Header Wrap question???
Header Wrap question??? Just wondering if I can wrap over the black paint on pacesetter headers, or do I need to remove that first? I know that **** burns off immediately, but I want to wrap mine. So do I still need to remove the paint? I'm imagining smoke comming from under the wrap if I don't?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 332
From: Wilmington, De
That paint is just to protect the headers from corrosion during shipping. Remove the paint and apply a couple coats of actual header paint, and then wrap the headers. Remember to keep the overlap between 1/4"-1/2".
Header paint won't last and looks like boiled crap once it starts pealing. If you want it done right you need to get them ceramic coated. It will last much longer, but not forever especially if you drive in road salt.
Header wrap also traps moisture and will cause them to rust quicker. Header wrap does not prevent corrosion it only traps heat and other elements.
The paint on pacesetters like previously stated is only for storage and shipping purposes. It will mostly burn off in about 30min.
The paint on pacesetters like previously stated is only for storage and shipping purposes. It will mostly burn off in about 30min.
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 205
Likes: 6
wrap isn't that evil. wrap 'em if you want to. you're lowering under-hood temperatures and protecting nearby components at the expense of shorter header life.
pacesetters are shitty thin wall mild steel headers. they'll corrode either way. wrap over the paint too, wont matter. it'll burn off into a powder.
if you want it done right, paint the wrap itself with header paint, nice thick coat, and run them till they're smoking. the header paint soaks into the wrap. trust me, it helps. do it with bikes all the time
pacesetters are shitty thin wall mild steel headers. they'll corrode either way. wrap over the paint too, wont matter. it'll burn off into a powder.
if you want it done right, paint the wrap itself with header paint, nice thick coat, and run them till they're smoking. the header paint soaks into the wrap. trust me, it helps. do it with bikes all the time
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Give the headers a good coat of paint.
Dont wrap them tho. That stuff is awful and will cause it to rust out much faster. I have watched a car with header wrap have holes in the header in less than a year with some one track stuff.
Dont wrap them tho. That stuff is awful and will cause it to rust out much faster. I have watched a car with header wrap have holes in the header in less than a year with some one track stuff.
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Wow, I didn't know header wrap lessened the life of headers. See I just wanted to wrap them because I heard how they lower under hood temps, and also help accelerate exhaust flow by keeping the heat in. I thought it was a win-win. Good point on the fire hazard as well. Thanks guys for all the replies, I'm overwhelmed! And I gotta say hi to shbox; been reading your web page for a couple years. You're kinda an f-body celebrity to me lol. I just noticed last time I was on there that there is a donation button. I'll send a lil somethin your way soon. Nice to hear from you! SS RRR, I love how you incorporate my other post into this, lol. "267mph" I was laughing my *** off, thanks for that. 
Thanks for all the tips guys! Now can anyone recommend a good brand of header paint and where to buy? And I'd be interested in other colors than black as well. Is there a good place to find multiple colors? Of course I can google it, but maybe you guys can recommed a better brand than I might end up with otherwise. I was lookin at the pacesetters because my budget is tight. So if the wrap will kill em, then I don't want that. I'd like em to last at least 2 years until I can uprgade to better coated ones, so header paint is the way to go then right? Anyone have a good method to strip the factory paint quick and easy?
Thanks for all the tips guys! Now can anyone recommend a good brand of header paint and where to buy? And I'd be interested in other colors than black as well. Is there a good place to find multiple colors? Of course I can google it, but maybe you guys can recommed a better brand than I might end up with otherwise. I was lookin at the pacesetters because my budget is tight. So if the wrap will kill em, then I don't want that. I'd like em to last at least 2 years until I can uprgade to better coated ones, so header paint is the way to go then right? Anyone have a good method to strip the factory paint quick and easy? 
On a street car where the headers will endure 50K+ miles, header wraps are a killer to the headers.
KW
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
Don't wrap them. I was tempted to on my previous car just to protect the starter from being fried. But I bought a "starter blanket" and never had any problems, but as others have stated...
1.Trapped moisture which prematurely rusts/weakens headers.
2.Fire hazard after collecting oil road grime dust etc.
3.Your really not achieving anything, your actually prematurely wearing out your headers.
4. It looks awful.
Jet hot coating will last without harm. Nothing lasts forever though so don't expect it to. Just my 2 cents, I had pacesetters and they started to rust pinhole leaks that threw my 02 readings off and my car ran like ****. Buy Texas speed parts stainless steel long tubes. I installed mine and daily drove them 7 days a week for 9 months and they looked immaculate. They're not to expensive either. Fit was surprisingly well too.
1.Trapped moisture which prematurely rusts/weakens headers.
2.Fire hazard after collecting oil road grime dust etc.
3.Your really not achieving anything, your actually prematurely wearing out your headers.
4. It looks awful.
Jet hot coating will last without harm. Nothing lasts forever though so don't expect it to. Just my 2 cents, I had pacesetters and they started to rust pinhole leaks that threw my 02 readings off and my car ran like ****. Buy Texas speed parts stainless steel long tubes. I installed mine and daily drove them 7 days a week for 9 months and they looked immaculate. They're not to expensive either. Fit was surprisingly well too.
Don't wrap them. I was tempted to on my previous car just to protect the starter from being fried. But I bought a "starter blanket" and never had any problems, but as others have stated...
1.Trapped moisture which prematurely rusts/weakens headers.
2.Fire hazard after collecting oil road grime dust etc.
3.Your really not achieving anything, your actually prematurely wearing out your headers.
4. It looks awful.
Jet hot coating will last without harm. Nothing lasts forever though so don't expect it to. Just my 2 cents, I had pacesetters and they started to rust pinhole leaks that threw my 02 readings off and my car ran like ****. Buy Texas speed parts stainless steel long tubes. I installed mine and daily drove them 7 days a week for 9 months and they looked immaculate. They're not to expensive either. Fit was surprisingly well too.
1.Trapped moisture which prematurely rusts/weakens headers.
2.Fire hazard after collecting oil road grime dust etc.
3.Your really not achieving anything, your actually prematurely wearing out your headers.
4. It looks awful.
Jet hot coating will last without harm. Nothing lasts forever though so don't expect it to. Just my 2 cents, I had pacesetters and they started to rust pinhole leaks that threw my 02 readings off and my car ran like ****. Buy Texas speed parts stainless steel long tubes. I installed mine and daily drove them 7 days a week for 9 months and they looked immaculate. They're not to expensive either. Fit was surprisingly well too.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
Was very disappointed in them. But hey like I said they were just painted I shouldn't have expected much out of them in lasting very long not coated and with me daily driving them. TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
Well I can't say, is the car a daily? Or just a weekend car? Do you drive it in all kinds of weather? Do you drive it hard? Is it a garage kept car? So many variables into it. Me personally, the pacesetters fit just okay, and they scrapped BAAAD. And it's just mild steel so it has a better chance of being dented and damaged compared to the stainless ones by Texas speed. Also, by the time you spend the money on the coating for the pacesetters you could have just bought the Texas speed stainless headers.