ceramic header coating
- Thread starter codeman
- Start date
CCPCoatings.com
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Hey codeman:
what are you looking to ceramic coat and what are you questions about the coatings?
CCPCoatings.com
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You can do either, manifolds or headers though I don't recommend bright ceramic on cast iron manifolds unless they have been polished up a bit. On manifolds guys are typically trying to keep a stock appearance so they opt for teh satin high temp ceramics. Below are some samples.
IHCScout78
Member
I have the stan's shorty headers with ceramic coating.
The ceramic coating is expensive, but it also has significant advantages:
1. Lasts longer. Uncoated headers on a dd are only good for a couple years. I went through a couple sets. Now I have had ceramic coated headers for 70k miles and still going.
2. Signifiacantly reduces radiated heat. Helps under hood temps, especially around the starter.
If you have the money, I'd go with the ceramic coated.
The ceramic coating is expensive, but it also has significant advantages:
1. Lasts longer. Uncoated headers on a dd are only good for a couple years. I went through a couple sets. Now I have had ceramic coated headers for 70k miles and still going.
2. Signifiacantly reduces radiated heat. Helps under hood temps, especially around the starter.
If you have the money, I'd go with the ceramic coated.
FDChappie
Well-known member
I've been running a set of chrome stan's headers on the Scout for about 15 years now. Still going strong with no issues, except for the gaskets. I made my own copper gaskets after the 3rd set of header gaskets blew out. They have been on there for about 12 years with some heavy towing and still seal perfectly.
CCPCoatings.com
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That about sums it up perfectly. I would ad a note about ss headers though. Most guys with ss headers end up coating them as well. Although the ss headers, most commonly 409 but some are 304, won't rust through any time soon, they do oxidize and rust up fairly quickely. Coating them keeps them clean and increases there already superior thermal efficiency.
CCPCoatings.com
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You are part of a group of a very "select few" who have successfully used chrome headers with little problem. Due mostly to your local. If you were in the east coast I doubt you would have been so lucky.
Outside of a show only vehicle, putting chrome or nickel plating on any type of automotive header is probably one of the worst ideas ever conceived. It's a recipe for disaster. In most cases it blues and discolors almost immediately. Then it begins to rust. Worse yet, when it fails and in most cases it will, working around the failed chrome is a nightmare.
In order to properly strip the chrome it needs to be done chemically. Traditional chrome is copper, nickel, then chrome. Most places can strip the actual chrome off fairly easy, but getting the nickel and copper off is much more expensive and in many cases not cost effective. Again being in CA, you're right in the heart of chrome plating central so this May not be a big deal but elsewhere it's much more problematic.
Chrome looks great but it rarely ever holds up.... If you were not ceramic coating the headers you'd be better off with ss. At least you can polish the ss periodically to keep them shiny
CCPCoatings.com
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Lol. Funny you should say that. A friend had an old Scout around his repair shop that he plowed his lot with for years. Hard to find a spot without rust. This past winter I was over there and they were pulling it out because someone out of id or ut bought it. Not sure if it was for parts or to restore but hopefully it found a good home.