BillyGman
10-24-2003, 07:47 PM
I know that ceramic coating is supposed to be superior for corrosion prevention of conventional mild steel headers. But what about these claims of the ceramic coating actually making the headers more quiet? Does anyone here know if that's really true? I don't know how thick ceramic coatings are, but I wonder if they can really do that. I've had full length headers on some cars that I've owned, and in addition to the performance that headers offer, what I've liked about them also is the sound that is emitted from them. And I mean the sound that comes from under the hood that is the exhaust note that is audible right through the header primary tube walls. I'm sure that this is due to the wall thickness of the header primary tubes being thinner than that of the stock exhaust manifolds. It's a different sound than what you get by installing loud mufflers(which I don't care for). But if ceramic coating muffles that noise from the headers that I find desireable, then I might choose to order my headers from Kook's w/out the ceramic coating, and paint them instead.
Let me explain though that I'm well aware that the typical header paint found in parts stores and speed shops that come in spray cans is garbage despite the "1200 degree" claims on the labels. I know that those header paints always end up fading and peeling. But on my Corvette I've used this header paint that is very different. It's from an online catalog place called Griot's Garage, and it isn't in a spray can, but it comes in a pint container, and you have to brush it on the headers w/one of those foam brushes that come on a stick that's used for indoor house painting for "cutting-in" the paint around door trim or where the ceiling meets the walls. And after applying this paint to the headers, (you guys are gonna love this part) you have to place the painted header in the oven at 450 degrees (F.) for 30 minutes to bake it on. Now don't laugh, because I've used this paint, and have also used my kitchen oven to perfoprm this task, and believe it or not, it didn't smell up the house or cause any smoke at all. For the first 10 minutes there was a very faint metalic smell, but after that, there wasn't any smell at all. I didn't even have to open the windows. Furthermore, I've had this paint on the headers on my Vette now for over three years, and they still look good. Now I'm sure that ceramic coating would hold up longer than even this paint that I've used will, but do you guys think that it really will muffle that great header sound at all that cannot be obtained from simply using loud mufflers??? BTW, this brush-on header paint from Griot's Garage that I've told you about only costs about $15. But the cost savings isn't the reason why I'm considering using it instead of the ceramic coating. It would simply be a fringe benefit.
Let me explain though that I'm well aware that the typical header paint found in parts stores and speed shops that come in spray cans is garbage despite the "1200 degree" claims on the labels. I know that those header paints always end up fading and peeling. But on my Corvette I've used this header paint that is very different. It's from an online catalog place called Griot's Garage, and it isn't in a spray can, but it comes in a pint container, and you have to brush it on the headers w/one of those foam brushes that come on a stick that's used for indoor house painting for "cutting-in" the paint around door trim or where the ceiling meets the walls. And after applying this paint to the headers, (you guys are gonna love this part) you have to place the painted header in the oven at 450 degrees (F.) for 30 minutes to bake it on. Now don't laugh, because I've used this paint, and have also used my kitchen oven to perfoprm this task, and believe it or not, it didn't smell up the house or cause any smoke at all. For the first 10 minutes there was a very faint metalic smell, but after that, there wasn't any smell at all. I didn't even have to open the windows. Furthermore, I've had this paint on the headers on my Vette now for over three years, and they still look good. Now I'm sure that ceramic coating would hold up longer than even this paint that I've used will, but do you guys think that it really will muffle that great header sound at all that cannot be obtained from simply using loud mufflers??? BTW, this brush-on header paint from Griot's Garage that I've told you about only costs about $15. But the cost savings isn't the reason why I'm considering using it instead of the ceramic coating. It would simply be a fringe benefit.