what is better ? I know ceramic looks way better and cost more but I wonder if the black ones perform just as good and if they last without rusting over.

 

Black is just high temp paint and will wear off alot faster then the ceramic coating.

 

Ceramic coating reduces underhood temperatures by better containing the exhaust heat within the header. Lower underhood temperatures help performance as well as the life of other components, like your spark plug wires.

 

Keeping the heat inside the tubes helps keep the exhaust gas velocity higher, increasing scavenging, which increases HP. Also prolongs the life of the tubes and welds.

 

Any finish other than ceramic coating will wear off very quickly and look bad and expose the metal to rust.

 

Go for ceramic coating. It'll keep under hood temps down, increase power and will not rust or wear off. They may cost a bit more but they are well worth it.

 

i went cheap and picked up a set used on this site i can't see spending 400-600 dollars on a set of headers. picked my painted ones up without rust for half the price of new painted. But if money isn't an object go for the ceramic coat.

 

I just got a great deal on a set of Hookers uncoated and had a friend sandblast them and then i brushed on POR-20 high temp coating. Its not as shiny as jethot coating, partly due to brushing on but we'll see how long it lasts, the install is tomorrow.

 

I would definitely try to get the coated headers for the reasons mentioned above and if you ever decide to sell them, they will retain a better resale value. The problem with the painted headers is the paint is basically there just to get the headers through the shipping process. Once the headers are on the car, the paint wears off very quickly and you'll find yourself looking at rusted headers. If you do decide to go with the painted headers, I would at least strip them and repaint them with better quality header paint.

 

i vote creamic, might cost more but well worth it in the long run

 

vote for the ceramic-


mine are jethot- been on for 3 years now, and driven in upstate new york winters (they like their salt) and still not a spot of rust on them- well worth it in my opinion

 

thanks guys for info and suggestions. I'm going for ceramic long tubes, maybe hooker or slp ? although I'm having a hard time removing the 4 rear stock exhaust manifold bolts . I'm scared to think how hard it will be with the headers . any tips on the rear bolts, and how the heak do u change the spark plugs after the headers are installed.

 

oh I forgot to mention I am replacing the spark plugs before installing the new headers but when the time comes for a tune up ,how do u change the plugs with the headers in the way?

 

Go with pacesetter longtubes. I picked mine up from texas speed and performance for $375 new and ceramic coated, and $125 for my y-pipe which is aluminized. The headers are supposed to give you better plug access than the stock manifolds.

 

Believe me you do not want the black headers. I had my Hooker Shorties and Y-pipe coated black a few years ago. Now they look like crap. Go with Jet Hot Sterling finish. Thats what I`m going to do.