That's the question. Does coated really keep underhood temps down?
Gonna do shorty/mid length. Pace Setter or BBK?

 

I really don't notice any difference. Might help some, but you won't get any real difference.

 

The cera-metallic coating, applied inside and outside the primaries, definitely reduces heat loss to the engine compartment. Additionally, it reduces external corrosion and cracking due to thermal cycling, and has been shown to produce couple extra HP by keeping the exhaust gas velocity high in the primaries, increasing scavenging. I wouldn't even consider buying uncoated headers for a street car.

Chrome does none of the above, and will discolor almost immediately.

I have some modified AS&M headers that are now 15 years old. I bought them used 12 years ago. They have been subjected to the abuse of a 20+# boosted LT1 and my LT1 spraying a 300-shot. They came with an HPC cera-metallic coating, and they still look decent, with only minor rust around the weld splatter.

 

Chrome just won't hold up. It flakes, it rusts, it just looks like crap over time. That and as mentioned, no performance advantages to speak of.

I'm surprised companies are actually still chroming... though I realize a lot of the 'rod' crowd still use it for trailer queens.