HeaderShield

I would recommend not using any type of header wrap! It only leads to rust on the headers eventually. Also after a time no matter the maker the hottest areas tend to fail and the fabric begins unraveling and deteriorating.

The best solution to keep headers looking good is to ceramic coat them. One company I highly recommend is JetHot(Google 'em) they have ceramic coatings in a variety of colors and can even custom make a color for you. Cheap protection for headers for the long haul.

Yes, I have.  It works really well and I was happy with the results.  There are some down sides to header wrap, it does shorten the life of your exhaust in two ways.  The added heat can and eventually burn through the exhaust, and the other thing is when it gets wet it holds moisture and makes your exhaust rust out sooner as well.  So its a bit of a trade off.  I've used it where an exhaust is close to the body or a part that is getting heat damage. 

Another option if you are having heat issues on a spot is to heat shield the part and not the exhaust, but I know that's not always possible. 

Here are a few tips on putting it on if you go with the header wrap:

1. USE CLOVES BECAUSE IT ITCHES LIKE A MF FOR DAYS. 

2. Soak it in water before you wrap it and you will get it nice and tight and when it dries it will get a little tighter as well. 

3. I use SS Safety wire and make a diamond pattern  to hold it on and it looks really trick if you take your time.  Zip tie it in place if you need it to stay while you wrap it and wire it then don't forget to cut the Zip Ties off. 

Hope that helps.

G.R. posted:

I would recommend not using any type of header wrap! It only leads to rust on the headers eventually. Also after a time no matter the maker the hottest areas tend to fail and the fabric begins unraveling and deteriorating.

The best solution to keep headers looking good is to ceramic coat them. One company I highly recommend is JetHot(Google 'em) they have ceramic coatings in a variety of colors and can even custom make a color for you. Cheap protection for headers for the long haul.

I agree, if you are doing it JFL (just for looks), then don't do it.  Better off getting some header paint in a can and just go over it every time you wash the car.  It does not last very long, but it won't lesson the life of your header/exhaust, it might even extend it. 

Thanks for this tip it just so happens that I have to wrap a piece of my exhaust where the wrap came undone and is dragging. .. The old wrap is nearly new would it be better to simply rewrap it and add new on top it. Ray 

Bill I only have it on one joint on my headers on my new IM build.

Replace it, don't wrap over it.  And clean any rust and paint it before wrapping.  I used the gold/titanium color stuff from Oriley's and it has lasted over a two years now.  The trick is to get it tight and use the safety wire to hold it on.  Don't use the straps that come with the kit, they don't hold for beans. 

Only pic i found on line

Hi Alex, where do you get the safety wire it is not on Oriley's site.  Thanks Alex... Ray 

Please be careful using header wrap! I have seen a number of race cars catch fire because of it's use. When you wrap the header it does not get rid of heat so the last bit of the system which is usually unwrapped will be much hotter then it was. If that part of the system is anywhere near fiberglass, you could have a burning car!

Vintage Motorcars - Alex posted:

G.R. posted:

I would recommend not using any type of header wrap! It only leads to rust on the headers eventually. Also after a time no matter the maker the hottest areas tend to fail and the fabric begins unraveling and deteriorating.

The best solution to keep headers looking good is to ceramic coat them. One company I highly recommend is JetHot(Google 'em) they have ceramic coatings in a variety of colors and can even custom make a color for you. Cheap protection for headers for the long haul.

I agree, if you are doing it JFL (just for looks), then don't do it.  Better off getting some header paint in a can and just go over it every time you wash the car.  It does not last very long, but it won't lesson the life of your header/exhaust, it might even extend it. 

As for extending the life of header/exhaust I have to disagree, albeit my experience has been with h.p. V-8's...I ruined a new set of uncoated Hedman long tube headers by using headerwrap in just over two years on a BB427 Chevy due to excessive heat, the number 7 tube had pinhole burn through and rust developed on both headers because the trapped excessive heat burned off the high temp header paint...plus it started scorching in places, coming unraveled and loose...but that is just my experience with it.

From that experience on I've alwys gone with ceramic coat headers...

Caretech-IM posted:

Hi Alex, where do you get the safety wire it is not on Oriley's site.  Thanks Alex... Ray 

This is what I use on the Cobra spinners to prevent losing them if they loosen up also to use when racing, per rules, to wire down the latch mechanism on the pop open fuel filler ...it works very well and is easy to conform to any surface:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/...pages/safetywire.php

I could not find any at any of the local car parts places like O'Reillys, Advantage Auto or Napa or even at a couple 'race' shops and had to order it.

The subject matter of ceramic coating vs exhaust wrap in ongoing on many websites.  The "belt & suspenders" guys do both.  The theory is that you keep exhaust heat where it belongs--in the exhaust pipes and out the tail pipe.  More exhaust heat also means a higher turbo rpm.  

The downside of header wrap is that it can become contaminated with engine oil, and then becomes flammable.  I had my headers, down pipe, and cold side of the turbo coated by Swaintech in NY, and wrapped them also.  Swaintech coatings are about .015", while others are about .003".  When a Subi engine is used in our replicas, we need to use every engine room heat-lowering option available.  Engine heat is both our friend and our enemy.  

Gang, this does not look like the old fiberglass wrap. It looks to be a newer technology.

I have no heating issues with my 2110 A1 ceramic coated headers but thought some of the Suby guys having heating issues could benefit from this.

As for wire, just use the metal zip ties...

Thanks for this... I feel well shielded from making a mistake with you guys around Ray 

or...use Vintage Speed exhaust systems...they're stainless steel

wrap away McDuff!