I have waiting to install an RB long primary system. Wondering about wrap, having just read Jeff20b in 'what did you do to your fb today' wrapping his new center section in the new mica wrap. Some questions.
1. Rust. Will the wrap really accelerate rust by holding water?
2. Is keeping the heat in really having a noticeable effect on gas velocity and thereby power?
3. How much sound deadening effect does the wrap have?
I live in a fairly wet and humid climate, with cold wet winters, and have no garage.
Hoping for some educated comment.

 

Ok I can provide some details. It is DEI's titanium wrap which is not metallic at all. I'm nearly 100% sure it's lava rock. It is not mica.

The stuff is way easier on your skin. Bare hands and careful handling only gave me one minor itchy spot on a thumb that went away after I was done. Compare this with fiberglass which I will never use again. Even with gloves, that stuff was a nightmare to work with. Oh and fiberglass does trap moisture which leads to a steaming header.

As for my specific setup, it is a rotary powered MG midget I've been working on off and on for several years as a side project. I only wrapped the aft section of the center section because it is directly below a fuel line. I will wrap after the collector too because it is direcly below a brake line. Not good to boil your brake fluid. There looks to be just enough lave rock wrap to finish the job. I'd also like to get their heat shield stuff for under the car above the center section. DEI Floor & Tunnel Heat Shield & Sound Insulation | Northern Auto Parts

As for you header, I guess a roll would be enough. I don't really know.

 

I take from the above that were there no fuel or brake lines that you wouldn't have wrapped. I never have used any such product, though I know fiberglass from a summer of boat hull repair in 1979. Enough for one lifetime.
Is it accurate to say the mica does not trap moisture? If so, that would eliminate my main reason for not wrapping. I don't have any now and don't particularly wish I did. It's just that I have the opportunity before installing the long primary and if there is tangible benefit I will do it.

 

it can help keep your intake temperature down by keeping your exhaust heat where it should be, in the exhaust. also cooler engine compartments = longer life for your rotary (or so i have read). this is just conjecture based on my analysis of the physics at work, but I know, I plan on wrapping my RB header when i get one.

 

I wrapped my header to keep my passenger cooler, among other reasons. It also keeps the
fuel from boiling on those occasional 104F drives down to the OGTA meets.

Wrapping the header is probably not going to be a problem for moisture as it gets hot enough
to boil off any moisture when the engine gets warm. The center section may be an issue since
it will get splashed a lot with water.

 

I pondered using this DEI wrap as well - but spraying it with the ceramic coating that is supposed to seal up the wrap. just testing it on a pacesetter (yes, i know, it's crap but it's better than a stock manifold) and the spray came off in no time. flaked right off. might need to soak into the wrap and not be used on bare metal but it DID claim to work on it. well, maybe on a boinger.

 

This is what I used. DEI Exhaust Wrap Titanium with LR Technology | Northern Auto Parts

 

Wow this thread is just what I needed since the last 2 autocrosses have been nightmares because of the headers heatsoaking my intake. Also I never realized that the RB exhaust was ever so close to the fuel lines. OK nevermind this is in a Midget but I will check the RX-7 to make certain that I do not have this particular issue too. DEI exhaust wrap looks like the ticket to my fuel/intake issues.

 

I installed another 15 feet on the over-axle section yesterday and a little left over on the aft section next to the gas tank. Next up: exhaust hangers.