Is Header Wrap worth it? How well does it actually work?

Ok,

So I'm going to be reassembling my motor in a month or so...

Right now I'm running Hooker Super Comp Long-tubes that are just painted, no coatings. I build some pretty major under-hood temps since the header installation. I was wondering since I have everything apart, if it'd be worth the money to wrap the headers with that header wrap?

Something along these lines: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=THE%2D11032&N=700+115&autoview=sku

Anyone have experience with how well this stuff actually works? If so, what type is effective, and doesn't break the bank? I'd need to buy enough to wrap both headers, so any idea how much material that requires? Does anyone make a kit for this?

I'd like to keep this at around $100 if possible.

Thanks,

you would need two rolls... but I would suggest not using it. it reduces temps, but it traps water between the wrap and headers, so it increases rust. IMO if you want to reduce temps, get them coated... inside and out.

No, it doesn't "trap water"..... how could water stay trapped in fabric that reaches close to 1,000*F? The headers rust because the wrap keeps them at such a high tube metal temperature that the iron in the mild steel header tubes combines with the oxygen in the air and oxidizes (rusts) it.

I'm not really interested in coating this set of headers....I have no where local to have it done, and I do not want to bother with shipping. In a year or two, when I get new heads, I'll include the purchase of a new set of coated headers.

However, for now, if I can do it for $100 or less...it would be worth it to me to wrap this set of headers if it'll make a difference. I'm fine with increased rust. These headers arn't in perfect shape anyhow.

So, will it make a noticable difference? And what type/brand/material should I use (or if its easier to designate) what should I stay away from?

Ok, so I'll need (2) 50ft 2inch rolls? How far down to people normally wrap? I'm assuming basically just the primary's...maybe stop right before or at where they first collect.

Thanks again,

you could try it out but alot of people quit using the stuff along time ago.....


I think there is a ceramice type paint you can brush on right over top of rust, can't remember where I saw it.

most guys used to wrap the headers all the way down the tubes.....you also need the straps to hold it on...and lots of times it comes apart

yeah, I found this: http://www.centuryperformance.com/heatwraps.asp

How fast/extreme is the degradation of the header material? I mean, I daily drive my car, and drag race it on weekends...I'm assuming most of what he is referring to in that article is race applications. This stuff isn't going to render my headers useless within a year or two will it?

hmm...

Personally, I wouldn't wrap the headers. I have heard of a couple of cases where the wrap got oil soaked and ended up igniting.

man I wouldn't waste my money...just save and get a NEW set of coated ones......your better off coating a fresh set. There is no way to ever get the rust out of the insides so just save and get new ones like you said

Personally, I have my headers wrapped and it reduced my engine temps significantly. its kinda funny when you first start the car after it rains and all that "trapped moisture" quickly evaporates. they have been wrapped for the last 8 months with 0 problems. yes coated headers are better but if you want to run what you brung header wrap sure does help. Headers rust but they will still do the job, everything cant be show quality all the time. I havent burned a single plug wire since i wrapped mine either.

Tom Byrne burned his 4th Gen to the ground due to oil soaked header wrap :eek:

:alert: if you have an oil leak dont ignore it. you will smell the oil burning off the wrap long before it catches on fire. I have gotten oil on mine before and i waited till the engine was cool, sprayed it off really well with a water hose and let it idle till the wrap was dry.

I haven't wrapped my exhaust yet, though I'm planning to. Including the Y-pipe. However I wrapped the header on my old GSXR-1100 15 years ago. It has not rusted out. Pushing back the wrap I don't see any corrosion. Limited testing showed a 350f temp increase in the collector. There was some "burn-off" smell from the wrap that disappeard after a few weeks. It was mild. The pipe wasn't real quiet at high rpm's but after wrapping, the raspy sound became a very interesting scream!

:alert: if you have an oil leak dont ignore it. you will smell the oil burning off the wrap long before it catches on fire. I have gotten oil on mine before and i waited till the engine was cool, sprayed it off really well with a water hose and let it idle till the wrap was dry.

Cleaning off oil with water...doesn't sound like a thorough cleaning technique.

it wasnt meant to be thorough but it did get the majority of it off.

I can see how oil spilling/soaking could be a problem.

Alright, well I'm going to give it a try. It's cheap enough I'm willing to experiment with it. Do I have to buy those metal sinch ties to secure the wrap, or would regular hose clamps do the trick?

I'm kind of partial to clamps I can remove, re-adjust, and re-tighten easily.

Hose clamps work very well. Be sure to keep pulling the wrap tight as you wind it on. If there is a longer section that's difficult to put a clamp on then twist some mechanics wire at that spot. Done correctly there won't be any unraveling. I think there is an additional benefit to wrapping the headers on the Camaro which is dampening sounds that might be mis-interpreted as knock by the computer. Good Luck.

The wrap can catch fire if it gets oil soaked as mentioned, so be very careful where you wrap them. Yes, it will help alot with heat under hood. My 3" downpipe on my GN has been wrapped for over 10 years, I periodically do have to rewrap it as it does touch the frame ever so slightly when the engine torques over a little, but the pipe is still nice a clean. You can touch the downpipe after a 25# blast down the 1/4 and its just warm to the touch, so it keeps alot of heat out of the engine bay... But again, nake sure it can't get oil on it!
On my TA, they are wrapped only on the 2 tubes going down the passenger side that are close to the ABS and O2 wires going down there.

I always use steel hose clamps, no probs.

If doing a whole set of headers, I wouldn't wrap more than about 6-8" on each promary..maybe half way down..thats where most of the heat is coming from. I've got a hood now that extract alot of the heat and what air doesn't go into the ram air goes into the engine compartment to help cool it down.

We always recommend coating over wrap. The coating will keep your headers looking great, plus reduce underhood temps. Wrap on the other hand just ruins the headers finish.

We always recommend coating over wrap. The coating will keep your headers looking great, plus reduce underhood temps. Wrap on the other hand just ruins the headers finish.

What about stainless headers?

Wrap the headers at least to and including the collector. It's not just about keeping underhood temperatures down. The important reason is to keep the exhaust temp up and therefore the exhaust gas velocity as high as possible for the best cylinder scavenging.

What about stainless headers?

They will still require some sort of thermal coating if you are wanting to reduce underhood temps and improve exhaust scavenging.

What about stainless headers?

Stainless headers need to be coated for heat reduction. Your stock cast iron manifold are great heat insulators, and keep heat out the engine bay. Steel, and especially stainless steel headers are much thinner, so your underhood temps will actually go up with uncoated headers.

The coatings out there now are pretty high tech formula's, and will last the life of the header while greatly reducing underhood temps (as long as you buy from a reputable company). Just last weekend me and my wife took our GTO to visit my inlaws two hours away. We have Precision Motorsports of Florida's cherry red coating (http://http://marylandspeed.com/information.php?info_id=8)on Kooks stainless headers. About 10 minutes after we got there, I bought my father in law out to show him the headers and coating. In just that 10 minutes the headers had cooled enough that I could put my hand on them. They were hot...but not more so than say hot tap water.