To coat... or not to coat
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: MA
To coat... or not to coat I just finished sending back that hooker shorty crap (25.00 shipping 
)and I am about to order my LT's 
My grand dilemma is... is the ceramic coating really worth it? That stuff is crazy expensive and I dont plan on modding my car much past bolt ons (MAYBE a cam) any time soon.
I just want to get these headers and get em on the car ASAP but if I need to save the extra for the Ceramics it will take a lil longer. So in closing, are the jet hot coatings worth the extra 100+ bucks or can I just get that header wrap stuff for like 20$, like I said im not running any serious serious mods the LT1 Thanks in advance
)and I am about to order my LT's My grand dilemma is... is the ceramic coating really worth it? That stuff is crazy expensive and I dont plan on modding my car much past bolt ons (MAYBE a cam) any time soon. I just want to get these headers and get em on the car ASAP but if I need to save the extra for the Ceramics it will take a lil longer. So in closing, are the jet hot coatings worth the extra 100+ bucks or can I just get that header wrap stuff for like 20$, like I said im not running any serious serious mods the LT1 Thanks in advance
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 3
From: NYC metro area
ceramic coating pros - keeps engine bay cooler, ads a little more power, looks prettier
ceramic coating cons - costs more
it's really up to you... i would go with coating every time though. header wrap is garbage, it'll rot off in no time.
ceramic coating cons - costs more
it's really up to you... i would go with coating every time though. header wrap is garbage, it'll rot off in no time.
If you're not going all out, I say go with some painted ones. I don't think it makes that big of a difference. I have the coated ones but my *** has been broke for some time. Pick up some engine enamel at Wal-Mart and paint them with about 7 coats of that stuff to inhibit rusting. Cheaper than ceramic coat.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: IA
I wouldn't run the header wrap, it isn't flamable, but if you get any oil leaks, it will wick and that could catch fire. Personally, I think the ceramic coating is worth it, but you could always pull the headers off later and get them coated.
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: MI
I ran header wrap for one season, then pulled the headers and had them coated. The wrap actually does a better job for underhood heat that the coating (you can grab the header as soon as you shut the motor off). The problem is that moisture gets trapped between the header and the wrap, which will rust them out a hell of a lot quicker. The clamps will also cut the crap out of your hands. As far as the enamels go, it doesn't matter how much you put on, it will eventually just burn off and you'll still have all the under hood heat.
my car is soo to have h/c full valvetrain new intake pretty much the works minus the rotating..(but rotatign will come soon enough) but for now the h/c and modded vt do i need coated? or can i get the painted..
My first set of headers werent coated..the next set I buy will be...dont like looking at crappy looking headers with all the rust on them, cleaned them up though and painted them with some nice engine enamel and they look good!
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On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 106
Likes: 3
From: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Header wrap is for area's that are close to wiring, not the entire header in my opinion. If you drive your car everyday (rain) definately stay away from the wrap, they will rot out in one season. Ceramic headers are worth their wait in gold. Stainless is better than coated and will make more power, but stainless is a fortune.
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ceramic coating is the best way to make the headers last, vht makes a paint that will stand up really well too. my headers are painted with vht and wrapped but i dont plan on having them very long
header wrap doesn't belong on headers. Get them coated and you won't go wrong. Painted headers are worthles. If you want to wrap something wrap the are in question. Here's what set of headers look like after a year w/ wrap..
those were even cermachromed..
Matt
those were even cermachromed..
Matt
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
get the coating. its worth the 200 bucks to get them coated. when i got my pace setters i sanded down all the weld spots that they had on them, machined down the flange just to make sure it was flat, then sent them off to be coated. i will never have non-coated headers on the car again. the engine bay is way cooler, looks are well worth the money alone, and my plug wires are not burning any more. looks alone arent the only thing that's going on with the coating. it traps the heat inside the header and pushes it out the exhaust, where it's supposed to be. it reduced the temps inside the bay so now my plug wires are not melting, the plastic wrap isnt melting or getting hard, and the wax on the hood doesnt melt off any more. the wax alone was worth the money.
