Wrapping and coating cheap headers - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

matts86cam · 06-15-2017, 08:01 PM

So the last set of headers I purchased were for a third gen. I bought the cheapest set out there and then wrapped them and coated the wrapping with black aerosol silicon or something of the sort. When the engine was at full temp, I could literally grab ahold of the headers and hold my hand there for a few seconds. It seems the price points always come down to ceramic coating and stainless or not. For performance, wouldnt a cheap set of headers as I described above be just as good as the top dollar ones? Assuming the size is the same?

Drillteamleader · 06-15-2017, 08:27 PM

Performance wise yes, if they are built the same. One thing people dont think about is rust. If you dont buy stainless, the rust is going to happen. Any rust inside the header can and will get sucked back into the cylinders if you have any overlap with the cam you have. That rust will wear the cylinders and rings. Ultimatly, it is your call, but speed engineering headers for the 5th gen are cheap, fit great, and perform as good as any as far as i know.

Avenging Orange · 06-15-2017, 08:52 PM

I would say this topic is one of the most discussed topics of all. Some casual reading in this forum should answer all your questions.
In my 55 years of existence on this planet, I have discovered a few things. One of them being....headers have been around for decades. A few things have changed...but for the most part...the principal is the same. Even a set of cheap Hooker headers will most likely outlast you car. It's up to you whether you want to brag on owning a pair of $1500 BIG BRAND (it must be best because its so expensive) or the guy/gal who does their research and learns the performance difference is null and money doesn't grow on trees.
Now I will have another beer and retire to my den of iniquity and endless episodes of South Park and Ren & Stimpy.

matts86cam · 06-15-2017, 08:59 PM

Not sure if you can even buy headers that arent stainless anymore but I was thinking of looking into it. The headers on my 86 camaro have been on there 10 years now with no rust at all. Im assuming because of the wrap and spray. I already emailed the speed engineering website to make sure fitment was good for the 15ss. Their site says 10-14. Im not too familiar with this generation of awesomeness yet so I need to be sure before I buy them. Was hoping to save a few bucks by not buying stainless though.

Avenging Orange · 06-15-2017, 10:40 PM

There are some pretty inexpensive stainless. I love my OBX. They fit perfectly...easy to install. Had em for 4yrs now.

Gunmetal Speedster · 06-15-2017, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

I would say this topic is one of the most discussed topics of all. Some casual reading in this forum should answer all your questions.
In my 55 years of existence on this planet, I have discovered a few things. One of them being....headers have been around for decades. A few things have changed...but for the most part...the principal is the same. Even a set of cheap Hooker headers will most likely outlast you car. It's up to you whether you want to brag on owning a pair of $1500 BIG BRAND (it must be best because its so expensive) or the guy/gal who does their research and learns the performance difference is null and money doesn't grow on trees.
Now I will have another beer and retire to my den of iniquity and endless episodes of South Park and Ren & Stimpy.

^Best thing you'll read on this forum today, most likely

OP, These are a forum favorite: https://www.speed-engineering.com/sp...stainless.html

If you're expecting to pay less than that, I've got nothing to say to you

WoodBoss · 06-16-2017, 07:28 AM

I did the Speed Engineering Headers Recently and the fitment was great. For $370 with new GM Gaskets, O2 sensor extensions and off road connection pipes they worked out really well. Quality seemed very good too. I would buy them again and they look just like Krooks at 1/3rd the Price !!!

Russell James · 06-16-2017, 07:38 AM

Garbage from China will rust.
Quality 304 US stainless will not.

Let your budget and desire for rust or not be your guide. Personally I avoid Chinese or Taiwanese garbage like the plague.

It's no different that tools. A high quality Matco, Snap on.... will outlive your grandkids. A cheap POS Chinese/Taiwanese tool will snap the first time it sees a real load.

xc_SS/RS · 06-16-2017, 08:29 AM

Speed Engineering headers here, also got them coated. No complaints, but I did have to massage one primary a little so it won't hit the steering column. Otherwise they are great, the folks who did the coating said they were very high quality. Their eyes popped when I told them the price lol

Here's what they looked like before they were installed:

Mine are pretty scratched after the install but the coating isn't peeling. In fact, in one spot where it was peeling a little it looks to have melted back onto the header.

matts86cam · 01-09-2018, 09:18 AM

Just pulled the trigger on a 200 dollar set of (returned/used) uncoated steel pacesetters (long tube) from amazon. Yeah Im probably the biggest cheapskate on here. I'll wrap right over the black shipping paint then coat the header wrap with some rattle can magic. No problems with my old shortie headers on the 86 z28 from the same method. If they rust away in a year, I'll fess up.

matts86cam · 01-09-2018, 04:48 PM

And of course I get home today expecting to see the headers and.... nothing. Apparently they were marked un-deliverable by ups and returned to Amazon. Maybe a blessing in disguise. Im ordering the 1 7/8 speed eng. headers in the link provided by Gunmetal Speedster. Thanks for the info.

Gunmetal Speedster · 01-09-2018, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matts86cam

And of course I get home today expecting to see the headers and.... nothing. Apparently they were marked un-deliverable by ups and returned to Amazon. Maybe a blessing in disguise. Im ordering the 1 7/8 speed eng. headers in the link provided by Gunmetal Speedster. Thanks for the info.

06-15-2017, 08:01 PM	#1
matts86cam Drives: 1986 z28 and 2015 ss Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: 54650 Posts: 43 View My Garage	Wrapping and coating cheap headers So the last set of headers I purchased were for a third gen. I bought the cheapest set out there and then wrapped them and coated the wrapping with black aerosol silicon or something of the sort. When the engine was at full temp, I could literally grab ahold of the headers and hold my hand there for a few seconds. It seems the price points always come down to ceramic coating and stainless or not. For performance, wouldnt a cheap set of headers as I described above be just as good as the top dollar ones? Assuming the size is the same?

06-15-2017, 08:52 PM	#3
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	I would say this topic is one of the most discussed topics of all. Some casual reading in this forum should answer all your questions. In my 55 years of existence on this planet, I have discovered a few things. One of them being....headers have been around for decades. A few things have changed...but for the most part...the principal is the same. Even a set of cheap Hooker headers will most likely outlast you car. It's up to you whether you want to brag on owning a pair of $1500 BIG BRAND (it must be best because its so expensive) or the guy/gal who does their research and learns the performance difference is null and money doesn't grow on trees. Now I will have another beer and retire to my den of iniquity and endless episodes of South Park and Ren & Stimpy. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

06-15-2017, 10:40 PM	#5
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	There are some pretty inexpensive stainless. I love my OBX. They fit perfectly...easy to install. Had em for 4yrs now. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

06-16-2017, 08:29 AM	#9
xc_SS/RS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: somewhere in MD Posts: 4,883	Speed Engineering headers here, also got them coated. No complaints, but I did have to massage one primary a little so it won't hit the steering column. Otherwise they are great, the folks who did the coating said they were very high quality. Their eyes popped when I told them the price lol Here's what they looked like before they were installed: Mine are pretty scratched after the install but the coating isn't peeling. In fact, in one spot where it was peeling a little it looks to have melted back onto the header. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS Z/28 intake, NW, FAST 102, speed engineering LT's, some exhaust, ATI -10% pulley, GM flex fuel injectors, DSX flex fuel sensor, MGW shifter, HP Tuners, some suspension work, stickers and a little weight loss. 12.63 @113.53 Last edited by xc_SS/RS; 06-16-2017 at 08:49 AM.

06-15-2017, 08:27 PM	#2
Drillteamleader Drives: 2010 2ssrs Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Moline il Posts: 65	Performance wise yes, if they are built the same. One thing people dont think about is rust. If you dont buy stainless, the rust is going to happen. Any rust inside the header can and will get sucked back into the cylinders if you have any overlap with the cam you have. That rust will wear the cylinders and rings. Ultimatly, it is your call, but speed engineering headers for the 5th gen are cheap, fit great, and perform as good as any as far as i know.

06-15-2017, 08:59 PM	#4
matts86cam Drives: 1986 z28 and 2015 ss Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: 54650 Posts: 43 View My Garage	Not sure if you can even buy headers that arent stainless anymore but I was thinking of looking into it. The headers on my 86 camaro have been on there 10 years now with no rust at all. Im assuming because of the wrap and spray. I already emailed the speed engineering website to make sure fitment was good for the 15ss. Their site says 10-14. Im not too familiar with this generation of awesomeness yet so I need to be sure before I buy them. Was hoping to save a few bucks by not buying stainless though.

06-16-2017, 07:28 AM	#7
WoodBoss "Old School" Drives: 2010 2SS L99 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sherrills Ford, NC Posts: 1,295	I did the Speed Engineering Headers Recently and the fitment was great. For $370 with new GM Gaskets, O2 sensor extensions and off road connection pipes they worked out really well. Quality seemed very good too. I would buy them again and they look just like Krooks at 1/3rd the Price !!!

06-16-2017, 07:38 AM	#8
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Garbage from China will rust. Quality 304 US stainless will not. Let your budget and desire for rust or not be your guide. Personally I avoid Chinese or Taiwanese garbage like the plague. It's no different that tools. A high quality Matco, Snap on.... will outlive your grandkids. A cheap POS Chinese/Taiwanese tool will snap the first time it sees a real load.

01-09-2018, 09:18 AM	#10
matts86cam Drives: 1986 z28 and 2015 ss Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: 54650 Posts: 43 View My Garage	Just pulled the trigger on a 200 dollar set of (returned/used) uncoated steel pacesetters (long tube) from amazon. Yeah Im probably the biggest cheapskate on here. I'll wrap right over the black shipping paint then coat the header wrap with some rattle can magic. No problems with my old shortie headers on the 86 z28 from the same method. If they rust away in a year, I'll fess up.

01-09-2018, 04:48 PM	#11
matts86cam Drives: 1986 z28 and 2015 ss Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: 54650 Posts: 43 View My Garage	And of course I get home today expecting to see the headers and.... nothing. Apparently they were marked un-deliverable by ups and returned to Amazon. Maybe a blessing in disguise. Im ordering the 1 7/8 speed eng. headers in the link provided by Gunmetal Speedster. Thanks for the info.