105
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,722
Likes: 708
From: Bergen County, NJ
The way I see it, If the inside coating flakes or chips, it could clog the cats.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
We sell a ton of coated headers..and quite honestly an uncoated header would never touch one of my cars. The science is there behind the coating, which I have posted several times..and additionally, your part looks good longer.
In my experiance, the places that try to talk you out of coating do so because quite honestly, it is a hassle shipping the parts around..and having the customer wonder where their header is for two weeks. It is easier for them to just sell you an uncoated header..take your money, and get you out their face. Also, there is really not any money in coating..it is something you add at cost or so. So next time you hear someone going on about how coating sucks...take a deeper look...there is likely other motivation
We have a free coating sale going on here that is a great deal. It includes free shipping, and Jet Hot 1700 degree extreme sterling for free.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1873105
In my experiance, the places that try to talk you out of coating do so because quite honestly, it is a hassle shipping the parts around..and having the customer wonder where their header is for two weeks. It is easier for them to just sell you an uncoated header..take your money, and get you out their face. Also, there is really not any money in coating..it is something you add at cost or so. So next time you hear someone going on about how coating sucks...take a deeper look...there is likely other motivation
We have a free coating sale going on here that is a great deal. It includes free shipping, and Jet Hot 1700 degree extreme sterling for free.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1873105
The headers haven't arrived yet and I still believe that I need a tunnel plate, I may just do them both.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Free coating, at great delivered price. Stainless will heat discolor and stain
No coating wrong move.IMO I added a heat sheild in the tunnel above
the exhaust.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
In my opinion the only reason to coat Stainless Headers is for the bling.
1) Stainless steel has 1/3 the thermal conductivity of carbon steel. The thermal coating (Jet Hot) is needed for Carbon steel to cut the heat transfer and to keep them from rusting. The coating is just not needed for the stainless.
2) If I'm going to spring extra to buy stainless headers, I'm going to show them off. When I see coated headers I figured the guy was cheap and bought carbon steel headers.
1) Stainless steel has 1/3 the thermal conductivity of carbon steel. The thermal coating (Jet Hot) is needed for Carbon steel to cut the heat transfer and to keep them from rusting. The coating is just not needed for the stainless.
2) If I'm going to spring extra to buy stainless headers, I'm going to show them off. When I see coated headers I figured the guy was cheap and bought carbon steel headers.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor