I have heard that flex joints don't last. I suppose their longevity is tried to the cost.
CK5
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Header Coatings
- Thread starter pomai
- Start date
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Flex joints last if you don't by the cheapie ebay specials. Buy some nicer ones, weld them into the pipes after your header collector. And you will have leak free headers at the flange and collector. Good gaskets should still be used of course. Remflex has been a good header gasket for many.
For headers, a few notes.....
Remember ceramic coating is NOT for looks. It's for heat management. Great looks of shiny headers and rust protection is only a by product of the true purpose of the ceramic coating.
If the header builder is only coating the outside for rust prevention, well... I'd probably look for a different builder because obviously they don't "get it". And you should spend you money elsewhere.
You have a AFR'ed 427? Sweet. You have some money in that. I'd spend the money for coated headers. Work on heat management for a engine like that. Coated inside and out of course.
And I'd judge my use based on the need for stainless vs mild.
A DD rig you don't want to be down? Stainless.
A few nicks here and there and they won't corrode and look like crap while you continue to dive it.
A street truck that's a show car, weekend cruiser rig....Not driven much. It would take alot to wear them off a properly applied coating. Go mild steel.
A hard-core off road rig, stainless less of course.
Obviously non coated , stainless is the way Imo.
Best of luck.
For headers, a few notes.....
Remember ceramic coating is NOT for looks. It's for heat management. Great looks of shiny headers and rust protection is only a by product of the true purpose of the ceramic coating.
If the header builder is only coating the outside for rust prevention, well... I'd probably look for a different builder because obviously they don't "get it". And you should spend you money elsewhere.
You have a AFR'ed 427? Sweet. You have some money in that. I'd spend the money for coated headers. Work on heat management for a engine like that. Coated inside and out of course.
And I'd judge my use based on the need for stainless vs mild.
A DD rig you don't want to be down? Stainless.
A few nicks here and there and they won't corrode and look like crap while you continue to dive it.
A street truck that's a show car, weekend cruiser rig....Not driven much. It would take alot to wear them off a properly applied coating. Go mild steel.
A hard-core off road rig, stainless less of course.
Obviously non coated , stainless is the way Imo.
Best of luck.
Since no one mentioned it, Ceracote is another option. If it's done correctly, it will hold up for 5-7 years of regular use. I used it on my stock manifolds and it lasted about 4 years, but I put it on myself. Its a ceramic, but is different from the others chemically...way over my head, but it's something you may want to look into. Every color in the rainbow, if you're into that.
