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I just got a complete ARH header system (with catted x-pipe). I am going to have the headers ceramic coated to help with the under hood heat transfer. Is it worth it to coat the rest of the x-pipe as well? Not sure if that will help with heat transfer in the tunnel area. I know ARH doesn't recommend coating the cats as that makes them retain too much heat and can damage them. I can probably have the coater just leave the cats uncoated, but coat the rest of the pipes. Appreciate any feedback on this.
I just got a complete ARH header system (with catted x-pipe). I am going to have the headers ceramic coated to help with the under hood heat transfer. Is it worth it to coat the rest of the x-pipe as well? Not sure if that will help with heat transfer in the tunnel area. I know ARH doesn't recommend coating the cats as that makes them retain too much heat and can damage them. I can probably have the coater just leave the cats uncoated, but coat the rest of the pipes. Appreciate any feedback on this.
i would not coat the cats for sure or you will have dead cats.
There are other heat shield wraps that half cover the cats that would be a better option or heat blocker material on the tunnel plate.
i would place my phone in the console and it would get so hot that it would not work. don't even think about putting a chocolate bar in there. then i would place it on the a/c vent to cool it off before working. i pulled the intermediate pipe and wrapped it the whole length and then the cat pipe up to the cats. lastly i wrapped the rear exhaust as far as i could reach. results: phone no longer got hot and could feel less heat coming thru the tunnel.
I have decided to only coat the headers and leave the x-pipe alone. I am also installing the thicker tunnel plate with heat shielding so that should take care of the tunnel heat. I don't want to destroy the cats.
I have decided to only coat the headers and leave the x-pipe alone. I am also installing the thicker tunnel plate with heat shielding so that should take care of the tunnel heat. I don't want to destroy the cats.
Can't they coat the mid-pipe without coating the cats ? I don't have cats in my mid-pipe, but I coated the entire mid-pipe AND put a thermal covering on the tunnel plate.
Can't they coat the mid-pipe without coating the cats ? I don't have cats in my mid-pipe, but I coated the entire mid-pipe AND put a thermal covering on the tunnel plate.
I suppose that's possible, but after factoring in the cost (almost as much as coating the headers) I decided it just wasn't worth it. The cats are what are going to give off the most heat and they'll have to remain uncoated. I decided to just do the insulated TPS tunnel plate instead.
I have decided to only coat the headers and leave the x-pipe alone. I am also installing the thicker tunnel plate with heat shielding so that should take care of the tunnel heat. I don't want to destroy the cats.
i also have the thicker insulated tunnel plate, but still made the console really hot. after i wrapped the h-pipe did the temp come down in side the console.
I was thinking of doing the same, but I'm going cat-less. But ceramic coating is so damn darn anywhere I look. Headers alone are nearly $500. What prices are you guys paying?
I was thinking of doing the same, but I'm going cat-less. But ceramic coating is so damn darn anywhere I look. Headers alone are nearly $500. What prices are you guys paying?
Yeah, it's not cheap. I was quoted $300 to coat the headers. There are not too many quality places around me that I would trust for this.
Wow.....here in Phoenix, ceramic coating my new ARH 2" headers and the accompanying catless mid pipe ran about $360.00...175.00 for the headers, 185.00 for the mid-pipe (which is priced per the linear foot).
Last edited by FNBADAZ06; Aug 3, 2018 at 05:51 PM.
The cats are where the most heat will be coming from (I believe), but coating the entire exhaust is a worthwhile investment to me. While I have no data to back it up, theoretically if you can keep the exhaust gas temps hot all the way to the mufflers this should keep exhaust gas velocity up as well..helping the scavenging at the heads.
I also did my own tunnel plate shielding for both acoustics and heat using the Design Engineering DEI Boom Mat product, model # DEI 050508 which gives you a sheet of product 21" x 48" which is more than enough to do the tunnel plate.
The product is rated to 1750* ambient.
I purchased mine thru Summit but it';s available from Amazon and other retailers as well.
Last edited by FNBADAZ06; Aug 4, 2018 at 09:47 AM.
I'm new to the Phoenix area, who did the work for you and where will you go for tuning?
I'm contemplating doing the same for my GS, along with a heavier/insulated tunnel plate and plan to take the car to some of the HPDE events around Phoenix, though I've noticed the tracks are on the small side.
If you are into tracking your car, I found a decent place to go for wheel alignments if using camber plates. The tech there was the first one I didn't have to train. I trained 4 in the Seattle Area, wheel alignments can get pretty expensive when the tech has no clue...
I'm new to the Phoenix area, who did the work for you and where will you go for tuning?
I'm contemplating doing the same for my GS, along with a heavier/insulated tunnel plate and plan to take the car to some of the HPDE events around Phoenix, though I've noticed the tracks are on the small side.
If you are into tracking your car, I found a decent place to go for wheel alignments if using camber plates. The tech there was the first one I didn't have to train. I trained 4 in the Seattle Area, wheel alignments can get pretty expensive when the tech has no clue...
I doing much of my own labor now but Cordes Performance Racing (CPR) is in Tempe and does a tremendous amount of work here and in bordering states....they are a vendor on this board as well.
NicD is the individual I have tune my car, and is also the tuner who contracts out of CPR as well.
I just got a complete ARH header system (with catted x-pipe). I am going to have the headers ceramic coated to help with the under hood heat transfer. Is it worth it to coat the rest of the x-pipe as well? Not sure if that will help with heat transfer in the tunnel area. I know ARH doesn't recommend coating the cats as that makes them retain too much heat and can damage them. I can probably have the coater just leave the cats uncoated, but coat the rest of the pipes. Appreciate any feedback on this.
Which would you rather accidently bump up against, a hot ceramic coated header pipe or a hot wrapped header pipe?? My answer was wrapped when Tony Mamo asked me that question. Hands down a quality header wrap is better than ceramic coating!
Last edited by TomdaToolman; Aug 5, 2018 at 11:39 PM.
Which would you rather accidently bump up against, a hot ceramic coated header pipe or a hot wrapped header pipe?? My answer was wrapped when Tony Mamo asked me that question. Hands down a quality header wrap is better than ceramic coating!
Ive always heard header wraps are bad news due to risk of rusting out of the pipes and fire caused by oil that could come in contact with the wrap?
Ive always heard header wraps are bad news due to risk of rusting out of the pipes and fire caused by oil that could come in contact with the wrap?
Most all Vette headers are stainless steel, thus no rust. Quality wraps made of pulverized lava rock don't break down and absorb oil like older & lower cost wraps. The wrap has much better insulative qualities than the ceramic coating, keeping the engine bay & tunnel cooler.
Last edited by TomdaToolman; Aug 6, 2018 at 01:50 AM.
Which would you rather accidently bump up against, a hot ceramic coated header pipe or a hot wrapped header pipe?? My answer was wrapped when Tony Mamo asked me that question. Hands down a quality header wrap is better than ceramic coating!
my issue with a wrap is if you have an oil leak from a valve cover or anything it will absorb it and catch fire. a ceramic coating will just burn it off and smoke. We will only wrap a header if it's absolutely necessary, ceramic coating is always the first choice from a safety standpoint.
For the transmission Tunnel guys we now offer a kit that includes the center plate cover, and 4 sides shields that is great for blocking heat coming into the cab from the center console. Check it out at http://designengineering.com/corvett...tunnel-shield/ and can be purchased at Corvette Central or Zip Products under P# 050532.
For the exhaust wrap guys, header wrap will can get moisture in it but typically burns off just like an un-coated or un-wrapped pipe. You can saturate wrap with moisture but again it will burn off almost instantly, unless you purposely spray the hose on the wrap and hold it there and then instantly park the car when it is not up to operating temps. As for oil a drip here or there will smoke and burn off. Now if the wrap is saturated in oil, it will be best to fix the leak and then re-wrap with new material.
If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me.
Question About Header/Exhaust Ceramic Coating
