3MAX
1/2 ton status
I've never had either. Mine have always been painted. My next set will be either stainless or ceramic, and they are about the same price. Which ones hold up the best?
CK5
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Headers - Stainless or Ceramic Coated?
- Thread starter 3MAX
- Start date
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Stainless or by bare or painted and get them jet hotted.
any coating on a header will have to be stripped before heat coating is applied . I asked them 1 time before . so if you want the good stuff = buy plain none coated / painted .
3MAX
1/2 ton status
How does stainless compare to Jet Hot coatings? I'd rather not have to ship them off if possible.
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
Stainless still transfers a buttload of heat, ceramic does not.
wage92
1/2 ton status
ive had stainless before. Mine got a slight blueish tint from the heat, but never rusted. I liked them.
3MAX
1/2 ton status
Ah - wasn't thinking about that. I was just thinking about rusting out, but that's an advantage I need to consider. You guys are making me really think about getting them coated at Jet Hot.
I saw their vendor booth at LS Fest this past weekend - pretty impressive what they can do with some of their coatings now.
Ok, my turn....
Imo, if the header manufacturer offers a ceramic coating, buy them coated.
I bought some Sanderson shorty headers for my K5. I opt'd to buy mine bare to save some money and planned on painting them myself. When I got them they were so nice I was kicking myself for not going the distance, I did not want to chance such nice headers rotting away in 3~5 years.
Now comes the fun.
By having mine Jet Hot coated after the fact I spent a little over $100 more than if I had bought them precoated. Again, buy them coated.
I installed these during my build so they did sit for a while outside in indirect weather (installed but closed engine compartment). At this point the truck cranked and ran but was still a non driving / non wheeling project - it strictly sat in the backyard.
Fast forward 2 years I had them off for a new motor. To my surprise they had surface rust between all the tubes. Jet Hot did warranty them without hassle but I was disappointed nevertheless.
It's a little over a year later and they still look good but the truck now sis inside a shop 24/7.
Also note, that I was told that all of the colors offered by Jet Hot are "flat" except for the high luster silver coating.
Imo, if the header manufacturer offers a ceramic coating, buy them coated.
I bought some Sanderson shorty headers for my K5. I opt'd to buy mine bare to save some money and planned on painting them myself. When I got them they were so nice I was kicking myself for not going the distance, I did not want to chance such nice headers rotting away in 3~5 years.
Now comes the fun.
By having mine Jet Hot coated after the fact I spent a little over $100 more than if I had bought them precoated. Again, buy them coated.
I installed these during my build so they did sit for a while outside in indirect weather (installed but closed engine compartment). At this point the truck cranked and ran but was still a non driving / non wheeling project - it strictly sat in the backyard.
Fast forward 2 years I had them off for a new motor. To my surprise they had surface rust between all the tubes. Jet Hot did warranty them without hassle but I was disappointed nevertheless.
It's a little over a year later and they still look good but the truck now sis inside a shop 24/7.
Also note, that I was told that all of the colors offered by Jet Hot are "flat" except for the high luster silver coating.
Coatings are coatings. There may be very good coatings, but they are still coatings.
If you plan on keeping the truck/exhaust for a long period, no question IMO, stainless.
No idea if you can have stainless coated internally. But for the ~$600 of stainless headers, adding coating to that would just up the cost. Of course, I can't vouch for how well INTERNAL coatings last, but from my experience (Hedmans coated Elites) coating didn't hold up for me, and a buddy had his jet-hotted, and that too eventually came off.
No idea how coatings can hold up in the long term, getting any sort of coating to last with the expansion and contraction due to the very high heat of exhaust would seem problematic at best, but then again, they coat pistons and chambers.
If you plan on keeping the truck/exhaust for a long period, no question IMO, stainless.
No idea if you can have stainless coated internally. But for the ~$600 of stainless headers, adding coating to that would just up the cost. Of course, I can't vouch for how well INTERNAL coatings last, but from my experience (Hedmans coated Elites) coating didn't hold up for me, and a buddy had his jet-hotted, and that too eventually came off.
No idea how coatings can hold up in the long term, getting any sort of coating to last with the expansion and contraction due to the very high heat of exhaust would seem problematic at best, but then again, they coat pistons and chambers.
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
If memory serves, Jet Hot has a bunch of headers in stock for common applications. The headers I have are the Headman swap headers for an S-10. No corrosion and the heat is kept down to a reasonable level.
I had a local powder coat company do it's Header coating on my Doug Thorleys and am very pleased at the result - they look great and keep a ton of heat out of the engine bay. The heat issue can not be understated: It really is a drastic difference in the thermal barrior.
