Ceramics vs heat wrapped stainless
#1
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Ceramics vs heat wrapped stainless
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.
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.
Last edited by MarkRF; 16 May 2020 at 09:13 PM.
#2
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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.
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.
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.
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#3
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Thanks for that reply Steve - that’s always been my understanding with wrap.. it’ll shorten the life of the pipe.
Ive got my down pipe wrapped and pretty much changed my mindset into it was now a consumable and will need changed at some point as you say.
Ive got my down pipe wrapped and pretty much changed my mindset into it was now a consumable and will need changed at some point as you say.
#5
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Harry,
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.
#6
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Harry,
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.
#7
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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.
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#9
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Good feedback guys, thanks for the replies.
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?
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?
Last edited by MarkRF; 17 May 2020 at 10:51 AM.
#11
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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
#12
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Zircotek had a major fire last year and this caused a massive issue with already long lead times............
bear in mind that RCM headers and (better IMO) matching Harvey Smith 'trick' up-pipes are available at more cost effective pricing
bear in mind that RCM headers and (better IMO) matching Harvey Smith 'trick' up-pipes are available at more cost effective pricing
#13
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Quote came back from thermomet in good time coming in at £650 (assuming inc vat) and a 1-2 week lead time.
Here is a picture of one they’ve previously done with surface temp reduction quoted at 70-80%
http://dmitrij-sribnyj.com/blog/ther...own-on-scr-brz
Last edited by MarkRF; 21 May 2020 at 08:31 AM.
#16
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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
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
#19
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DEI do a silicone spray sealant for exhaust wrap to prevent it holding moisture...
https://www.designengineering.com/hi...g-spray-black/
https://www.designengineering.com/hi...g-spray-black/
#22
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Just closing this one off.
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.
pics as always;
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.
pics as always;
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