[mhauser2]

is ceramic coating headers really worth it?

[12GoFast]

I have had good and bad experience with ceramic coating on headers. first of was a pair of headers that were purchased from a well known manufacturer and it was bad, with in a year the coating started to peel off and form rust. Second was when I had a set coated inside and out by a local shop for a stock car. This set reduced under hood temps and promoted better flow of the exhaust. Second set took a large amount of abuse and never peeled, chipped or rusted. If i decide to upgrade my 16 I'm going with stainless and may have them coated to reduce under hood temps.

[RamAir02]

I had coated headers on my '99 & '00 Trans Ams. Often coated headers are mild steel then ceramic coated. And they definitely rust, especially on a daily driver. I can tell you from experience.

If you were to go with stainless steel headers and then ceramic coated them, that would be the ideal coated setup. Coating does reduce underhood temps.

Is it worth it? Depends on your build, but for most I would recommend uncoated stainless headers over coated mild steel headers. And if you want to drop the additional dough, do stainless + coating.

I had uncoated stainless headers on my 5th gen SS. I never worried about underhood temps as a bolt-on car.

[Chrome383Z]

Mine aren’t coated right now (bolt on). But I plan to get them coated before:

A). I track the car or

B). I go forced induction.

I used a heat sleeve on the steering shaft, used DEI plug boots, moved the wire harness and wrapped the bottom of the coolant reservoir. Haven’t had any issues.

[Spaceme1117]

Originally Posted by mhauser2

is ceramic coating headers really worth it?

For performance, no. For looks, maybe.

I prefer lava-rock based header wrap over ceramic coatings.

[el_d3sconocido]

I have my entire exhaust (Kooks headers and catback) coated by PolyDyn and it has cut the heat down significantly. I track the car often during Texas summer which is already brutal so every little bit helps. I jumped a curb on track which scratched/dented one of the headers and the coating is still holding up even after almost a year since that incident.

[Motor Fast]

My 2002 SS has KOOKs with Jet-Hot ceramic coating and they still look like they are new, installed back in 2006. I selected the same option for my new 2003 Z06. I think it's worth doing.

[RamAir02]

Sorry I don't have a better pic, but these were my Jet Hot coated headers from my '99 Trans Am after someone rear ended me at totaled the car. I bought a '00 WS6 and moved the mods over. These headers were on the '99 for ~2 years, but she was a daily driver and I live in the northeast -- snow, salt, rain, etc.

[Motor Fast]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

Sorry I don't have a better pic, but these were my Jet Hot coated headers from my '99 Trans Am after someone rear ended me at totaled the car. I bought a '00 WS6 and moved the mods over. These headers were on the '99 for ~2 years, but she was a daily driver and I live in the northeast -- snow, salt, rain, etc.

I'm guessing they are not stainless?

[RamAir02]

Originally Posted by Motor Fast

I'm guessing they are not stainless?

No, coated mild steel. That was the point I was trying to make in my earlier post. Seems like back when I had my trans ams (mid-2000s) most of the offerings were coated steel headers. Today they're almost all stainless.

The headers in the above pics were Kooks as well. I'm not sure if they offered stainless back then. Or maybe I was just too poor

Edit: I actually couldn't remember what brand headers they were, but I found my old mod list from the '02 WS6. Miss that car a lot. Figured I'd share the mods

Pro 5.0 Shifter
Lou's short stick
!CAGS skip shift eliminator
SLP Air Lid w/ GREEN Filter
1 3/4 inch Kooks ceramic coated Headers w/ y-pipe
dual cutouts off the headers (part of y-pipe)
stock WS6 Exhaust System (sounds mean w/ the headers, cam, & heads)
NGK TR55 plugs
Taylor 10.4mm .409 Race Wires
BMR Strut Tower Brace
BMR Subframe Connectors
Harlan Shift Light (mounted in drivers side defrost spot on a-pillar)
GM LS6 Intake Manifold
!EGR
!AIR
Jantzer Ported TB
Sure Stop Rotors
Hawke Pads
SLP Line Lock
Moser 12 bolt w/ 4.11s
Spohn Torque Arm w/ driveshaft loop
UMI Lower Control Arms
Patriot Valve Springs (the new ones that have a higher spring rate than the Golds), retainers, seats, locks, seals, chromemoly pushrods
Rollmaster Double Roller Adjustable Timing Chain
ported LS6 Oil Pump
ASP Crank Pulley
Patriot CNC Ported "243" Casting Heads 2.00/1.55 OEM valves
TSP MS4 Camshaft 239/242 .649/.609 111LSA
New Z06 replica rims 17x9.5 all around (the C6 Z06 replicas, not C5) wrapped in 285/40 Good Year GSD3s
Alpine Head Unit iPod ready model # CDE-9852

[Chrome383Z]

MS4 camshaft. That brings back memories. I think I had a G5x2 in my LS. lol

[Motor Fast]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

No, coated mild steel. That was the point I was trying to make in my earlier post. Seems like back when I had my trans ams (mid-2000s) most of the offerings were coated steel headers. Today they're almost all stainless.

The headers in the above pics were Kooks as well. I'm not sure if they offered stainless back then. Or maybe I was just too poor

Edit: I actually couldn't remember what brand headers they were, but I found my old mod list from the '02 WS6. Miss that car a lot. Figured I'd share the mods

I know KOOKs did offer the y-pipe in steel. I ordered stainless and they shipped me a steel one, they swapped it without question. I still have my 2002 SS, although the new ones are nice the 2002 is much more raw.

[SJFGTO]

Yes, keeps underhood temps down, faster cool downs, easier on plug wires and promotes faster flow of exhaust through the header pipes. Also adds to longevity of your headers if tou plan on keeping your Camaro for a while.