Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Ok, so here is background. I am doing a full ground up build on my "66. I am working with the exhaust and here is where it gets fun. I just bought a set of bare metal mid-length headers from speedway and two 25' wrap kits from DEI. I have done this before and understand the issues with wrapping but also understand the advantages. Here is my question, they sell a silicone high heat spray. The kit does not have this and it is expensive. SO... can I just use a high heat spray paint? I will use the high heat paint on the headers before wrap. Suggestions? Thoughts??

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

I use high heat paint on mine. It works great but I don’t wrap my headers

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Thanks for the comment. I do plan to paint them before the wrap for sure, its after it is wrapped that I am unsure of.

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

One thing to keep in mind about header/exhaust wrapping, you're adding a barrier to help w/heat control. That same barrier can/does work against you as well when the headers are carbon steel sine it can trap debris (liquid moisture/dirt) which will promote faster deterioration.

I have mild steel headers on my dually (TBI controlled BBC). I had them professionally ceramic coated & then added 'header/2k high-heat' coating @ the collectors. After limited miles (<10k/6yrs) both have 'cooked' off so there is some surface rust. Wrapping the headers would likely exacerbate the issue.

That being said, what is the point of applying a coating to the material?

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Thanks for the info SCOTI. So they say the coating on the wrap helps with protecting the fibers and helps "lock" them into place, for whatever that means. LOL I have the previous Tri-Y headers wrapped and sprayed with their silicone paint (DEI). I emailed them about re-using the wrap and they said that if there have not been any heat cycles in the headers then the paint has not "cured" and they have not so I will try to re-use them on the new ones.
I understand that they (the wrap) will hold in moisture and that I accept. My plan is not to have it in rain much if possible .

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Get ceramic coated headers and call it a day!

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Jet-Hot guarantees their ceramic coating for life. What they call "silver polish" is the one that locks the most heat. It kind of looks like chrome on my ramhorns.

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Jeff,

Are you doing this for thermal or noise control? Or both!

Are you going to paint the wrap for aesthetics or as an additional layer for protection?

Don’t have anything to add really as I have not seen painted wrap before, mind you not looked that hard, just curious.

P. :D

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

1.) Originally I had a set of Tri-Y headers to use - they are plated - I wanted the thermal protection from the heat inside the engine compartment with the wrap. Also due to the size of the header tubes next to a couple of the plug wires, the wrap is a good way to help with this. Also, I like to be a bit different..... lol

2.) The "Paint" which is specific to the DEI Wrap and is Silicone based is suggested by DEI (Wrap Manufacture) and is said to "lock" in the fibers and protect them. This specific paint is very expensive and not easy to get, this is why I was asking about using a high heat paint.

Just as a note: I wrapped the original set of Tri-Y headers with the DEI wrap and used the specific Silicone paint coating on them but have yet to run any heat cycles through them. To have this special paint "set up" there must be heat cycles run, without them the wrap is pliable. I spoke with DEI and asked if I could re-use the original wrap on my new Mid-lengths and DEI said give it a shot, should work just fine, so that is what I will do! The new headers are Bare steel and mid-lengths, so I have high heat paint to paint them with before the wrap.

Re: Header Wrap - to Paint or not?
 

Update: So I took the DEI Header wrap off the original exhaust that was sprayed with the DEI Silicone coating BUT the headers have yet to see any heat cycles and then applies them to one of the new headers. They worked just fine. They had only a small amount of stiffness in them, so I just moved them around a bit and they were a bit more flexible, definitely enough to re-wrap the new headers. I also found that a local parts store in town carries the DEI Silicone warp spray, so I will be picking up another can of that. Anyways, just passing on the experience.