To Wrap or not to Wrap that is the question.

[Frankie]

I've just spent the last hour trying to find a link about wrapping my exhaust headers.  I've been told it really works for heat reduction but it damages the pipes after use.  Any help would be appreciated.

These words from our friend William Shakespeare are appropriate.  

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them"   Or pay for a new set of headers?

[MV8]

I understand the appeal, but why do you need to wrap? Unless you are wrapping a header with 14ga walls and ceramic coated inside, your interest may be better served by a different method. Wrap turns a header pipe into a small kiln. No downside to using header wrap on components near the header, but there are other products for that such as fire sleeve.  

[Vovchandr]

Wrapped mine. Not sure if there was a noticable difference. 

 

One of the worst upgrades I've ever done from implementation point if view. Would never do it again unless header was already off. Too far too long in too constrained area with getting fiberglass and metal cuts throughout. 

 

Might be different on a Duratec. 

[mrmustang]

Heat wrap for the headers works great in a race only environment where you want cheap, easy, and will eventually replace the parts (a year or two), but leads to premature rust out of the headers as well. Better off with ceramic coating to get the same results, without the downside of wrapping.

 

 

Bill S.

[Frankie]

This is exactly what i wanted to hear.  Thanks all. 

[slowdude]

It's on my list after the de dion bushing gets done.

 

High temp paint the headers, then cure them. Then wrap headers. At least for me it makes sense as the K series has a habit of trying alternators.

[coffee break]

I had the header powder coated then wrapped. The goal was to reduce heat transmitted to the cockpit and shield the alternator. 

The cockpit is now more comfortable and the plastic on the alternator isn't melting.

[MV8]

11 hours ago, slowdude said:

it makes sense as the K series has a habit of trying alternators.

I can see why. Short of cutting it out and welding in a new $20 section of tube (routed more like the oem) or a shorter race type alt with a multi-vee pulley swap, I'd wrap the six inches closest to the alt. Wrapping a short section of tube is less critical.

[KnifeySpoony]

If it's just the alternator concern, a small heat shield would likely be simpler and more effective perhaps.

 

 

[slowdude]

8 hours ago, MV8 said:

I can see why. Short of cutting it out and welding in a new $20 section of tube (routed more like the oem) or a shorter race type alt with a multi-vee pulley swap, I'd wrap the six inches closest to the alt. Wrapping a short section of tube is less critical.

Exactly what I think, wrap should be a bit easier to get to as well.

[IamScotticus]

I would consider an external wrap only after a coating to preserve the headers.  One that coats the insides as well.

I believe Jet Hot is popular for this.

https://www.jet-hot.com/

 

No experience,  but The combination of the both should be very effective. 

I have felt the heat, and agree, especially in a LHD and left side exhaust,  it gets very toasty.  I carpeted my tunnel to be able to wear shorts and not get burned.  

Also considering pulling my inside Lamiplate pannel to put insulation in the wall. The external exhaust is part of the equation.

[inchoate]

I had the headers on my very built mini Jet-Hotted and it was very effective in reducing under hood temperatures.  If you look around you can find ten people who will tell you how horrible Jet-Hot is and ten people who will tell you it's great.  It's where my research let me and I was happy with the whole process from start to the end product.

[IamScotticus]

Here is another coating option.

https://swaintech.com/

[bball7754]

I had my headers Swain coated 12 years ago.  They have stood up pretty well, although there are areas where it’s back down to bare metal.

 

To maintain the appearance of the headers outside the engine bay, I only had the top half of each header coated.  And before I shipped them off to Swain, I had the bottom half polished.  Results are below.

 

 

[jbcollier]

After 35 years as a mechanic, I wrap my headers, pipes, silencer, and tail pipe, so I don't #$%@ burn myself.  Works great!