ceramic headers worth it?

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mopardemon340

mopardemon340

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are buying ceramic headers worth the extra cost.. is there an alternative to ceramic that will hold up just as good.. can you ceramic coat the headers your self
 
Not for the cost of equipment you can't.

Yes the coating is worth the extra money.

Buy a set of Dougs through autozone or have summit price match. About 500 with a 20% off code at autozone.
 
I recoated mine, bought them used. 2-3 cans of the VHT silver and 1 can VHT clear. Blasted them with a heat gun also. Not run yet so I'm not sure if it was worth it. They sure look purtty hanging from the oak tree though.

IMG_20160711_190704.jpg
 
They say to break your engine in first (for new engines) before installing them to avoid any leaks or spills ruining the coating. I found out the hard way before they actually warned people.
 
Sedanman said:
They say to break your engine in first (for new engines) before installing them to avoid any leaks or spills ruining the coating. I found out the hard way before they actually warned people.
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Yes it is worth it. Besides looking better they reduce heat in the engine compartment and the do not rot out fast like normal headers.
 
crackedback said:
HP doesn't matter in most every case, buy dougs and save 200-300 over tti.



That make no sense at all. More than 600hp buy dougs... :)
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Oops typo.
If less than 600hp buy Dougs.
If more than 600hp buy TTi.
 
I bought TTI headers few years ago wait for them for almost 9 months
they began to rote after a years and they told me there warranty dont covert the rust
problem!!! (around tube and the flange)

If I would order an other set of headers I would order them bare metal
and have them ceramic coat buy a good shop that stand behind there work
and product
 
i have had a set that was coated by jet hot and dgm .. both rusted..

will never buy coated again...

i'll buy natural finish and just paint them with the eastwood header paint.. if it starts rusting i'll scuff them and recoat with a foam brush...
 
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I have tti coated inside and out .The biggest advantage is it reduces the heat inside engine compartment.It dropped the heat a couple hundred degrees.If they rust jet coat will recoat them for free as long as you own them.They coat tti headers for them.
 
crazy 340 said:
I bought TTI headers few years ago wait for them for almost 9 months
they began to rote after a years and they told me there warranty dont covert the rust
problem!!! (around tube and the flange)

If I would order an other set of headers I would order them bare metal
and have them ceramic coat buy a good shop that stand behind there work
and product
Click to expand...
tti had some issues thath ave been resolved. I got a set for my Dart and for my Polara, love em!
 
downsr said:
I have tti coated inside and out .The biggest advantage is it reduces the heat inside engine compartment.It dropped the heat a couple hundred degrees.If they rust jet coat will recoat them for free as long as you own them.They coat tti headers for them.
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How does it work

Call them and ask them to redo There crapy job
 
The alternative to the "ceramic" coatings that come from manufacturers is to have your headers plasma sprayed with ceramics. In the late 1980s Blackjack headers could be bought with this option (on their otherwise cruddy headers). But nowadays its all various versions of polymers with ceramic particles. A lot of people are happy with this. Others like Joe and me have found it doesn't always hold up as promised. Why? Dunno. Too many variables and too much smoke and mirrors.

Now if you want something different, then have it plasma sprayed with zirconium dioxide probably with ytrium. Its an industrial process so you might check into that way. Or, you can go to one of the very few companies that advertise they do it for automobiles. Swain in the US, which acts like like the process is a big secret or Ziroctec in the UK that tells you exactly what it is (but costs more).
 
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Blackjack had the Alumi-coat IIRC. I think we were selling those in 83-84ish
 
That's probably it. I'd have to see if I still have the reciept.
Google turns up a finish option AK5000, called Aluminum Koat and Aluma-Kote.
I remember it being rough and bit more white than shiny but can't be sure. It was my initiation into installing headers. :LOL: A few weeks later my buddy's brother tries putting a set in a full size Chevy Blazer. There's tons of room in that bay and they don't fit either! However he was willing to take another shot and the set he exchanged 'em for fit reasonably well.

Anyway, according to the label here in this photo AK5000 was hot sprayed on (probably flame or plasma) but no claim to having ceramic in the material.
DSC09150.JPG
 
Mattax said:
That's probably it. I'd have to see if I still have the reciept.
Google turns up a finish option AK5000, called Aluminum Koat and Aluma-Kote.
I remember it being rough and bit more white than shiny but can't be sure. It was my initiation into installing headers. :LOL: A few weeks later my buddy's brother tries putting a set in a full size Chevy Blazer. There's tons of room in that bay and they don't fit either! However he was willing to take another shot and the set he exchanged 'em for fit reasonably well.

Anyway, according to the label here in this photo AK5000 was hot sprayed on (probably flame or plasma) but no claim to having ceramic in the material.
View attachment 1715016560
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put a set of aluma-kote black jack headers on a truck back in the day.. they held up nicely
 
The aluminized seem to hold up well, and somewhat cheaper than coated.
These were used when I got them, and they still look pretty much the same after a few years.

RT.jpg
 
Those look like they have a much smoother finish than the coating I was talking about. Flame sprays have a lot of texture although I suppose one that's mostly metal could be polished smooth. On the set I tried to install on my car (circa 1989) we wrapped them very carefully so as not to scratch the paint on the inner fenders.

For the OP. In terms of heat conduction a zirconium finish should bring steel headers into the same range as stainless. For reducing radiant heat, smooth and shiny, or light colors are usually best but its hard to know how much just by appearance.
 
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