Anybody wrap the exhaust headers?

[steve meltzer]

Got a Southern built 427 in my older Kirkham. As big a radiator as you can fit, biggest "sucker" fan possible and my ignition is spot on. The car was never really meant to idle in the Houston, Texas heat, but sometimes, it must.

Would wrapping the exhaust headers help to reduce the heat in the engine compartment?
Look ugly? thanx. steve

[mrmustang]

Jet Hot coating in and out is the better way to make your heat issues go away. Wrapping the header will work also, but it also traps moisture on the header and causes premature rust out.

Motor Max in your cooling system would help lower engine temps as well.


Bill S.

[mln385]

Make sure your radiator shroud is well sealed in front so all the air from the fans is direct through the radiator and not around it.

[Nikos]

I am a new owner of a Backdraft. I noticed how hot the engine compartment becomes with only driving around for 20 min. in town. I immediately determined - I need to cool the engine compartment to protect other vital components in there. All my research winds up taking me to the DEI Titanium Exhaust Wrap which is made with lava stone / pumice. Everyone says it works great and that supposedly the heat is reduced by 50%. Interested to know if anyone has used this product and if the claims are accurate. If true, this simple installation can solve many problems.

[Jaydee]

I'm wrapping my entire exhaust with the titanium wrap. Looks nice and smooth.
I've wrapped exhausts before. One in a van because the heat from the headers would heat up the floor under the seats to much. It made a hell of a difference. Straight after switching the engine of you could rest your hand on the headers.
It was the thick white cloth wrap. The titanium one seems thin. I've wrapped it in cheap black wrap first, then titanium over that. The cats are very close to the body. And I don't want my 2 year old burning on the side pipes.
I had wrap on a Cleveland and the metal was coming of the exhaust in layers like an onion. But others have been fine. I think with the new zinc typre pipes it might not be a problem. I guess if I had a problem with my current exhaust[ I havent tried it yet] I would wrap an stainless system.
JD

[Dwight]

Double ditto on what Mr Mustang said

Dwight

[MOTORHEAD]

Timely thread for me, as I was about to ask same question !
I did my drivers side a year or so ago, with the DEI (but I don't think it was the titanium) to try and lower temps in drivers foot box(also old Kirkham, with painted side pipes).
Couldn't tell any diff in temps, and now I can't keep paint on the side pipe !

[RICK LAKE]

Steve Metler Steve I rapped my pipes with DEI tape. It's a pain in the butt if you have to remove the side pipes and try and align them again I ended up with Sleeves and clips on the pipes. Rumor was flying around when I did this that the exhaust pipes would rust out. Mine where hot coated from ERA. 17 years and the pipes are still ok. I also have a heat problem under the hood. I resovled it by adding 2 4" bildge fans blowing the air out of the gills on the front fenders. The Sleeves dropped the temp by 25%. The bigger thing was these little fans, ( one on each side). Al you do is mount them on the heat shield above the headers and have them blow out the air. Need a switch, good 30A relay, basic wiring for a curcuit. I added temp shield on both fans because of the heat. temps are down anther 30%. You will need an Alt that can handle the extra load to the system. I run a 95 amp setup. A 60 will not handle the extra load. A good boat store sells these fans.
Other thought on this is to add louvers to the hood. I was lucky with a fiberglass hod from ERA and added a set of KR 500 hood louvers to my hood. They also helped alot in the beginning. They look cool too. Rick L.

[BAsque1]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Jet Hot coating in and out is the better way to make your heat issues go away. Wrapping the header will work also, but it also traps moisture on the header and causes premature rust out.

Motor Max in your cooling system would help lower engine temps as well.


Bill S.

I agree with bill, I just had my headers ceramic coated by Firefly and they are great reduced the cabin temp for about 10 degrees.

[jetblue69]

How much you want to spend. Check out Swain-Tech. Their coating is white and very thick/gritty looking but you can paint over it with any color hi-temp paint you want.

[KevinW]

Another +1 for ceramic coating, but be careful where you get it done. Lots of guys this side of the pond with stories of the stuff flaking/peeling off.

I've had mine done with

Zircotec - high performance heat management for automotive and motorsport

- originally developed for cooling nuclear reactor pipes i think.
I'm sure there must be a US equivalent, surely NASA has had its hand in this one?