nick9004

Putting a set of used hooker headers on tomorrow. I'm going to sandblast the rust off. I've done reading comparing just paint to header wrap to ceramic. Ceramic is really expensive, wrap is pretty steep as well. Paint is cheap but will raise under hood temps drastically. I already have a mini starter with a heat shield. Question is, as long as my spark plug wires are well clear of the headers, can high under hood temps cause other issues? Its an 81 Jimmy with an 87 TBI setup in it.

Any input?

Thanks!

8t2 z-chev

I have headers(cheap cyclones)on a '77 blazer
-no heat problems at all(just make sure your exhaust
is well supported and does not hang on the headers
otherwise the headers may crack at the collector after
a few years)
Also have headers on my '82 z28-no heat problems
there either,though i did make a heat sheild for the
A/C box where the headers came close.Also have a
belt drive fan,so good underhood ventilation.
Did find out that regular mild steel headers don't
like heat wrap-they burn out after about a year if
heat wrapped-S.S. headers will last with heat wrap.

nick9004

Good to hear. Doing the AC delete thing later this week luckily so that wont be an issue. Thanks for mentioning the support issue. That had never even crossed my mind as an issue! Makes a lot of sense though. I was thinking also maybe a few in hood stainless mesh vents of some sort, or just throw on some small scoops.... Seems to be a lot of mixed opinions about wrap. Yours seems to make sense why some people say they've had issues and others not. Maybe different grades of steel. Overall seeing as wrap is gonna cost me 90.00 plus ties (not included) 20.00, plus silicone HT coating for over top 18.00. 130.00 just for wrap. Ceramic is only like 70.00 ish more I believe and just regular ht paint 20.00. I think seeing as they are already used headers the 20.00 is going to be the way to go.

Thanks!

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

I just got my headers back from the blaster 39.00 to do them. And I just got a can of VHT flameproof flat black paint, it says it is good up to 2000 degrees, I dont see them hetting that hot this is not a strip runner but a DD, it is silica/ceramic based paint and it does need some work time to cure them but I have heard good thing about that paint so I am going to take a crack at it and see how it goes. But then again I am in no hurry to get them on because I dont have the Y-Pipe yet.So if it takes me a few days or a week thats cool with me, just my
I have also seen a few guys in the 3rd gen club I am in have these sleaves that go over the plug boot to keep the heat from the headers from melting them and they seen to do the trick, thats a cheap way out the looks to do the trick.

nick9004

Hey guys, so I blasted them, threw some hi temp header paint on them ad used Reflex Graphite Gaskets. So far no paint burnt off, no leaks, and underhood temps don't seam to effect anything. Looks like the cheap way does the job, keeping in mind I have heaps of space between my headers and everything else (4x4). I did however invest in spark plug wire boots. The wire were very close and some touching the headers. Plus the boots look sweet! I'm also very please with the diffrence they made to overall performance. Very noticeable! Thanks again for all the input!