When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I’ve been waiting for a set of ceramic coated headers from RCM for 5 weeks now with no definite ETA apparently due to a holdup at zircotec due to current circumstances.
Im keen to get the car back together but really want the headers fitted before the engine goes back in so I’m now considering alternatives.
Are the ceramic coated headers actually any better than the equivalent stainless headers with heat wrap? Bearing in mind the ceramic coated versions are twice the price at £1100.
I’ve been waiting for a set of ceramic coated headers from RCM for 5 weeks now with no definite ETA apparently due to a holdup at zircotec due to current circumstances.
Im keen to get the car back together but really want the headers fitted before the engine goes back in so I’m now considering alternatives.
Are the ceramic coated headers actually any better than the equivalent stainless headers with heat wrap? Bearing in mind the ceramic coated versions are twice the price at £1100.
Yes they are better. Because the wrap tends to trap moisture that weakens the headers. However the main factor in durability is the grade of stainless used which tends to be T304 which is not that durable. Or buy expensive KillerB headers or I should say exhaust manifolds which are T321 grade stainless which are better quality.
So on my track car i have two options. A one off purchase of KillerB headers or treat headers a bit like clutches and brake pads - as a consumable item. So that is the route I have taken.
So don't expect them to last forever, wrapping or ceramic coating will improve their performance. But wrapping are more likely to shorten their life.
I run GT spec 2 Wrapped and expect to replace them every few years.
I used Thermo Met recently, glad I did as the quality of their work is amazing, prices reasonable and a very fast turnaround. original plan was to go for zircotec but they quoted a 6 week lead time before the lockdown.
one alternative I’ve considered is getting the stainless headers from RCM and having them coated myself - do you mind me asking what sort of money was in what you had done? Pm me If you prefer. The stainless version come in at around £600 so that gives me around 4-500 to work with getting them coated it could be an option.
to be honest if I could just get a decent estimate of when I’d have them it would make the decision far easier.
one alternative I’ve considered is getting the stainless headers from RCM and having them coated myself - do you mind me asking what sort of money was in what you had done? Pm me If you prefer. The stainless version come in at around £600 so that gives me around 4-500 to work with getting them coated it could be an option.
to be honest if I could just get a decent estimate of when I’d have them it would make the decision far easier.
I used Thermo Met recently, glad I did as the quality of their work is amazing, prices reasonable and a very fast turnaround. original plan was to go for zircotec but they quoted a 6 week lead time before the lockdown.
I saw a post on FB showing thermo met and it appeared to give amazing results re: the surface temperature, would be something I’d consider in the future!
I run RCM’s magma wrap on my car and other than tidying it up occasionally have never had a problem and it copes well with high EGT’s. Things to consider though is that my car lives in a garage and still runs the engine undertray so not a lot of moisture gets in there and if it does it easily gets burnt off.
Ill get a quote for getting the stainless versions done by thermo met- I’m sort of expecting it will be more overall to have it done than the ceramics but if I get a good lead time and the results are better I don’t mind that. I think anything up to £500 is a fair price?
my only concern is that the lagging may increase the size of the pipes to the point clearance may be an issue?
i have one car with the downpipe wrapped and one with it is standard and no wrapping at all , they are both sports cats , plus i had wrapped headers , does it keep the engine bay a bit cooler yes, does it make a big difference no , would i do the wrapping again no
Just buy RCM products from AS Performance, they are better priced anyway.
wrap them with DEI titanium againfron ASPerformance.
if you wrap them properly. Wrapping all primary’s individually. With a good overlap and lock wire done with the correct tool every inch.
They will last years with no problem what so ever.
The problem with wrapping is most people are crap at it. 2no 50ft 2” wide rolls will be needed to do headers and a down pipe. With a couple of Meters spare.
I think the last headers and down pipe I wrapped took 4hours
if you wrap them properly. Wrapping all primary’s individually. With a good overlap and lock wire done with the correct tool every inch.
They will last years with no problem whatsoever.
Don't use that. I've heard nothing other than bad things from spraying the wrap. It seems to make it all fall apart in record time. If you fit it, tie it correctly and leave it it's much better.
I was very interested in the thermomet lagging and considered wrapping either Roger Clark stainless manifolds or Fuji racing - which both seem identical. However I was assured by RCM I’d have the ceramic manifolds in due course.
After 10 weeks they’ve turned up and I fitted them this weekend. Quality seems very good, the finish on the coating seems excellent - it’ll be interesting to see how it holds up.
Ceramics vs heat wrapped stainless
