Ceramic vs. stainless - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cipriank · 05-07-2011, 07:48 AM

Which is a better choice when it come to headers

brantley847 · 05-07-2011, 07:54 AM

? I don't believe there is such a thing, at least I have never seen it on any reputable brand... most all of the reputable brands use stainless, that should answer your questions. Ceramic is just the a type of heat coating. If there are truly ceramic headers, then no... I would not buy them. Stainless will last the life of your vehicle.

It is split about 50/50 on who decides to coat their headers or not. It is usually a 200 dollar add on to the price of the headers as is...

Juiced1 · 05-07-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brantley847

I don't believe there is such a thing... most all of the reputable brands use stainless. Ceramic is just the a type of heat coating.

It is split about 50/50 on who decides to coat their headers or not. It is usually a 200 dollar add on to the price of the headers as is...

+1. Ceramic coating is a nice feature, it keeps the underhood temps down and it looks good. It also helps them last a little longer which is good for non stainless headers. But, in the end, if you plan on driving your car a lot you almost have to go with a stainless header over a cheapo header (carbon steel or lesser metal tubing). We recomend Stainless Works or ARH. We carry both and have the best deals around. We also have a set of returned (never used) ARH 1 7/8" long tube with off road pipes we are looking to sell cheap. ARH and Stainless Works both have 1 7/8" and 2" primary kits available and some pretty cool options. Send us a PM for more info or some good prices.

SlingShot · 05-07-2011, 08:48 AM

I have DT ceramic coated because I like the " LOOK " ... I do a lot of shows and the ceramic won't get discolored or turn blue. I've got about 10K miles on mine and they still look brand new.

brantley847 · 05-07-2011, 11:13 AM

Yea, I just installed my Kooks about 4-5 days ago, and they already look like daa-doo brown.

However, it just wasn't in my budget to throw in 200 more dollars.. will I regret it one day? Probably.. if you have the money go for it. I had enough of a problem convincing my wife I was throwing 1k on a piece of metal that has air run through it. lol "how does air run through the exhaust now?"..."what's wrong with the current exhaust?" ....

....everything woman.... EVERYTHING!

...moral of the story, if you are not married and have 200 dollars, GO FOR IT! I don't do shows, I will get over it.

clg_98ta · 05-07-2011, 02:05 PM

Definitely get them ceramic coated - the 40% reduction in heat radiation under the hood is worth the cost.

brantley847 · 05-07-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clg_98ta

Definitely get them ceramic coated - the 40% reduction in heat radiation under the hood is worth the cost.

I thought so as well, but if you get an honest supplier .. you will know that headers will not get hotter than the cast iron.

What vendors have proven is the headers can be touched within 15 minutes of having the vehicle turned off... still no one has been able to prove if the ceramic keeps the engine bay heat any lower with or without if other portions of the engine are rated at higher temps.

DHSS · 05-07-2011, 04:50 PM

Ceramic all the way, I get many compliments on my headers and it keeps under the hood cool. Got mine done by quality powder coating in carrollton, tx for a great price.

Darth_Emma · 05-07-2011, 05:41 PM

I got the 2000 degree black ceramic coating. Helps with heat and looks great.

greenmachinedriver · 05-07-2011, 05:50 PM

polished stainless will stay looking nice a long time but ceramic coated will look good even longer.

cdn2usa · 05-08-2011, 08:28 AM

I was on the fence going the ceramic coating. But I am glad I did Maryland Speed made me deal I could not pass by. The Hooks were the best headers I have ever installed and the access to the plugs is easy, plug change in one hour.

Ivan @ Southwest Speed · 05-08-2011, 01:06 PM

Ceramic Coating is a "show" feature more than anything else. It does help with long term maintenance when it comes to cleaning them and keeping them looking snappy.

Stainless is a "go" feature.....You can coat Stainless, but again, mostly for appearance.

We have em both in about any flavor.....Ceramic Coated Headers completely outsell anything we carry.

They look great and perform as good as anything on the market.

...and the prices are hard to beat.
Ivan

Josh@ARH · 05-08-2011, 08:15 PM

If you have the extra money, it doesn't hurt to have the headers coated. The only downside to coating besides the cost is the chance of it starting to peel. It isn't a requirement for stainless headers though since they won't rust. I personally run my headers uncoated.

caverman · 05-08-2011, 09:32 PM

This is a good one to look at. If you're good with the looks of them uncoated then you may not want to spend the money but if you like the looks of them coated you'll be better off having them coated from the get go.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...hlight=ceramic

05-07-2011, 07:48 AM	#1
cipriank Drives: 2010 camaro 2ss Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: boca raton, fl Posts: 247	Ceramic vs. stainless Which is a better choice when it come to headers __________________ 2010 2ss L99 Mods: ADM race intake, ADM scoop w/ washer bottle, SLP long tube headers, SLP 25% UDP, SLP Loud Mouth 2 exhaust, Vmax TB, BER intake manifold,3.45 gears, MSD wires, SLP 160 t-stat, SLP Springs, EFI live tune by Redline Motorsports

05-07-2011, 07:54 AM	#2
brantley847 v It bites. Drives: 2011 IBM 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,585	? I don't believe there is such a thing, at least I have never seen it on any reputable brand... most all of the reputable brands use stainless, that should answer your questions. Ceramic is just the a type of heat coating. If there are truly ceramic headers, then no... I would not buy them. Stainless will last the life of your vehicle. It is split about 50/50 on who decides to coat their headers or not. It is usually a 200 dollar add on to the price of the headers as is... __________________ 2011 2SS/RS Performance: 439 RWHP: 226/236 Comp Cam, Kooks 1-7/8, CAInc, Borla S type, Vmax TB, Rx Catch Can, Trans cooler, SLP 160 termo, Melling high volume, Eibach Springs/Sways 1" drop, Whiteline complete bushing kit.

05-07-2011, 08:48 AM	#4
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	I have DT ceramic coated because I like the " LOOK " ... I do a lot of shows and the ceramic won't get discolored or turn blue. I've got about 10K miles on mine and they still look brand new. __________________

05-07-2011, 11:13 AM	#5
brantley847 v It bites. Drives: 2011 IBM 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,585	Yea, I just installed my Kooks about 4-5 days ago, and they already look like daa-doo brown. However, it just wasn't in my budget to throw in 200 more dollars.. will I regret it one day? Probably.. if you have the money go for it. I had enough of a problem convincing my wife I was throwing 1k on a piece of metal that has air run through it. lol "how does air run through the exhaust now?"..."what's wrong with the current exhaust?" .... ....everything woman.... EVERYTHING! ...moral of the story, if you are not married and have 200 dollars, GO FOR IT! I don't do shows, I will get over it. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS Performance: 439 RWHP: 226/236 Comp Cam, Kooks 1-7/8, CAInc, Borla S type, Vmax TB, Rx Catch Can, Trans cooler, SLP 160 termo, Melling high volume, Eibach Springs/Sways 1" drop, Whiteline complete bushing kit.

05-07-2011, 02:05 PM	#6
clg_98ta Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,698 View My Garage	Definitely get them ceramic coated - the 40% reduction in heat radiation under the hood is worth the cost. __________________ Black 2SS ordered 1/4/2010, received 2/19/2010

05-07-2011, 04:50 PM	#8
DHSS Drives: Empty Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Grand Prairie, Tx Posts: 454	Ceramic all the way, I get many compliments on my headers and it keeps under the hood cool. Got mine done by quality powder coating in carrollton, tx for a great price.

05-07-2011, 05:41 PM	#9
Darth_Emma Psssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh! Drives: under contruction Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 12,996 View My Garage	I got the 2000 degree black ceramic coating. Helps with heat and looks great.

05-07-2011, 05:50 PM	#10
greenmachinedriver Drives: white 2010 ss and 2011 6.2 silvy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: dfw Posts: 316	polished stainless will stay looking nice a long time but ceramic coated will look good even longer.

05-08-2011, 08:28 AM	#11
cdn2usa Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Midlothian, Va Posts: 257	I was on the fence going the ceramic coating. But I am glad I did Maryland Speed made me deal I could not pass by. The Hooks were the best headers I have ever installed and the access to the plugs is easy, plug change in one hour. __________________ Aqua Blue 2SS c/w factory white strips, MT. Installed options;Tinted Windows, De-badged, Hurst Shifter,CAI,Vmax throttle body, Kooks LT Headers, High Flow Cats,Borla Touring Axle Back, ADM Scoop, Washwater relocation,Diablo Predator(c/w Ted's Magic), Custom start defeat switch, painted engine cover, shark fin & bow ties, ABL lighting, Rear Camera.

05-08-2011, 01:06 PM	#12
Ivan @ Southwest Speed Drives: '15 Z06, '01 NBM SS, '97 SS Join Date: May 2009 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Posts: 12,170	Ceramic Coating is a "show" feature more than anything else. It does help with long term maintenance when it comes to cleaning them and keeping them looking snappy. Stainless is a "go" feature.....You can coat Stainless, but again, mostly for appearance. We have em both in about any flavor.....Ceramic Coated Headers completely outsell anything we carry. They look great and perform as good as anything on the market. ...and the prices are hard to beat. Ivan

05-08-2011, 08:15 PM	#13
Josh@ARH Drives: 2013 Corvette GS Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NY Posts: 123	If you have the extra money, it doesn't hurt to have the headers coated. The only downside to coating besides the cost is the chance of it starting to peel. It isn't a requirement for stainless headers though since they won't rust. I personally run my headers uncoated.

05-08-2011, 09:32 PM	#14
caverman Drives: '69 SS Convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 7,111	This is a good one to look at. If you're good with the looks of them uncoated then you may not want to spend the money but if you like the looks of them coated you'll be better off having them coated from the get go. http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...hlight=ceramic __________________ *-2010 Camaro* 2SS \| M6 \| VR w/White Stripes \| 1 3/4" KOOKS - 3" Magnaflow \| LPE 3.91 gears \| ADM tuned \| Halltech w/ADM Scoop \| Spohn/BMR Trailing Arm/Toe Rod \| BC Coilovers\| Pedders FE4 ZL1 swaybars \| Cradle/Diff/Radius Rod bushings \| VMax TB \| Morimoto Projectors \| MGW shifter \| Red Calipers Build Journal

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