[joe brienza]

I am looking to buy new headers. I want to buy Dynatech coated headers. Should I buy them coated from the factory or buy the black ones and have them coated myself by a reputable company that I know did a great job on some friends headers? The reason I ask is because a friend of mine has coated super comps and after a couple of years..they look like [email protected]*$! Another friend had his super comps coated by some company and they look great after a couple of years. Any suggestions or input? Thanks

 

[techinspector1]

Sounds to me like you've answered your own question.

 

[curtis73]

Most of what determines the appearance of the headers is how you treat them after they're installed. A few rules:

1- header coatings are uncured. They don't fully cure until you give them heat from the engine. For that reason, never use headers to break in a new engine. They will get way too hot and cook the coating. Always use junk headers or manifolds to break in the engine, then switch to the headers later.

2- always clean them meticulously before giving them heat. Any fingerprint, oil drop, dirt spec, drool, cat pee, whatever, will leave a huge stain burnt into the coating. Soak a rag with brake cleaner and clean all the tubes.

3- don't scratch them. since coatings are uncured they are a bit soft. Take extra special care to not scratch them when installing.

also, be pragmatic about the application. Many coatings are designed to be durable, not look good. I install my own headers without cleaning them because I don't care what they look like as long as they last. If you want them to look good in 5 years you have to be extra careful how you install them now.

 

[001mustang]

Headers

I would strongly recommend ceramic coated stainless steel headers with 3/8" flange if you want them to last. The best way is to let Jet Hot coat the SS header inside and out after you verified the fit. I ceramic coat my own headers because I am cheap. Do break in your engine and tune your carb properly before installing new headers if possible. If the EGT is to high, the coating will be compromised.

I don't recommend outside only coated carbon steel headers because the steel will see excessive thermal stress, suffer from embrittlement and eventually fail.

If your headers are cheap and easy to change then you may find it economical to install inside/outside coated carbon steel headers. I would trust jet hot or equal more than a factory coated header.

You may void warrenty by coating your header. You can buy coated headers direct from Jet Hot but I don't know about the warrenty.

 

[joe brienza]

Thanks fo the replys! Just wasn't sure if my friends factory coated headers that look like crap are just a fluke. Does anyone have the dynatech factory coated headers and can say that they a great coating headers? if not, I guess I have to spend the extra $ and have them coated myself.