Ceramic header coating durability

[Dbarnes72]

How long does that brand spankin' new ceramic header coating continue to look brand spankin' new? I know it's just a show issue but mine are blued with subtle tones of rust pit and would probably cost more to refinish than replace. Most likely, being cheap, I won't do anything but I am curious.

 

[Yeller]

All depends on the quality of the aplication and the product, there are several. I've been sending stuff to Jet Hot for years and have some on street rigs that is 10+ years old and still looks nice, but most only get driven in nice weather. Mud and road grime doesn't do it any favors for appearance but I've never had any rust, that is with Jet Hot.

 

[bteutsch]

Are yours ceramic coated? I've had mine since about 1997 and they are still shining. A few spots of rust but nothing like chromed headers that turn colors and rust after the first time you crank the motor. My headers were bought from duffs as painted headers and I sent them to jet hot coatings in Mississippi for ceramic coating. Been very happy with them compared to other non ceramic coated headers.

 

[gearida]

Durable, good looking, and cool to the touch very quickly.

 

[SteveL]

It depends on the brand of the coating. If I had it to do again I would go jet hot. I paid the $$ for thee coated ones from a vendor & they were starting to pit & peal within a month. My 72 suburban came with the nickle thorleys on it. They are way expensive but still look great.

 

[70 Steed]

I had the manifolds Jet Hot coated on my '65 GTO 14 years ago and they still look like the day I put them on.

 

[ransil]

I have a set of WH ceramic headers, they are rusty..

I also have a set I had JBA make me and sent off to Jet hot, they are rusty

 

[NYLES]

I think mine are coated hookers....they get a rusty color down under but I used some cleaner and it takes it off and they still silvery gray....I think its purple stuff that cleans em up.

 

[broncnaz]

Had mine coated in 96/97 as well silver colored. they still shine up fine and the coating is very durable I have fenderwell headers and rocks do get thrown into them no chips yet usually just dents a little if anything.
I can attest to the lower underhood temps. To me its worth it to have them coated for both looks performance and long life.

 

[ryan287]

I've got WH JBA shorties and they have surpassed my expectations for sure. They have very minimal bluing around the flange/tube junction, other than that they look like new to my amazement. I've had them for at least 5 years and 10k mi.

I think I had some KbarS long tubes from the PO before and they looked terrible and radiated heat like crazy. I don't understand it either, but ceramic coating seems to really make a difference.

 

[Bronco Biff]

I had mine old school flame sprayed alumicoat in the mid eighties locally......they are a little rusty now, but also still sport the same gaskets and are in sound condition!!! .....same pipes too, come to think of it. Sonic Turbo Mufflers (all the rage in the '80s) were replaced a couple of years ago with Jegs $29.99 welded mufflers.....hope I get the same life out of them. They didn't have the ceramic back then..... I have some nickle thorely's on a suburban too. I'm about too try some Jet Hot on some older headers and have all the confidence it will be good! Back in the OLD DAYS maintaining painted headers SUCKED! Would not recomend it.......

 

[malonejy]

For those that did the jet hot coating, what was the cost?

 

[broncnaz]

While I dont personally have any hard data proof of the lower temps. I have seen testing that showed up to a 300 degree drop in header surface temp with the coating.
Basically coated headers keep the heat inside the pipe which helps increase exhaust velocity. faster exhuast exit also means less time fo rthe heat to transfer to the engine bay. All I can say is any little bit of heat reduction helps especailly in a bronco. to some its not worth it but Im sold on it.
Do a search on the internet Im sure theres all kinds of info out there.

 

[u10072]

I had some Jet Hot done here in Phoenix and it was not good at all--- the mother ship in Mississippi might be better. Its all in the prep.

 

[iwlbcnu]

Basically it depends on your storage and climate. Here in VA, none of the coatings hold up to open air storage. If you have climate controled parking, the coatings will last great.
I've wasted a few hundred dollars on it

 

[Yeller]

I used black coated headers in 105* Bakersfield heat using my AC. Like I said, I need proof it really helps enough to spend the dough. I understand bling and I understand rationalizing it with the wife. I even understand defending your investment. I'd just like to see the proof that it's making a real difference.

I build a lot of buggys, some of them with the motors set way back were the back of the headers are by your knee. I built one a few years ago that we test ran before paint, the headers were uncoated, after 30 minutes you could not rest your leg against the panel (its a tight fit) and the floor board was melting shoes. After coating you could rest your leg no issues and the shoe melting stopped. Not very scientific but very real world proof it works. Now every one I build gets coated from the head to the tail pipe, and non of my customers have complained about a hot cockpit.