IATs and Recoating Headers
IATs and Recoating Headers Running an F1A-94 and about to switch from 1 3/4 to 2 inch headers. The 2 inch headers are coated black, question is would it be worth it to recoat the headers in a chrome/silver coating to reduce radiant heat? My IAT's run pretty hot,160-170 at the end of the quarter. No options for relocating intake but I am looking into a cowl hood. They want $325 for the recoat, what do you guys think?
Soak the wrap in water and then wrap them, wear gloves lol.
It really knocks the heat down way more than ceramic coating, take you time with install so you don't damage the wrap.
It really knocks the heat down way more than ceramic coating, take you time with install so you don't damage the wrap.
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 46
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From: SE Wisconsin
Good to hear some real world experience. I have used Jet Hot coated headers and wraps on exhaust before, but never had anyway to measure any improvements other than my foot not getting as hot I guess.
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
If its a real baked on ceramic, its about 80% as effective as a wrap without the benefit
of rusting out the pipes or cracking them from overheating.
the white or medium
silver ceramic seem to have the best results, Ideally you want them coated inside
and out but if they have been used thats more difficult.
Of course I live in the Pacific North-Wet and its just when something will finally soak up water...
With the silver, on a 410 sprint I can touch the pipes bare handed within just a couple minutes of coming off track.
without the coating it took 20 minutes for me to be able to put my hands in around the motor.
of rusting out the pipes or cracking them from overheating.
the white or mediumsilver ceramic seem to have the best results, Ideally you want them coated inside
and out but if they have been used thats more difficult.
Of course I live in the Pacific North-Wet and its just when something will finally soak up water...
With the silver, on a 410 sprint I can touch the pipes bare handed within just a couple minutes of coming off track.
without the coating it took 20 minutes for me to be able to put my hands in around the motor.
The headers are stainless so they shouldn't rust. Seems like if I avoid wrapping near any welds the pipes shouldn't crack from overheating. Think I might try the wrap, hopefully it doesn't exhaust (pun intended) my patience getting it on there.
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TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
I've spent many years at the track taking care of other folks cars, I've never seen a wrap that didn't cause problems eventually
Cracking,
Corrosion
Absorbing oil and catching fire after maintenance or repair <-I have seen this way too often. If you spill oil on the wrap replace it..
Its kinda like some car wrapping techniques.. On car bodies, they have a life expectancy.
So just plan on regular replacement.
Stainless in my experience cracks as often as mild steel, but its mostly due to poor weld quality, stainless needs back
purging while welding to get the best result and not all manufacturers do it.
Time vs money.. LOL and their warranties typically expire before a problem shows up.
I have installed wrap for customers, I never do headers on the car.. And I use the DEI titanium.
Cracking,
Corrosion
Absorbing oil and catching fire after maintenance or repair <-I have seen this way too often. If you spill oil on the wrap replace it..
Its kinda like some car wrapping techniques.. On car bodies, they have a life expectancy.
So just plan on regular replacement.
Stainless in my experience cracks as often as mild steel, but its mostly due to poor weld quality, stainless needs back
purging while welding to get the best result and not all manufacturers do it.
Time vs money.. LOL and their warranties typically expire before a problem shows up.
I have installed wrap for customers, I never do headers on the car.. And I use the DEI titanium.
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Verdad Gallardo I've spent many years at the track taking care of other folks cars, I've never seen a wrap that didn't cause problems eventually
Cracking,
Corrosion
Absorbing oil and catching fire after maintenance or repair <-I have seen this way too often. If you spill oil on the wrap replace it..
Its kinda like some car wrapping techniques.. On car bodies, they have a life expectancy.
So just plan on regular replacement.
Stainless in my experience cracks as often as mild steel, but its mostly due to poor weld quality, stainless needs back
purging while welding to get the best result and not all manufacturers do it.
Time vs money.. LOL and their warranties typically expire before a problem shows up.
I have installed wrap for customers, I never do headers on the car.. And I use the DEI titanium.
Cracking,
Corrosion
Absorbing oil and catching fire after maintenance or repair <-I have seen this way too often. If you spill oil on the wrap replace it..
Its kinda like some car wrapping techniques.. On car bodies, they have a life expectancy.
So just plan on regular replacement.
Stainless in my experience cracks as often as mild steel, but its mostly due to poor weld quality, stainless needs back
purging while welding to get the best result and not all manufacturers do it.
Time vs money.. LOL and their warranties typically expire before a problem shows up.
I have installed wrap for customers, I never do headers on the car.. And I use the DEI titanium.
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
It depends on the quality of the original coating, FWIW, you can 80 grit blast the headers and use cerocote on them, (You can do it yourself order direct) They have an Air Dry product that will bake out with use.
I added a duct on each side of a car just to carry air to the sides of the motor, used the 4" aluminum tube, it wasn't fancy but at cruise it cooled the hood off..
air flow is your friend ,, a rear hood lift helps a ton, spacers under the hinges/remove the rear gasket on the hood if its still there.. Poor mans ram air..
If you use a wrap just commit to replacing it every year or so depending on weather and mileage.. Its the water getting in the wrap and soaking against the pipe thats the normal issue.
I added a duct on each side of a car just to carry air to the sides of the motor, used the 4" aluminum tube, it wasn't fancy but at cruise it cooled the hood off..
air flow is your friend ,, a rear hood lift helps a ton, spacers under the hinges/remove the rear gasket on the hood if its still there.. Poor mans ram air..
If you use a wrap just commit to replacing it every year or so depending on weather and mileage.. Its the water getting in the wrap and soaking against the pipe thats the normal issue.
I run the same blower and my IAT barely gets above ambient. In fact it actually starts dropping below ambient at wot, but that is misleading because I use methanol before the IAT. Before the meth and an overspun D1x it barely ever got above ambient during wot pulls even multiple pulls back to back.
I have removed the under hood insulation, wrapped headers, no ac, and the large procharger air to air intercooler. I also use 50% ethanol as a main fuel. I also have a BTR aluminum manifold.
When I had a stock ls6 intake manifold one of my fuel rail bosses broke allowing the rail to raise and expose the fuel injector o-ring. I was spraying fuel all over in the engine bay. No fire. It was all over my wrapped headers everywhere. I'm convinced the wrap actually prevented a fire as I have them double wrapped and can grab them with the engine running with my bare hands. An unwrapped header would have ignited the fuel.
I have an 8.25 crank pulley and 4.13 blower pulley on the F1a-94 shifting at 7000-7200 rpm no IAT issues.
I've had my headers wrapped for 4 years without issues.
I have removed the under hood insulation, wrapped headers, no ac, and the large procharger air to air intercooler. I also use 50% ethanol as a main fuel. I also have a BTR aluminum manifold.
When I had a stock ls6 intake manifold one of my fuel rail bosses broke allowing the rail to raise and expose the fuel injector o-ring. I was spraying fuel all over in the engine bay. No fire. It was all over my wrapped headers everywhere. I'm convinced the wrap actually prevented a fire as I have them double wrapped and can grab them with the engine running with my bare hands. An unwrapped header would have ignited the fuel.
I have an 8.25 crank pulley and 4.13 blower pulley on the F1a-94 shifting at 7000-7200 rpm no IAT issues.
I've had my headers wrapped for 4 years without issues.
I run the same blower and my IAT barely gets above ambient. In fact it actually starts dropping below ambient at wot, but that is misleading because I use methanol before the IAT. Before the meth and an overspun D1x it barely ever got above ambient during wot pulls even multiple pulls back to back.
I have removed the under hood insulation, wrapped headers, no ac, and the large procharger air to air intercooler. I also use 50% ethanol as a main fuel. I also have a BTR aluminum manifold.
When I had a stock ls6 intake manifold one of my fuel rail bosses broke allowing the rail to raise and expose the fuel injector o-ring. I was spraying fuel all over in the engine bay. No fire. It was all over my wrapped headers everywhere. I'm convinced the wrap actually prevented a fire as I have them double wrapped and can grab them with the engine running with my bare hands. An unwrapped header would have ignited the fuel.
I have an 8.25 crank pulley and 4.13 blower pulley on the F1a-94 shifting at 7000-7200 rpm no IAT issues.
I've had my headers wrapped for 4 years without issues.
I have removed the under hood insulation, wrapped headers, no ac, and the large procharger air to air intercooler. I also use 50% ethanol as a main fuel. I also have a BTR aluminum manifold.
When I had a stock ls6 intake manifold one of my fuel rail bosses broke allowing the rail to raise and expose the fuel injector o-ring. I was spraying fuel all over in the engine bay. No fire. It was all over my wrapped headers everywhere. I'm convinced the wrap actually prevented a fire as I have them double wrapped and can grab them with the engine running with my bare hands. An unwrapped header would have ignited the fuel.
I have an 8.25 crank pulley and 4.13 blower pulley on the F1a-94 shifting at 7000-7200 rpm no IAT issues.
I've had my headers wrapped for 4 years without issues.
I have 6 year old stainless works headers. I bought this car about 6 years ago and they were the first mod I did. Roughly 20 psi peak. The intercooler I have is the "1300 hp" procharger intercooler. I run no air filter only a blower guard. 160 t-stat fan on at 179 degrees.
I have 6 year old stainless works headers. I bought this car about 6 years ago and they were the first mod I did. Roughly 20 psi peak. The intercooler I have is the "1300 hp" procharger intercooler. I run no air filter only a blower guard. 160 t-stat fan on at 179 degrees.
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I use the dei lava wrap on my headers and stuff on my turbo set up. Didn't have to soaking in water or anything. Replaced it a few months ago during a refresh because it had to be garbage but it was like brand new and that is lots of quarter passes and probably 10k miles of Mexico driving. Wrap outlasted Mt Trans 3 times over. Lol
Our setups are so similar it's crazy...lol...377 forged Ls3 block...232/248 cam... 10.6 to 1 compression... junk heads... 1 3/4 headers... aluminum intake which shouldn't be as good as your fast...etc...and I don't have any iat problems.
I also don't think the LSA heads are that great without good port work.
Last edited by BCNUL8R; Apr 30, 2023 at 11:51 AM.
I dont think it will. I think your problem is elsewhere.
Our setups are so similar it's crazy...lol...377 forged Ls3 block...232/248 cam... 10.6 to 1 compression... junk heads... 1 3/4 headers... aluminum intake which shouldn't be as good as your fast...etc...and I don't have any iat problems.
I also don't think the LSA heads are that great without good port work.
Our setups are so similar it's crazy...lol...377 forged Ls3 block...232/248 cam... 10.6 to 1 compression... junk heads... 1 3/4 headers... aluminum intake which shouldn't be as good as your fast...etc...and I don't have any iat problems.
I also don't think the LSA heads are that great without good port work.
Air flow is your friend allowing air in and hot air out. That along with wrapping the headers will help a bunch.