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Header Coatings

pomai

pomai

1/2 ton status
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Having custom Headers made by GP Headers.

They can make them in either 304 Stainless or mild steel.

GP Headers: All of our manifolds are made with USA 304 Stainless Steel. Our standard finish is brushed stainless. We offer polished stainless as well as ceramic coated options. Prices will vary depending on what you are wanting.

I want to lower the heat inside the engine compartment.
My Questions?

(1) If I just keep them 304 S.S. how will they look?
don't want to polish them to keep them looking good

(2) What about heat?

(3) what is brushed Stainless?
is it a coating?
is it inside and out?

(4) Will Ceramic Coating be better?

(5) Thoughts about going with mild steel and save approximately $400 and spend the money on having them Ceramic Coated inside and out?IMG_0761.JPG
 
I’d do the ceramic coating. I had my last two sets of long tubes done by Jet Hot and they were $350 plus shipping. Looked great after several years.
 
My headers were coated by Jet Hot about 10 years ago BUT they have really minimal run time (I submit my build thread for sad proof lol ). Mine are beginning to have fingernail size flakes around the collectors. I know they’ll warranty them but it’s still a pita. If I had to do it again I’d buy the headers coated by the builder.

Fyi, all of Jet Hot’s coatings used to be flat finish with the exception of the one that looks chrome-ish. I learned this the hard way after thinking their online color examples were exact, they are not.

Also, my under hood temp is dramatically lower than the painted headers I’ve owned.
 
I I would spend the money on coating, even though I have only used one set of coated headers, my 2nd set is inbound..
I have read some reviews that lead me to believe that some companies don't do a great job with coating application. Could be true, could be unreal expectations, I honestly don't know.

I have a set of stainless headers that have turned blue quickly, I would have bought coated if I wasn't being a cheap skate on that truck.
 
Why is custom needed if I can ask?

I’m running uncoated long tubes, bought used so just rattled canned.
 
I have ceramic coated headers on my dune buggy 7 years old, several thousand miles, look great, coating is whole, even with baked on mud and being cleaned every so often.
These were coated by the manufacturer.
 
Ceramic coat FTW.

Jet-Hot does a great job however I would probably lean toward using the header manufacturer for the coating.
 
Don't break in your motor with the ceramic coated headers installed. It ruins the finish. Turns them pale silver.
Ask me how I know...
 
Cheavyk10 said:
Don't break in your motor with the ceramic coated headers installed. It ruins the finish. Turns them pale silver.
Ask me how I know...
Click to expand...
Are you talking about flat tappet cam break in, or seating the rings ?
 
bigjimmy82 said:
Why is custom needed if I can ask?

I’m running uncoated long tubes, bought used so just rattled canned.
Click to expand...
I want headers that clear the shackles, and able to
bigjimmy82 said:
Why is custom needed if I can ask?

I’m running uncoated long tubes, bought used so just rattled canned.
Click to expand...
I currently have 1-5/8s JBA shorty headers, a direct replacement of the stock OEM exhaust manifolds, but know I have a little more engine, SBC 427/AFR angle plugs.
the JBA's weren't designed to be used with angle plugs heads. very difficult to change plugs and are to close to the spark plug boots.

I ordered the Headman Elite headers with 1.75" tubes for angle plugs, but crash right into the shackle, something I've heard of on many long tube headers designs.

Know with the custom GP headers, I have clear access to all 8 plugs, flange bolts and a lot of room for the plug wires, clears the shackles, oil filter, starter and shifter linkage. and all of this with 1.75" tubes.
 
skunked said:
Ceramic coat FTW.

Jet-Hot does a great job however I would probably lean toward using the header manufacturer for the coating.
Click to expand...
I just need to ask GP if they coat inside and out?

But I wanted some input whether to go with 304 SS with coating inside and out, OR save a few hundred dollars and go with mild steal and coating inside and out?

Would the mild steel coated inside and out, last just as long as the 304 SS also coated the same way?

From what I have read, the mild steel coated inside and out, is just as good as the 304 SS coated the same way?

Wanted your guys opinions on this?

Thank you,
Ed
 
pomai said:
I want headers that clear the shackles, and able to

I currently have 1-5/8s JBA shorty headers, a direct replacement of the stock OEM exhaust manifolds, but know I have a little more engine, SBC 427/AFR angle plugs.
the JBA's weren't designed to be used with angle plugs heads. very difficult to change plugs and are to close to the spark plug boots.

I ordered the Headman Elite headers with 1.75" tubes for angle plugs, but crash right into the shackle, something I've heard of on many long tube headers designs.

Know with the custom GP headers, I have clear access to all 8 plugs, flange bolts and a lot of room for the plug wires, clears the shackles, oil filter, starter and shifter linkage. and all of this with 1.75" tubes.
Click to expand...
That makes perfect sense, my old setup hit the shackles, I can’t find that model are, but it’s a hooker I think. Makes sense with your healthy bb and angled plugs. Gonna be fun!

My .02 on the mild steel versus stainless, I would say mild steel coated by manufacturer inside/out would be just as good as stainless and still provide heat reduction under hood.
 
Here are my Hedmans, OEM coating, at about 6 years of use. Very low mileage, I'd bet 10k at the most. It could be coincidence, but it really seemed to me that water splashing up on the headers caused the coating to have issues. Not immersion, just droplets as I'd hit puddles and what not:

full


Don't have pics, but my current stainless Hedmans have definitely gained a blue-ish tint. I think some actually like the look, but if you prefer the silver color, they are definitely not that.
 
bigjimmy82 said:
That makes perfect sense, my old setup hit the shackles, I can’t find that model are, but it’s a hooker I think. Makes sense with your healthy bb and angled plugs. Gonna be fun!

My .02 on the mild steel versus stainless, I would say mild steel coated by manufacturer inside/out would be just as good as stainless and still provide heat reduction under hood.
Click to expand...
Thank you for you reply.
That was what I thought, I could go with the mild steel, coated inside and out and be just as good as S.S coated. I like the idea of taking the $500 difference between the mild & S.S and spending it on coating in and out.

Any opinions on Flex Joints/Connection's?

Thank you again,
Ed
 
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