I am interested in any opinions on ceramic coated headers ( LS1 long tubes) vs. stainless ones, thanks in advance fellow gearheads!

 

Stainless, if the proper alloy, will never rust. Coated mild steel will eventually rust, regardless.

 

I paid alot of money for my FLP's and they are rusted. Next time I'll buy stainless or a much cheaper set of headers.

 

Our answer"
Stainless steel is non-magnetic, a quality that makes them very important in the aerospace industry. Compared to mild steel, stainless steel has superior high temperature characteristics. It is an excellent material for headers and any application where high heat is encountered.
You may have heard talk about maintaining high exhaust velocity and increase scavenging by covering headers with a thermal wrap. In addition, there are companies that coat headers with a thermal barrier, typically some type of ceramic formula, in order to keep the heat inside the exhaust system. Stainless steel performs this function without the need for add-ons because it has a much lower coefficient of thermal conductivity, thereby keeping more heat inside and transmitting it to the header outlet. Radiated heat is perhaps the most important reason to wrap or ceramic coat the headers to protect the car and the driver from excessive, fatiguing high temperatures.

Typical 1010 carbon (mild) steel conducts 219% more heat per foot than do the types of stainless steel we use in header fabrication. By contrast, quite a bit more heat stays inside the stainless header tubes and does not get passed into the surrounding air. By not allowing the contraction of the cooling gases as they flow down the tubes, more exhaust velocity is retained which promotes better scavenging at the collector. This retention of velocity increases the overall header efficiency.

304 stainless steel has excellent high temperature fatigue resistance in enclosed application and does a darn good job of living in this hostile environment better than any other material.

These many characteristics, such as superior heat retention properties, high temperature fatigue resistance, and to a lesser extent, the cosmetic value of a non-rusting finish, combine to make stainless steel an ideal choice for headers. Our system will produce more horsepower and last "'til the cows come home".

 

Thanks, those were the stainless headers under consideration!

 

Tbo, if you can, I'd go for either Kooks or QTP longtubes. Stainless steel, and good fit from what I've heard. I'm ordering a set of Kooks myself from TTP, their link is on the -----> somewhere.

 

I say go with stainless if you have the money. I posted some pics of my stainless Quick times and they are definately top notch. Also going with a good quality of stainless ensures you that you will not have to worry about them rusting up.

 

I was going to buy the KOOK's stainless but decided to go with the Jet Hot's. The stainless will blue and quickly not look as nice. the jet hots are warrantied for 3 years to show no cosmetic defects and for life on rust through or structural defects. Plus they will allow lower engine compartment temperatures. IMHO

 

How about stainless headers and ceramic coat them

 

my answer, if you can afford it then get them . location and weather have more to do with rusting then anything, and here in cali we dont have that problem so im not worried about my jet hots .

 

I paid for ceramic coating, but I had to drive in the snow, so the salt ate them up! I can't wait to get back to Florida!