Well, I have my header sitting on my garage floor, awaiting for my backordered presilencer to get in. SO, while it is just sitting there, should I just go ahead and heat wrap it?

 

If it's the silver ceramic coated header, NO!

If it's just a painted black header, sure.

PaulC

 

I don't know how hot they get during street use, but in our race cars, we don't wrap them because they get so hot, they'll sag under their own weight. We always use heat shields, instead.

 

well keeping the heat inside can definitely be an advantage in two ways. one: high temp gases flow easier and faster and 2: it keeps heat out of the engine bay.

but as buttlips said if they get too hot they can warp but with a ceramic coat this wouldnt happen. look in your phone book and see if there is a local place that does ceramic coating, that would be ideal if they dont already have a coating

Justin

 

something I actually learned from the occasional bit of information I overheard about NASCAR.. some (or all?) wrap their headers, and when they wrap them, they get WAY too hot and have to be replaced after every race. If you want them to last, don't do it.

 

Ya i would say NO to the wrap idea. Yes as stated it does keep your engine bay cooler adn transfers more heat down the pipes but you have to remember all that heat is now going right to your cats and muffler which will not last as long due to the increase in heat. I would suggest just useing some shielding. i am going through this same dilema right now on my rx-3 i have a RB header that is just black not the silver one and i am just going to do a little shielding and call it good. Plus the wrap is expensive. like $40 if you shop for it.

CJG

 

Thanks! I have a history of Mustang love, and lots of Stang guys do this to their headers. It is the silver-ish RB header, the brand new one. So, looks like it will just continue to sit there, unloved, until RB sends me the presilencer I ordered 3 weeks ago...

 

last time i checked he wasnt driving a v8 around in a circle at 180 mph for hours at a time. if this is your daily driver and you arent gonna be doing any track races you should be just fine.

just dont drive around on the highway in 3rd gear for hours at a time.

Justin

 

I am wrapping my PaceShitter ones simply to reduce the tinny sound that comes through the pipes.

I am going to TRY wrapping weaved FG (like for body work) around the tube... with an thin aluminum sheet around the wrap- secured with hose clamps.
Being held in by the aluminum sheet, it should not be able to blow out.
If it doesn't hold the heat, it doesn hold the heat. I'm not spending a crapload of money on "Header wrap", when I can do it for 10 bucks or less.

 

Are you KIDDING? A rotary engine makes about the HOTTEST exhaust gas of any engine I know of. My '80 race car can't even use a regular EGT because I need one that reads 1700 (my "emergency" heat level). Most completely max out at 1600.

 

Yes.

 

I'm confused, do you think that a rotary engine putting around the city at less than 3800 rpms is going to make more heat than a NASCAR engine at 7000 flying around a track at high speeds. even as hot as the rotary gets that is ridiculous.

Justin