Wrapping aftermarket headers

[Isaurio]

Hello TGC.. I just changed my headers. I have notice a big increase under the hood temp. I was reading a lot about wrapping the headers. There is Pro and cons about this.

Pro: Lowering the engine compartment temp, the air/fuel mixture will increase due to a much denser cold air. The wrap will increase power keeping the heat in the exhaust. The more consistent the exhaust temp the faster the flow will be out of your engine, so higher velocity exhaust gases will evacuate the exhaust system faster, allowing for improved performance.

Cons: Some people says that it will decrease the life of the headers by trapping moister and rusting and cracking the headers. Also will void manufacture warranty.

I found out that companies sells the wrap with silicon spray to avoid any moist to build inside the wraps.

Any suggestions. Thanks

[qnz]

you can also ceramic coat the header. Tho the cost to ceramic coat ($200+) might be as much as the header costs. Arent the aftermarket headers stainless steel? Technically they shouldnt rust. and if they do, then they suck anyway.

[Isaurio]

Yeah I heard about the ceramic coat, but is to much money and they dont cover heat as much as the wraps. I'm running OBX headers. I know i know cheap cheap. But so far so good. Dont want to get expensive headers just in case i go crazy and boost my car later on.

[Stewi]

you can also ceramic coat the header. Tho the cost to ceramic coat ($200+) might be as much as the header costs. Arent the aftermarket headers stainless steel? Technically they shouldnt rust. and if they do, then they suck anyway.

Stainless definetly does rust, it just takes a long ass time and the rust will typically be very very light, it wont rust out like a mild steel header. It also depends on the quality of the stainless, good stainless is non-magnetic, if its the cheap stuff it will be magnetic which means it probably has a better chance of rusting since it has alot of alloy mixed in.

[SPD_FRK]

If you wrap the headers be sure to soak the wrap in warm water for about an hour. Also wear gloves when applying the wrap and overlap every 3/8 -1/4 minimum to get the best heat reduction. Before applying the wrap get the headers sandblasted so that you can spray them with a good high temp paint as a "primer" and this will drastically reduce the possibility of rusting beneath the wrap. To get absolute best results though, ceramic coating and then wrapping the headers will do amazing things for under hood temps.

If you are interested in the ceramic coating shoot me a PM and let me know if you have long tube or short tube headers. I may be able to set you up with a lower cost to do ceramic coating.

[Isaurio]

Thanks for the reply's. I will let you know how it turns out. SPD_FRK i will follow these steps. Let see if the wraps reduce the temp around the engine. You have to see the radiator hose, it looks like is going pop because the header is giving out so much heat without the stock heat-shield.

[bwracing00]

i highly recommend getting them heat treated like a jet hot coating. i actually got a higher temp coating called super coating waiting to install they use it on race cars and everything for HIGH heat apps. if your interested in that let me know.

[Isaurio]

i highly recommend getting them heat treated like a jet hot coating. i actually got a higher temp coating called super coating waiting to install they use it on race cars and everything for HIGH heat apps. if your interested in that let me know.

Thanks for the info. I found out about jet hot coating but, it cost more than the headers. I'm going to try the wrap first and see how it turns out. I got Hi Temp black primer (2000F) for the headers as a base so it won’t rust or hold any moister. Then the wrap with ceramic silicon paint.

[Isaurio]

Here is the progress on the headers. Just got the 2 piece headers today. And Started working on it. Here are some pics.






Here is the primer:




I will keep posting more pics after I finish.

[Isaurio]

new pics: Just finish the wraps last night around 2 in the morning.





Here i finish putting the silicon-ceramic paint on top of the headers:




Here is on the G:



Is funny the first 30 min with the engine running i took it for a spin, and lol, the car was on smoke all over the header. It was burning off the residue of the paint on the wrap. Its funny because i'm just cruising around and listening to music and the car on smoke. People was looking with their big eyes thinking the car was on fire or was going to blow up. After an hour the smoke stop. The wrap decrease the engine heat by 45% to 50%. I even put a drop of water on the header and WOW it took about 25 sec to evaporate.

[qnz]

oh ya, i shoulda mentioned that. Ya, the exhaust wrap will "burn" and smoke and give off a sweet smell at first. When you do some WOT runs, it will burn a little more.

[Isaurio]

Yeah bro, I'm going to take it in the highway and drive for a few minutes until the wrap settles into the headers.

[SPD_FRK]

looks pretty good, hopefully you scuffed up the piping before spraying it though. If not it will flake off with the heat and moisture. Another thing is to ditch the wrap "ties" it comes with, they are flimsy and will not hold very long. Best thing to use is hose clamps as they will keep the wrap tight in place and won't fail like the ceap ones the wrap kits come with.

As for the burning smell, it can last for days and possibly a week or two before it disappears. I had a distinctive smell on my exhaust for about a week and a half on the Harley which was rode daily even.

[Isaurio]

Yeah bro. I did scuffed up the piping before the painting also cleaned the pipes with alcohol. Yeah i will get some clamps to hold them. I spray silicon ceramic on it, it should hold the wrap together. So far so good. I don't see any smoke anymore, Still smells a little not a lot. That stuff works keeps the engine bay not too hot like before. I have to post pictures soon and sound clip of my new Magnaflow Cat back, that shit rocks nice deep tone I could imagine the G 5 speed with the Headers and Cat back. I could say my MPG when up big time the engine dont work as hard when i hit the gas.