Flowtech Headers Ceramic Coated

[1972c10pu]

Anyone using Flowtech Headers on there vehicle with the sniper efi? Mine have lost all there shine since i installed the efi.

[HO455]

How many miles are on the headers before and after the EFI conversion?

[1972c10pu]

Put about 300 miles on the new motor with the carb. Then switched to EFI and maybe put on 30 miles and then the shine disappeared.

[72c20customcamper]

In my experience ceramic coating doesn’t last long on headers. At first it turns and then it rusts .I've switched to SS on anything I put headers on they change color too but at least they don’t rust up

[Rick Bollinger]

the exhaust gasses will most likely be hotter on the efi unless the carb is exactly tuned. Your efi will auto adjust to the optimum air fuel ratio causing it to be leaner / hotter.

[pontiacvince]

I used cheap Summit brand headers that I painted with silver VHT paint. When I was breaking in my new engine, I cycled it through at least 3 heat cycles of about 10 - 12 minutes of run time at 2200 - 2500rpm's and let it cool all the way down and repeat. My headers STILL look great after over 12,000 miles.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

In my experience ceramic coating doesn’t last long on headers. At first it turns and then it rusts .I've switched to SS on anything I put headers on they change color too but at least they don’t rust up

This! Stainless is the only way to go with headers.

[Rick Bollinger]

I went stainless as well. Hooker Competition headers 2.5 inch 304 pipes back to Borla mufflers.

[PbFut]

DEI Hi-Temp Silicone Coating. The attached picture is of the race car. 408 stroked LS. Those steel pipes have well over 1000 race hours on them and are 15yrs old. Multi engine freshen ups. Headers repainted once. Not sure if any water has ever hit them other than washing. You can see how well the wrap and pipe and coating have held up. I think silver, black or white are your only choice. No issue with corroded pipe as some claim with wrap, but they don't get wet either. Only have about 1500 miles on truck using summit header, wrapped and coated. So far so good. Very good thermo block. Saved my hands more than once in pits and way less $$.

[57taskforce]

Now that is some BS! You post up pictures of exhaust, and a nice 408 peeking at us but not a single pic of the actual race car??? some of here like racing and going fast! I’m just kidding obviously. I’ve seen that spray before but never used it, interesting to see it has worked so well.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

In my experience ceramic coating doesn’t last long on headers. At first it turns and then it rusts .I've switched to SS on anything I put headers on they change color too but at least they don’t rust up

That's been my experience with several pairs of headers. Even those coated by the manufacturer don't last that long, especially if the truck is typically parked outside. Heck, years ago a guy at Sanderson Headers told me that nothing will stop rust pimples from eventually coming through the coating. In fact, most manufacturers warranty coatings for only a couple years, if that long!

That said, my friend with a 37 Chevy hot rod has some inexpensive ceramic coated shorties that look almost new after 6-8 years of use. However, the car is always garaged.

I bit the bullet and bought USA-made Hedman stainless headers for my truck a few years ago. They look more industrial than pretty, but they won't rust.

As for your Flowtechs, paint them hi-temp black, and then cleanup and re-paint every year or two! That's what I've done in the past with bare steel headers.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by PbFut

DEI Hi-Temp Silicone Coating. The attached picture is of the race car. 408 stroked LS. Those steel pipes have well over 1000 race hours on them and are 15yrs old. Multi engine freshen ups. Headers repainted once. Not sure if any water has ever hit them other than washing. You can see how well the wrap and pipe and coating have held up. I think silver, black or white are your only choice. No issue with corroded pipe as some claim with wrap, but they don't get wet either. Only have about 1500 miles on truck using summit header, wrapped and coated. So far so good. Very good thermo block. Saved my hands more than once in pits and way less $$.

Header wrap is nice, in that it cools down the underhood temps, quiets exhaust noise down well, and just looks cool. The big problem is that using wraps voids the header manufacturer's warranty.

I ran DEI wrap on Hedman hedders for 7 years before they rusted out. 350/SM465/NP205 '71 GMC Jimmy K/1500. Mostly street traffic in Tucson, AZ. Arid climate and hardly any offroading, but I was never averse to splashing thru flooded streets in monsoon season. And I did hit the Magic Wand style [6 quarters] car wash often, especially in Summer. I had even airbrushed on a Ceramic Coating product from Eastwood and baked both hedders in my Mom's old Hotpoint oven, 500*F for two hours. I was surprized they rusted thru. Even more surprized they were under warranty until I mummy-wrapped them.
I have Clifford Research headers on my '68 C/10 Stepside's 292 L6 that I bought in 1978, and are on their second engine. I only ever spraypainted them with VHT. Still doing well.

[weq92f]

.

I'm running Hedman elite 68198 on a hot little 396. These are listed as having a matte silver ceramic coating and cost just under 500 bucks.

Installed in 2018 and driven roughly 20k miles since then. They still have a nice luster and the silver matte is still there looking good. Only recently have I noticed the beginning of some rust along the flange where it meets the head...the head is rusting there so I suspect that is the reason.

The down tubes and collector on the under side are all looking good as well...not totally perfect but really nice given the use.

Not sure how this jives with everyone else but wanted to report anyways.

Hth,

-Kevin