Hi Tech Coatings Question.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 150
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From: Denver, CO
Hi Tech Coatings Question.
The engine builder I used for the last engine put ceramic or hi tech coatings on the piston crowns and skirts, but was not ready to put them on the combustion chambers or valves?
The guy said he didn't know much about the coatings so he didn't want to put the stuff on the heads & valves. He builds some killer sprint car engines, so he's no back yard type.
This is a 400 SBC, Brodix Track 1 alum heads and will be supercharged to some 12 lbs of boost. It'll be run in my street Vette, and will see a few runs at the local 1/4 mile track just to see how it runs. Mostly it'll be my goofing off hotrod. I want to run pump gas so I'm concerned about detonation.
Everything I read says that coatings on the heads & valves helps reduce hot spots and detonation. Because I boosting this engine will it be worth my time & $ to pull the heads to add the coatings?
The guy said he didn't know much about the coatings so he didn't want to put the stuff on the heads & valves. He builds some killer sprint car engines, so he's no back yard type.
This is a 400 SBC, Brodix Track 1 alum heads and will be supercharged to some 12 lbs of boost. It'll be run in my street Vette, and will see a few runs at the local 1/4 mile track just to see how it runs. Mostly it'll be my goofing off hotrod. I want to run pump gas so I'm concerned about detonation.
Everything I read says that coatings on the heads & valves helps reduce hot spots and detonation. Because I boosting this engine will it be worth my time & $ to pull the heads to add the coatings?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Hi Tech Coatings Question. (Doug2500)
A big yes to coatings. If you have gone to any national event in the last 5 years. Every motor is completely done. I didn't go far enough. My crank and under sides of the pistons have oil repellant. Moly skirts. I did my piston tops, chambers, and exhaust valves. The head port tracks should be done to not induce heat on the intake and keep heat out of the head on the exhaust side.
I did not do my intake valves because the race shop had some questions about doing it to my titanium intakes and it runs cooler anyway.
I didn't research it enough before I put my motor together. They also do oil repellant blocks and everything under the valve covers. It's amazing stuff. oil beads up like a water drop on a nice paint and wax job. :seeya
[Modified by gkull, 8:39 AM 3/14/2002]
I did not do my intake valves because the race shop had some questions about doing it to my titanium intakes and it runs cooler anyway.
I didn't research it enough before I put my motor together. They also do oil repellant blocks and everything under the valve covers. It's amazing stuff. oil beads up like a water drop on a nice paint and wax job. :seeya
[Modified by gkull, 8:39 AM 3/14/2002]
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 398
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Re: Hi Tech Coatings Question. (Doug2500)
Swain Coating ceramic coated my TB, intake manifold, piston domes, combustion chambers, valve faces, exhaust runners, headers inside and out, moly coat the piston skirts. The gains were not so much HP but engine runs much leaner without any knock, get more HP per unit of gas. Engine is more efficient and even with the heads and cam engine runs much cooler.
I agree with above, there's a great deal that can be done with coatings, pretty neat stuff.
I agree with above, there's a great deal that can be done with coatings, pretty neat stuff.
