Life of Headers?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Life of Headers? I'm sure some of you will consider this a pretty dumb question, but i'm going to ask it anyway since I have yet to install headers.
I know that ceramic coated or stainless steel headers tend to last longer, but how long should I expect a pair to last? Should they last five or ten years with no problem or is that pushing it? I'm just in the process of trying to decide what brand to buy and exactly what to get...
Any honest input would be appreciated...
I know that ceramic coated or stainless steel headers tend to last longer, but how long should I expect a pair to last? Should they last five or ten years with no problem or is that pushing it? I'm just in the process of trying to decide what brand to buy and exactly what to get...
Any honest input would be appreciated...
Stainless will last longer than your car. Ceramic coating will wear/chip/discolor over time. The speed at which is happens is directly proportional to where you live. In Illinois with salt on the road and wetness and ice and ****, if you drive it every day, they may last 5-10 years before they start to look like ****. There really is no real answer here.
If you live in arizona with 0% humidity, ceramics might last longer than gasoline cars. Its really a crap shoot. Although i like my coated Pacesetters, and have no complaints on them, i would go with stainless if i had to do it again.
If you live in arizona with 0% humidity, ceramics might last longer than gasoline cars. Its really a crap shoot. Although i like my coated Pacesetters, and have no complaints on them, i would go with stainless if i had to do it again.
I had ceramic-coated Pacesetters on my daily-driven 2000 Z. After less than a year, the coating on the collectors and bottom of the headers was completely rusted off and gone. I couldnt' see those lasting me any longer than maybe 3-4 years at that pace. But that's because I live in Missouri with snow, ice, rain, and everything else.
So my estimate was off by a bit 
Mine have turned a slight shade of brown, but only on the portion of the collectors/primaries close to ground. I've them on for 13 months in southeast texas. You cannot see the discoloration unless the car is jacked up.
Mine have turned a slight shade of brown, but only on the portion of the collectors/primaries close to ground. I've them on for 13 months in southeast texas. You cannot see the discoloration unless the car is jacked up.
my pacesetters have been on for about a year and a half and already look like ****...they still perform but just not pretty like they were 
i am in MO too so the crappy weather probably has a lot to do with it
i am in MO too so the crappy weather probably has a lot to do with it
I'd bet that any decent headers (even uncoated) would last a minimum of about 3 years...some of the higher end stainless versions maybe 10 or more. I had a set of stainless edelbrock headers that lasted about 7 years on my truck...they didn't rust out but I had problems with leakage due to warping near the oxygen sensor and the collectors started to fall apart where they bolt together. (one quick thing to note is that they were subjected to the extreme heat of an overly lean supercharged motor and lasted about 200k)
Mike
Mike
Trending Topics
I have run my Hooker LT'S for over 3 years and they still look good but very rarely was the car driven in the rain and never in the snow. Like the others have said, it depends on the region and driving conditions for the most part.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Wichita KS
stainless steel will last just as long as your stock exhaust would have, if not longer. To be honest, my QTP's took this winter, plenty of rain, snow and salt with absolutely no adverse effects
QTP or Kooks headers will last almost indeffinately since they're 304 stainless steel, and 304 does not rust. Coated headers will eventually rust, just depends on the conditions they're exposed to.
I have uncoated Hooker headers that are about 3-4 years old and they look pretty bad. I would say in another 2 years of daily drivining they will start to completely rust thru in places.
That's why the second time around I bought 304 stainless steel QTP headers. I don't ever have to worry about them rusting again.
I have uncoated Hooker headers that are about 3-4 years old and they look pretty bad. I would say in another 2 years of daily drivining they will start to completely rust thru in places.
That's why the second time around I bought 304 stainless steel QTP headers. I don't ever have to worry about them rusting again.
Originally Posted by SSCam99
Thank you for all of your responses! I really appreciate it! I am leaning towards getting QTP's at this time...
The life of the headers is going to depend on when you drive your car. If you only drive the car on sunny days and don't drive in snow/salt/rain, I would think the headers would last a lot longer. Also, it probably depends on how many miles you drive your car. If your car is a daily driver then the coating will eventually go.
Bringing this thread back from the dead....sorta...
Hey all, how would coated Pacesetters last in South Texas weather? Austin/San Antonio climate....if longer than 3 years thats a plus
Would they last and keep their coating longer if I polished and/or cleaned them everytime I change my oil?
Thanks all
-Philip
Hey all, how would coated Pacesetters last in South Texas weather? Austin/San Antonio climate....if longer than 3 years thats a plus
Would they last and keep their coating longer if I polished and/or cleaned them everytime I change my oil?
Thanks all
-Philip
