I'm going to go ahead and buy the dynomax blackjack style shorty headers, but I suspect the black coating has nothing to do with heat protection. What does everyone think as far as getting some header wrap too? Would they be adequate almost equally to a jet-hot coating?

 

wrap makes them rust faster....theres a paint that works good though...ceramacoat or something like that

 

Stay away from the header wrap, If you have the money i suggest sending them to jet-hot to get them coated, its definately well worth it.

 

Why stay away? It's been used a lot by racing teams including ours. The headers stay hot but yes, the wrap will hold moisture. Rusting is definatly a problem but not if you don't drive in the rain. Somewhere I remember somebody telling me that headers crack when wrapped. I've yet to see this happen myself and we've gotten EGTs in our little honda F4i up to 1500+ and held 1450 for a long period of time (dyno cell holding an rpm). I have a feeling that the cracking only happens with cheap headers which get wrapped and installed on a poorly tuned engine resulting in a lean burn retarded ignition making the headers extra warm then getting splashed with water. I figure it's like brake rotors only those are iron and more likely to crack since they are already brittle. Any info would be appreciated but I still think I'm going to go ahead and wrap my headers anyways. They're SLP stainless tri-y's so rust shouldn't be a problem (only surface) and they are MUCH thicker than your average headers. Only thing that worries me is the header flange. It's individual and I've already had one header pull out of wack on me.

 

Sorry, another "I heard this from.....and he heard it from..."


It's total BS

Header Wrap voids header manufacturers warranties...that much is true. But, hello, have you checked the rust through warranties on headers?!?! GOOD LUCK!!!

I've used headers wrap on MORE than a few street / strip cars, and several DAILY drivers ( rain or shine ) and NEVER had a problem. In fact, last year, I helped a friend redo the drivetrain in a 383 Malibu I sold him AWHILE back. I had used Baked on VHT spray paint ( used my grille ) and then header wrap, as they were long tubes in a G-Body ( not alot of room ). So they were like that a total of 4 years. This is 4 years of driving EVERYDAY, rain or shine, going to the track, etc etc...and I'm in VA where there is plenty of humidity etc, so it's not AZ or something... ( NO RUST )...

We took the headers wrap off... and there were TWO spots on each header where there was some fairly heavy SURFACE rust...it knocked right off the metal with no ill effects. So much for that theory...


Bottom line..

If you plan on changing your plugs, working underhood when the headers are still hot, then go for header wrap or coating.

If you have to take pics of your engine every week for everyone to see, get coating.

If you'd rather have it look nice, and work fine, and have alot more free $$$ to spend on GO FAST parts, then have 'em sandblasted, hit 'em with some VHT or Cermakrome (sp?) , bake it on, and go....or add the header wrap if you feel the need.


The major benefit to coating, is when you have ill-fitting headers, or long tubes, which tend to leave NO room in these small engine compartments.

My Hedman's haven't burnt a spark plug wire, and I've driven everyday, about 8k miles, since I've put them on.


HTH


YMMV

 

The consensus seems to be that wraps are ok then. Rain is a seldom occurrence here (Las Vegas) as is humidity... I think wraps are a good candidate for the environment, but if I find some jet-hot coated (I believe dynomax does this for you) for a good deal I might just get em coated. Thanks for the input fellas!

 

I've got a new set of Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" headers that I cleaned up and am planning to have Jet Hot coated. However, I was planning to use header wrap also to further decrease engine compartment temps. I figured the Jet Hot coating would prevent any rust problems. Any comments?

 

Speaking of Ceramkrome, does anyone know where I can buy it? I think I had a bookmark, but somehow lost it.