Headers: Wrap or not? Coat or not?

[MuRCieLaGo]

Hi,

I just received my OBX headers. Should I have them coated? Wrapped?

I found this:

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/bugninva/misc/VHT.jpg

What do you guys think?

[Paul Workman]

They're stainless, of course; like my SWs. And for the life of me I couldn't see any demonstrably significant reason to paint or coat them - aside from possibly one of cosmetics. But, I'm NOT a WAXER either (not that the headers of an LT5 do more than barely peek out between the heads and the frame rail anyway!)

A show car = yes (I guess)
A warrior? Meh...:)

YMMV

[Gunny]

I've had SW long tubes on the Z for well over 10 years. When I installed them the current "wisdom" & recommendation was to coat them ... which I did. Honestly, if I were doing it today, I would leave them stainless and save the $$$ to use somewhere else. Not that I dislike having coated headers or think they are better or worse but I would be just as happy with the original stainless look.

[MuRCieLaGo]

My car is definitely a warrior, not a show car. So I guess I'll choose the easiest way: leave them like they are. They look great (at the moment)! :)

Thanks!

[efnfast]

I coated mine for heat retention. They almost have a beaded glass look, not a shiny look just for looks. Did it for under hood temps and "better gas scavenging"

[MuRCieLaGo]

How did you coat them?

[efnfast]

I think I sent them to Swain Tech in PA. If you need more info, I'll pull some paperwork. They offer two different coatings. One for looks, one for function. I picked the one for function/better heat retention. - Steve

[Gunny]

I think I sent them to Swain Tech in PA. If you need more info, I'll pull some paperwork. They offer two different coatings. One for looks, one for function. I picked the one for function/better heat retention. - Steve

thanks for refreshing my memory, Steve ... to clarify, I had my headers Swain coated for function.

[Karl]

Jet hot coating via lo ko coating in the Chicago suburbs. I have always jet hot coated headers. With the lt-5 engine not exposing as much of the exhaust header in the engine bay vs a traditional sbc, maybe it's not necessary.

https://www.google.com/search?site=&source=hp&ei=4EPtVoDjI8ODmQGTxIX4BA&q=loco+coating&oq=loco+coating&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.3..0.6782.10624.0.11377.12.10.2.2.2.0.345.1584. 0j6j2j1.9.0....0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..2.10.1202.3.nXLLfavw8Es&rlz=1Y1YYEK_enUS641US642#istate=kp:xpd

[KILLSHOTS]

I had my OBXs coated. I wouldn't install headers without coating. Obviously, the heat shields are lost when headers are installed, so there is a chance that fingers, wires, etc. could be burned, which I didn't want. I noticed that underhood temps seemed to be down quite a bit after the install. Furthermore, heat dissipation with the coating was so good that I could actually touch the headers within maybe 15 minutes after a drive. Highly recommended. Make sure you take them to a reputable coater and - VERY IMPORTANT - make sure you confirm that they'll be coated both inside and out, otherwise the process will be worthless. Believe it or not, some coaters do shortcut the process and coat the outside only. Good luck.

[WARP TEN]

Agree with coating. When they are coated professionally I believe they are coated both inside and out. Reduces het for sure over uncoated. I don't know who Marc used here in the Chicago are but they were well done. Never discolored in the 10k miles I put on the car.--Bob

[MuRCieLaGo]

I paid US $500 shipped for the headers. I'm not sure I want to send them and pay 50% of the original price for a coating. What do you guys think? OBX are pretty cheap...

[efnfast]

I wasn't sure either, but I did.

[ghlkal]

My SW headers are coated. As others have said, it's for temperature control. I felt it was important after researching it and getting the opinion of several folks I trusted.

[JFFerner]

If the engine compartment is cooler with coated headers,where does the extra heat go? Jim

[efnfast]

Out the tail pipe.

[RussMcB]

I paid US $500 shipped for the headers. I'm not sure I want to send them and pay 50% of the original price for a coating. What do you guys think? OBX are pretty cheap...IMO, don't bother with the extra hassle or cost. Use them as is for 5-10 years then if you think they should have been coated, coat your next set.

[secondchance]

Heat retention within the header is not only about keeping under hood temp cooler. When the exhaust cools rapidly after exiting the exhaust port resulting contraction of exhaust impedes exhaust scavenging.
Personally, I am not a fan of exhaust wrap because of fear of oil leak, soaked wrap resulting in possibility of fire. For this reason, I went with Jet-hot coating.

[Paul Workman]

IMO, don't bother with the extra hassle or cost. Use them as is for 5-10 years then if you think they should have been coated, coat your next set.

I agree, Russ. It is a decision that can wait; a delayed decision w/o consequences beyond convenience of disassembly/re-assembly and some gaskets: can be done at any time, really. And, I'm willing to bet coating will never be done later, if not before the headers are installed for the first time...UNLESS the owner is a WAXER! :dancing

AND, just because of my sometimes contrary nature, (and some knowledge of physics) I don't subscribe to the notion there is significant heat retention to have practical effect on the SW or OXB (knock-off) headers in ZR-1's due to several factors:


e.g. exhaust velocity vs. practical heat dissipation in the relatively short length of the primary or collector tube(s), i.e., the thousandths of a second it takes the gas to pass through the primary tubes...etc, etc.

or the fact the majority of the tubing is shrouded; not substantially exposed to enough outside air flow to practically 'sink' the temperature of the exhaust gas (when combined with #1)


But! To each his own. No harm done, either way, I recon!:cheers:

[secondchance]

I agree, Russ. It is a decision that can wait; a delayed decision w/o consequences beyond convenience of disassembly/re-assembly and some gaskets: can be done at any time,

Enough pain to do it once. I really didn't want to remove, coat and reinstall. But then again, I ended up pulling and reinstalling the motor twice in 16 months...

[Paul Workman]

Enough pain to do it once. I really didn't want to remove, coat and reinstall. But then again, I ended up pulling and reinstalling the motor twice in 16 months...

Yeah, if you wanted them coated, ONCE installed is enough.

Far as pulling the motor, I feel you pain. I pulled mine to port the heads, and after reinstalling it, had to pull it again right away to adjust valve stem lengths!:censored: Ah... Welcome to hot rodding!!

[George Maz]

I've been reading this topic with interest as I have a lightly-used set of SW headers about to be installed. This set came from "Ed's car" which unfortunately was parted out after engine fire.
I began to clean them up a little, and I can't tell if they're coated or not. I can see some evidence of perhaps a layer of coating that has peeled, mainly around bolt holes and chipped areas.

If someone can ask Ed today, or confirm if this set was coated, it would be helpful to me. Much appreciated.

[secondchance]

I've been reading this topic with interest as I have a lightly-used set of SW headers about to be installed. This set came from "Ed's car" which unfortunately was parted out after engine fire.
I began to clean them up a little, and I can't tell if they're coated or not. I can see some evidence of perhaps a layer of coating that has peeled, mainly around bolt holes and chipped areas.

If someone can ask Ed today, or confirm if this set was coated, it would be helpful to me. Much appreciated.

It was the Wazoo gang, including me, who did the install. I'm pretty sure it was Jet-hot coated. I'll double check with Ed.

Update-just talked to Ed. Headers were Jet-hot coated.

[George Maz]

Wow bonus! ...to find out they're already coated.
...guess the first round of drinks are on me. I'm looking forward to meeting your group.

Thank you for the lightning quick response.
With some Flitz polish, they are cleaning up nicely.