Header Wrap

[EGLITOM]

Hello all

i want to wrap my headers completly with header warp BUT:

There are so many products out there and i have no experience with that at all.

My targets:

• want to reduce temperatures under the rear clip
• no i don´t want ceramic coating
• want the racy look
• should be durable
• yes i know that some say it is agressive to the header steel and they will sooner or later fail , nevertheless i will give it a try

What i would like if it is no absolut nonsens:

• copper or titanium look

my Questions:

• if i read this Design Engineering DEI 010127 - DEI Titanium Exhaust Wrap with LR Technlogy - Overview - SummitRacing.com this would be the product i go for, i like the look and i like what they say technical wise, but is it ksut a marketing bla bla or does it work this way => any experience with that product
• or this one Thermo-Tec 11031 - Thermo-Tec Generation II Copper Header Wraps - Overview - SummitRacing.com like the look as well
• in general what width do you recommand, i assume a 1" wide wrap is easier to apply than a 2" wide on a typical gt40 header, keep in mind that my header has a one part exhaust flange and can not me seprated in the single tubes, but on another thought a 2" wide band will overlap better in the tight turns. Your recos
• depending on the width how many feet would i need for both sides including the collectors ?
• I thought to fix it on the tubes with stainless steel security wire, or do need this stainless steel straps Longacre Racing Products 47840 - Longacre Header Wrap Ties - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Thanks for your inpu

TOM

 

[Julian]

Short answer is don't! I had to replace thick walled exhaust manifold, turbine housing and dump pipe on my rotary turbo after only 1 - 2 years, and it was only a weekend/competition car. That was all due to heat wrapping.

Header wrap is the best way to keep heat contained, but will do bad things to your headers, and given how painful/expensive GT40 headers are to make I'd be keeping them exposed.

Forget ceramic coating - it don't work. I have my headers chromed and they look nice (I think!) and the radiated heat is greatly reduced due to the very low emmisitvity of the shiny chrome surface.

Your choice though, but think about it!

 

[Ron Earp]

I've used good old "cloth" wrap on my race cars for years. It works. I can VERIFY lower under hood temps and I can VERIFY the fact I don't lose skin if I accidentally contact a wrapped header even close to the exhaust port. Now....if you get them wet often they can contribute to the corrosion of the headers...but I submit that with a non-daily driven car it isn't an issue. At least it hasn't been a problem for me here in the SE US. I do see many rotary equipped race cars with wrap too, but I have not asked the owners about longevity.

I have used and have been involved with the use of ceramic coated headers. I could not statistically verify lower underhood temps with them at all. I can DEFINITELY tell you that you will lose skin if you come in contact with a ceramic coated header at operating temps. I've seen claims of "you can touch them" - bullshit. Maybe you can touch them 1.5 meters off the port, but otherwise no way. Touch your ceramic coated header 10 cm from the exhaust port and a wrapped header 10 cm from the exhaust port, big difference. I don't care for ceramic coated headers other than for the fact they have a nice finish, not sure it adds to performance.

Wrapping correctly takes a lot of time. I've done a few V8 systems and my Datsun inline six. Takes about two to three hours either way to do it right. I use a combination of the stainless steel zip ties (which are available at Lowe's and Home Depot for around 1/3 the price of Summit Racing) and hose clamps. Buy one more roll than they recommend for ease of use. Practice. It'll pay off in the final result.

Best of worlds - ceramic coat them for corrosion resistance and then wrap them for lower underhood temps and possible increased performance.

 

[Howard Jones]

I agree with Ron. Ceramic coat the headers and rape the sections that are real close to fuel lines, wiring, within 2 inches of fiberglass, etc.

I will say however that ceramic coating will lower the temp of the tubing BUT will not lower it enough to let you touch it. My guess is about 1/2 to 1/3 cooler. Still several hundred degrees when full hot coming off the track.

The reduced temp in the engine room is significant and along with making a expensive set of headers last along time worth it. Be sure to do both inside and out.

 

[Randy V]

Hi Tom,

I've used the DEI Titanium 2" wrap on many sets of headers.. I use 2" because I typically have a 20-25% overlap on each turn of the wrap.

I either use Stainless Steel safety wire (a couple of turns) or a 2" stainless steel hose clamp over the end point where the wrap terminates.

I have had some hardening and cracking of headers, but the only ones I had problems with were those that were mild steel, uncoated, unpainted and subject to racing in both the rain and the heat... The cracking took 3+ years to manifest itself on one car that was raced quite a bit over that time..

Not sure how Stainless Steel will react, but I would think your cracking would be less with a well supported exhaust system (as I believe yours is)..

Were there any other negatives to wrapping the exhaust?
1) It was a pain in the butt to wrap. I know some guys have better luck when soaking the wrap in a bucket of water overnight. I just wrap them dry.
2) Flames - The exhaust systems I've wrapped from front to back were quite the crowd pleasers when gear changes or deceleration was in order (see picture)..
3) Less room for spark plug work (sockets, ratchets, extensions)

My American Sedan Camaro - Grabbing 4th gear at about 130 MPH

The positives far outweighed the negatives...

 

[Chuck]

Tom:

Responding to your specific question about DEI Titanium wrap: I bought a roll of both of the wraps you referenced but used the DEI for the same reasons you suggested. Used it only in the area where the one pipe came in near contact with the clip. The color closely matches the patina of the stainless after it has been through a few heat cycles. Blends in very well. Because of the small area covered was a tight curve used the one inch, but I would guess the two inch would be better otherwise. This was my first experience with wrapping and I may redo it a bit more neatly.

 

[Ron Earp]

Hey Tom,
I will throw in that we're wrapping the headers on the T70. I lost a lot of skin on my left hand during a track day from a nasty burn. So, we're going to wrap them in normal wrap to make them a bit safer to work with and maybe to increase performance a bit. Should also be easier on the rear clip finish.
Ron

 

[Lee Patterson]

I've run thermotec on the Pantera's headers for over 15 years. Lowers the temp in the engine bay, etc.

 

[Markus]

Hi Tom,

check those:

YouTube - Exhaust Wrap bluecollarbobber.com
YouTube - How To Wrap Exhaust
Exhaust Heat Wrap Installation
Thermo-Tec: Product Instructions

Markus