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Ceramic coated header durability??

odin

odin

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How have yours held up?? I have had hedman ceramic coated headers on my truck for about 6 months now. No mud or water crossings yet. They look like ass:mad:
Starting to rust and the finish looks dull and flaky. I never would have paid the extra for this miracle coating if I knew.
 
My Hedman's are the same way. It's obviously held up longer than if they weren't coated, but as I expected, it's not some miracle product, no coatings hold up long enough IMO. Internal coatings I might be willing to look at for the future, but if you don't want them to look bad, pay the $$ for stainless.
 
every header ive ever had coated looked great even after years of use. i have never bought headers already coated from say hooker or hedman, always sent em out to jethot for coating, sure costs more but you get what you pay for.
 
I have a set of Doug Thorley headers. I bought the ceramic coated set figuring they would hold up, but they were rusting within the month.:mad:
 
i got mine from dougs headers not doug thorley and he gave me lifetime i think on the cotaings.and he is local to me thats why i went with them. they hit the frame on the pass had to nothch it about 1/2 and inch for one pipe no biggie and the come close to the motormout on the driver other than that no complaints . they are about 6 months old some light mud and water crossings still look new. we will see once the mud starts here .
 
I've always bought the Dynomax headers from Jegs. They hold up good unless you drive them in the winter cause the salt turns then brown and will eventually peel. I would just take them back and they would give me a new set because of lifetime warranty. I am selling that truck and just bought the Summit brand (same headers, also made by Dynomax ) only cheaper, for my 91 burb.
Tarey
 
Do different companies use different coatings? I have had coated Hooker Super comps on my 71 SS396 Camaro for a few years and they look great still. I bought the hedmans for the truck because the set I put on the first time were hedmans (uncoated) fit perfect and lasted 15 years.
 
Have Hedmen Elites, coated headers. This will be 3rd year of use, no winters. They are just starting to flake and rust in spots. Jet-hot coating is next, at $275 it better last longer.
 
Last edited:
phreddei166 said:
Have Hedmen Elites, coated headers. This will be 3rd year of use, no winters. They are just starting to flake and rust in spots. Jet-hot coating is next, at $275 it better last longer.
Click to expand...

Now Im really pissed:mad:
Yours like awesome. Mine looked like that for about 2 weeks. Ill have to post a pic.
Hedman must use the good coating for the Elites and rattle can garbage for the others.
 
before and after.

Keep in mind these are only about 6 months old. No mud or deep water in those six months.

IMG_6166.JPG

Odin headers after009.jpg

Odin test drive 026.jpg
 
This is why I'm going stainless..

imo, the only ceramic worth getting is JetHot.. the inside coating factor is HUGE too...
 
about 550 for the Hookers.... others can run upwards of a grand....
 
well, I didn't think the Hookers where that crazy... ceramic-coated Thorley's are not too far off that price....

I look at it as, if your gonna look at quality headers, your gonna be looking at 4, 500 minimum..

Imo, there are kinda 3 stages of headers, the $100 to 200 cheapies, at least in coating, if not sheetmetal..

The quality offerings from major companies, often ceramic coated or nickle plated in the 4, 500 range...

Then the higher end stuff... custom or small company built stainless stuff.. usually 800 to 1200..

I look at it as, hey the $550 Hookers get ya in the stainless door for under 600.. and iirc, Dougs new offerings in steel are already over 600...

Tho I may talk to a friend of mine about what it would run for us to fab up some custom stainless ones.. He builds water-jacketed, stainless boat headers daily... about $2500 a pair usually.. pretty intricate welding/fab. etc.. So hey, car headers should be a breeze... If it could be done for under a grand it might be an avenue I'd consider...

But as of now, I'm looking at getting the Hookers... I've already talked to my exhaust guy about going stainless on the rest of the system....
 
hmmm, bummer, I just noticed those are for a 92 to 94.... wonder what the dif is, I'm betting they'd still work on earlier models.... I'll have to give them a buzz when
I get around to a header purchase later in the summer...
 
I run stainless headers on both my K5 and Mustang. It makes me feel good knowing my vehicles will rust away before my headers will. I have had the SS shorty headers on my K5 for almost 10 years. When I wash off the mud and clean them up. They still look like they did when I bought them.
 
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