How are your guys' LT's holding up (appearance/condition) with either coated (ie: Pacesetter), or stainless (ie: QTP's) headers?

I'm looking at getting a coated set this winter, but wondering if it's worth it to go stainless (if you plan on keeping the car/headers for a long time)???

I haven't read much discussion on this specific topic, so would appreciate any/all advice!!

Thx

 

Here's my opinion on that.

Get stainless, and have them coated. Just plain stainless still gives off a LOT of heat. The coating will reduce the heat at least 30-40%. Sure, stainless will never rust, but it will be hotter, and it will turn a funny brown color. I don't care who makes them. We work w/ metal here every day, and I see it happen all the time. Plus I have seen plenty of Kooks and QTPs on f-bodies, and they do turn.

I think Jet Hot is doing a special on coated stainless headers right now, or they were.

So if you are keeping the car long turn like you mentioned, I would go with coated stainless. That is what I would have done 7 years ago, if I would have known better.

Coatings hold up well on plain steel headers, if the coating had quality attention metal prep. If it is done in mass, you will have problems in less than a year.

The uncoated stainless is alright, it is just going to be a LOT hotter under your hood.

 

^ ^ that's the route I'd like to take ..... just a lot more $$$$$!!!! It looks like ~50% more for stainless vs. coated steel, and then pretty much double that for coated stainless vs. steel!!

I'd like to do it "right" the first time, but I don't want to go broke doing it!! (especially if there's a coated steel header, ie: Jet-hots maybe? that would last for a very long time still, without being stainless) ...

... anyone got pics of their headers after a couple years' use/abuse?

 

I bought coated mild steel AS&M's USED when they were about 2-1/2 years old, and had been used on a very high HP blower application. This picture was taken then:

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/im...hotos/Dyno.jpg

Now, 6 years later (going on total 9 years old), they are still in "decent" shape, showing rust only where the primaries meet the flanges, mostly due to weld splatter. #7 was even drilled an welded for an EGT bung, AFTER coating, and there's not much rust there. These pics were taken in the last 6 months.

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo...e/DCP04226.jpg

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo...e/DCP04230.jpg

They were used their entire life on cars that are never driven in snow/salt, and seldom driven in the rain.

 

In less then a years time, the coating on my Pacesetter long tubes already began to rust. Mind you this car never sees rain or snow and I put about 500 miles on it yearly. In the future, I would like to go with a stainless set of headers and then send them out for coating. That of course if money allows.

 

anyone got pics of pacesetters coated?

 

That's what concerns me a little . My buddy put Pacesetters on his '96 TA (I helped with some of the install) almost 2 years ago. When they were new, I thought they seemed like very good quality (welds, thickness of the pipes and flanges, coating, etc.). All along I've thought I'd probably go for them for my LS1. BUT, I think my buddy said the coating started to either burn off or flake off in a couple spots after about ~1 year?? But then I asked him recently (I haven't seen them myself) and he said "no, they're in great shape still" . But you're saying that yours rusted a little after ~1 year .....

..... and the thing is, I DO drive my car rain/shine, ~9 months of the year.

How about another question:

Is there a difference in the coating between Pacesetters, Flowtechs, Hookers, or Jet Hots??? Their prices vary a little, but if one of them has a better, longer lasting coating, then maybe it would be worth more (while not going as far as stainless)??

 

I've heard of people having similar problems with their coated Jet-Hots and Hookers as well so I draw a blank there. As for the Pacesetters, out of the box, the quality was decent. The welds were sloppy and there was alot of splash all over the headers, not to mention the EGR tube wouldn't clear the tranny dipstick. However, I can't expect the world considering I was looking for a budget header and I got just that.