preventive maintenance on headers

[mattpiotr]

i am putting flow tech headers on my 350 i cut the flange in 3 sections to prevent it from warping on the block, i also bought copper gaskets and some locking header bolts. is their any thing else i should do before i put them on. i did run a weld around each tube on the out side of the flange to prevent from leaks in the future. any thing i would appreciate thanks

[86 K-10]

i'm a huge fan exhaust wrap after wrapping mine. (2) 2" rolls and a can of the sealant will run you around $100 and you can use metal wire to secure it to the header. i tried those wire ties they sell specifically for it, and they seemed pretty shotty.

[mattpiotr]

oh i also painted them with High Temp Paint.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I wouldn't header wrap myself as the wrap holds in moisture and can rust out the pipes. But sounds like you have everything down. Just after the first couple drives make sure the bolts are tight. Don't crank them down so hard though or you will bend things and cause a leak
Posted via Mobile Device

[406 Q-ship]

Originally Posted by 86 K-10

i'm a huge fan exhaust wrap after wrapping mine. (2) 2" rolls and a can of the sealant will run you around $100 and you can use metal wire to secure it to the header. i tried those wire ties they sell specifically for it, and they seemed pretty shotty.

Wrapping the headers will seriously short the life of the header itself, it will enbrittle the metal tubes and they will crack. There is a good reason that NONE of the header manufactures will warrenty cover headers that have been wrapped.

I good quality ceramic coating or a ceramic based paint will protect the headers without destroying the tubes.

[86 K-10]

Originally Posted by 406 Q-ship

Wrapping the headers will seriously short the life of the header itself, it will enbrittle the metal tubes and they will crack. There is a good reason that NONE of the header manufactures will warrenty cover headers that have been wrapped.

I good quality ceramic coating or a ceramic based paint will protect the headers without destroying the tubes.

my headers were cheap in the first place and the OP has plain-jane steel headers as well. i know several weekend racers that have been running wrapped headers for years.
i've got $100 in my headers and i like the fact i can literally touch them at operating temp. if they crack (which i doubt will happen for a very long time), i'll go find another cheap set and wrap those too....

JMHO

[406 Q-ship]

Originally Posted by 86 K-10

my headers were cheap in the first place and the OP has plain-jane steel headers as well. i know several weekend racers that have been running wrapped headers for years.
i've got $100 in my headers and i like the fact i can literally touch them at operating temp. if they crack (which i doubt will happen for a very long time), i'll go find another cheap set and wrap those too....

JMHO

Well I have worked in the header industry (no longer) and when a set came back that have been wrapped you can see the embrittlement and it literally leaves weave of the wrap imprinted on the tubes. The outside temp of wrapped headers of course will be ok to the touch, it is the inside that the temp is to high and killing the tubes. If you work a header really hard like in a tow application I have seen thick tubes died an ugly death in less than two years. Just food for thought.

[mattpiotr]

i went ahead and painted it with 4 coats of high temp gloss black and 3 coats of high temp clear coat.

[355bullet]

powder coated mine.

[esbstuff]

Cap your exhaust (tightly) when the truck is not in use. This will prevent moisture from entering the exhaust system...