I only want people who have had experience good or bad. I have searched the archives and can't seem to get a good rounded answer. People have always heard of people or know people, but I want to know from other peoples mistakes

 

I have seen people who have wrapped their headers and moisture gets trapped under the tap and they rust under the tape.

 

not if the headers are stainless... i had thermotec wrap on my downpipes and it works fine. the downside to the stuff is that you get the fiberglass in your arms/hands if you're working around it... i'd probably just go with a ceramic coating if i had to do it all over again...

 

Edelbrock recommends that you NOT use heat wraps because it will create moisture between the pipe and the wrapping material, causing it to rust and shorten the headers' life. My other car (Mustang) had ceramic coating over the headers, and they seem to be doing well. Hope this helps.

 

With you in damp old England I would stay away from wraps. Seems the non-stainless headers go south pretty quick and the stainless headers are the only ones that have a chance. Add your climate and it wouldn't surprise me if even the stainless has problems.

The last problem that no one has mentioned is that they wick up everything, If you spill oil, have any leaks around your valve covers, etc it will contaminate the wraps. I know of one engine fire because of oil-soaked wraps.