Any special tricks to applying header wrap?
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: At the office
Any special tricks to applying header wrap? I'm putting on header wrap since my o2's don't heat up enough, and I keep getting o2 heater codes.
I've never done this before and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips.
I know its made of fiberglass, and I will be sure to wear gloves. Any other steps I should undertake? What do you all use to secure the wrap when you've finished wrapping?
<small>[ December 07, 2002, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: verbs ]</small>
I've never done this before and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips.
I know its made of fiberglass, and I will be sure to wear gloves. Any other steps I should undertake? What do you all use to secure the wrap when you've finished wrapping?
<small>[ December 07, 2002, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: verbs ]</small>
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 618
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From: Pensacola, FL
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? You can secure it with the proper size hose clamps or use saftey wire. This is all I have ever heard it called. It's thin bare wire that you can twist very tight to secure things. Mechanics/race teams use it occasionally, but it is most common on construction sites to secure temporary structures/fixtures. Safety wire comes in mild steel or stainless. Most pipefitters use stainless for insulating high temp boiler pipes etc...
One thing to be aware of is that header wrap speeds the deterioration of headers. It heats the pipes higher creating more stress on the metal, and it holds moisture creating a perpetual rust friendly environment around the tubes. Your best bet is to use coated headers or strip/repaint the headers with the highest heat, most corrosion resistant paint you can possibly find. There are also sealers now that you can spray on the header wrap once you have it installed to protect from moisture.
Good luck
Dave
One thing to be aware of is that header wrap speeds the deterioration of headers. It heats the pipes higher creating more stress on the metal, and it holds moisture creating a perpetual rust friendly environment around the tubes. Your best bet is to use coated headers or strip/repaint the headers with the highest heat, most corrosion resistant paint you can possibly find. There are also sealers now that you can spray on the header wrap once you have it installed to protect from moisture.
Good luck
Dave
Teching In
Joined: May 2002
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From: NorCal
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? Be sure to wrap everything evenly and totally. If any part of the tubes becomes exposed, it will prematurely wear because the extra heat will want to "escape" through that unwrapped space.
In my opinion, header wrap is a gamble for street-driven cars, and should only be used for race cars that can afford to have the headers replaced frequently. I would go for a special coating instead such as Jet-Hot.
Hope this helps!
-Brad
In my opinion, header wrap is a gamble for street-driven cars, and should only be used for race cars that can afford to have the headers replaced frequently. I would go for a special coating instead such as Jet-Hot.
Hope this helps!
-Brad
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TECH Junkie
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From: At the office
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? My headers are already coated...came from Grottyohann that way.
My problem is even with the coating my o2 sensors aren't heating up enough. I need to find some other way to heat em up.
I was going to wrap them to keep in the heat.
I also live in Arizona where there isn't a lot of moisture.
I don't want to wrap the headers at all, but I feel I have no other choices in my quest to keep my o2 sensors heated properly.
My problem is even with the coating my o2 sensors aren't heating up enough. I need to find some other way to heat em up.
I was going to wrap them to keep in the heat.
I also live in Arizona where there isn't a lot of moisture.
I don't want to wrap the headers at all, but I feel I have no other choices in my quest to keep my o2 sensors heated properly.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,975
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From: SW Florida
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? Verbs...
I have a bunch of stainless steel tie wraps you might want to use. These are designed for military applications but would work great with header wrap.
E-mail me if you need some. I will have to send them from Korea, but should not be a problem.
Ron,
turbota@kornet.net
I have a bunch of stainless steel tie wraps you might want to use. These are designed for military applications but would work great with header wrap.
E-mail me if you need some. I will have to send them from Korea, but should not be a problem.
Ron,
turbota@kornet.net
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On The Tree
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From: York, PA
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? Verbs,
When I did my IROC headers several years ago I sandblasted them...coated them with high temp cold-galvinized paint/primer( 2 thin coats)...then top-coated with high temp silver header paint(2 more thin coats). I cured the primer in the oven...then cured the silver paint in the oven too...about 200 degrees each time for about 10 to 15 minutes each time...waited about a week too make sure everything was completely cured. When I installed the wrap I made it damp and stretched it as I wrapped it. I used stainless hose clamps to fasten it. After each header was wrapped I baked in the oven again for about 10 minutes...this hardens and shrinks the wrap for a real tight fit. The whole process takes awhile but it came out perfect and lasted for years...I have since sold the car so I don't know long term effect but I had it that way for 5 years at least. I never had any problem with rust.
When I did my IROC headers several years ago I sandblasted them...coated them with high temp cold-galvinized paint/primer( 2 thin coats)...then top-coated with high temp silver header paint(2 more thin coats). I cured the primer in the oven...then cured the silver paint in the oven too...about 200 degrees each time for about 10 to 15 minutes each time...waited about a week too make sure everything was completely cured. When I installed the wrap I made it damp and stretched it as I wrapped it. I used stainless hose clamps to fasten it. After each header was wrapped I baked in the oven again for about 10 minutes...this hardens and shrinks the wrap for a real tight fit. The whole process takes awhile but it came out perfect and lasted for years...I have since sold the car so I don't know long term effect but I had it that way for 5 years at least. I never had any problem with rust.
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: NJ
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? 1 thing about header wrap if you get oil on it it will work like a wick in a candle and you might burn your car to the ground. you can ask t byrne about that i wouldn't runheader wrap on the street. to fix your oxygen sensor situation why don't you just use sims since you're have problem with your rear sensors correct
Jay
Jay
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? Header wrap also causes the material to crystallize, becomes just like glass given time. just a heads up <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
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TECH Junkie
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From: At the office
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TimZ28:
<strong>Why not fix the root problem here? Header wrap is a nasty solution. Either the O2s are crap or the wiring is faulty.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The o2's are fine; I can't find any wiring problems visually.
<strong>Why not fix the root problem here? Header wrap is a nasty solution. Either the O2s are crap or the wiring is faulty.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The o2's are fine; I can't find any wiring problems visually.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
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From: At the office
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Jay 95WS6:
<strong>why don't you just use sims since you're have problem with your rear sensors correct
Jay</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Jay, I'm even getting an occasional heater code on my o2 simms <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
<strong>why don't you just use sims since you're have problem with your rear sensors correct
Jay</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Jay, I'm even getting an occasional heater code on my o2 simms <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
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From: At the office
Re: Any special tricks to applying header wrap? Hm, maybe I'll send it back then <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[guns]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> Damn heater codes
<img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[guns]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> Damn heater codes
<img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />
