Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Type of headers????

Old Nov 21, 2007 | 04:35 PM
  #21  
MarylandSpeed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by radz282003
I thought SS was desirable too because it has high heat-retention properties? I don't know in comparison to coated headers. Isn't that why it's used in aircraft parts and what-not? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Stainless is used because it is fairly light weight, very strong, and does not corrode. It does not keep heat inside it anywhere near as well as a cast iron manifold. Go from manifolds to an uncoated header and your under hood temps will rise.

Originally Posted by KillerZO6
what if you coat stainless steal headers then use header wrap on them ?
The wrap ruins the coating I beleive.
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2007 | 04:42 PM
  #22  
KillerZO6's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (-1)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Default

what would be better then coating ss or wrapping ss
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2007 | 05:15 PM
  #23  
MarylandSpeed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
Default

Coating for sure...once you wrap headers they end up pretty nasty down the road...especially if you try and take the wrap off.

Originally Posted by KillerZO6
what would be better then coating ss or wrapping ss
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2007 | 05:40 PM
  #24  
KillerZO6's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (-1)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Default

what does the wrap do that make them nasty ?
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2007 | 08:11 PM
  #25  
MarylandSpeed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
Default

I think it traps moisture....I have never seen someone wrap stainless headers.

Originally Posted by KillerZO6
what does the wrap do that make them nasty ?
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2007 | 08:31 PM
  #26  
chevynation's Avatar
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: AZ
Default

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed
Stainless is used because it is fairly light weight, very strong, and does not corrode. It does not keep heat inside it anywhere near as well as a cast iron manifold. Go from manifolds to an uncoated header and your under hood temps will rise.
True, but isn't bare stainless better in every way (including heat insulation) than bare mild steel/iron headers (not stock thick *** manifolds)?
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2007 | 01:51 AM
  #27  
MarylandSpeed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
Default

Stainless is worse that iron, which is a great insulator, but heavy and brittle. Also, stainles is probaly on the same level as carbon steel in terms of heat insulation. I have never seen a real tempature/insulation advantage between stainless and plain steel. Most of the advantage in stainless is that it does not corrode, and it is light and strong. What all this means is that every time you go from a stock manifold to an uncoated header, there is a rise in under the hood temps.

It is funny how the different markets are. I often have to explain to LS1Tech members why they should go with coating, and even then, many don't buy it on stainless headers because they don't want to spend the money (even though we do it for free on Kooks now). In the Corvette, GTO, Trailblazer SS, and DCX Hemi markets...those guys all pretty much run straight for the coating no questions asked unless they are too impatient to wait for it to be done. Also...if you think I am getting rich off the coating...think again. We sell it heavily and it is just kind of a value added thing, Also, it requires shipping to the coater, and shipping back to the customer, which takes a bit more leg work for me. That being said, I really feel coating is the right thing to do...and anyone who understands the facts and science behind it will agree. My experiance has been that the places that try and talk you out of coating do so because they would rather sell you a header and send you on your way...than deal with all the hassle sending a header out for coating can be.

Originally Posted by chevynation
True, but isn't bare stainless better in every way (including heat insulation) than bare mild steel/iron headers (not stock thick *** manifolds)?
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2007 | 08:54 PM
  #28  
LS1 Freak's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Orlando,FL
Default

Get Kooks or American racing headers, you will not regret it, I was like you, didnt know what to get but I waited little bit to safe the money and now finally I got my American Racing stainless headers, couldnt be any happier, worth the extra $ no matter which brand you get as long as they're stainless, just my opinion, I hope it helps
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:14 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE