Headers Wrapped or not?

[Greig]

I have heard from various people saying that wrapped headers is a bad thing as it traps heat and can cause det?
Also that if you wrap the stainless steel ones the can crack and split?
But if this is true why do the likes of Roger Clarke use ceramic coated headers?
Anyone any ideas?

Can cause a fire is a good reason not to Greig. Remember the green one at the ring? His caught fire due to some leak on to the wraped headers.

[Scott.T]

for standard ported try and get the old heatshileds back on, although I havn't.
for tubular get them ceramic coated

But TBH you are really chasing every last BHP when you do this.

The theory is hot gases flow out quicker, but as you say there is the arguement that hot gases can cause det, but IMHO only really if there is a restriction in the exhaust i.e a Cat or too smaller bore pipe.

[Jolly Green Monster]

seems to be some misunderstandings here..

not only do you increase the gas speed the main gain is in keeping heat out of the engine bay it has nothing to do with getting every last bhp.. with regards to fire and issues I have seen more melted looms and engine fires with unwrapped headers than wrapped.. oil leaks are simple to check for and unless the leak is an instant failure in which case unwrapped or wrapped you are likely to have an issue you shouldn't be on track with an oil leak anyway.

Ceramic headers work well but the ceramic doesn't last forever and peels off over time, although wrap depending on make doesn't last forever either, but is easy to repair in situe and can be used on old headers where as ceramic needs spotlessly clean headers.

I have ceramic coated on one of my cars and wrapped on the other.. the wrapped headers keep the noise in much better, the ceramic sound like there is leak.. but the ceramic coating (in white) would show any leak..

Given the choice I would wrap them with decent quality wrap, there is no option of leaving tubular headers bear imho.. too much risk of melting something or fire if a sudden leak.

As to Det it actually reduces it.. the gas flow is increased therefore on the exhaust stroke the cylinder is cleared of the exhaust gas better, leaving the cylinder emptier of left over combustion gas for the next cycle.. so you gain power, torque and less chance of det as the charge is much cleaner/ fresher in the cylinder.. also intake temps are reduced as well as engine temp in general as the engine bay temperature is lower, back pressure is reduced.

Simon

[Greig]

Thanks for the advice, fingers,toes and everything else crossed i should be finally getting by engine back either the back end of next week or the following week.
So as the engine will be out looks like i will be wrapping them after all, as it is a fresh engine hopefully there won't be any leaks!! but i will keep a close eye on things.

[SpecB]

If it helps my Harvey Smith ported Headers are wrapped and will be going on on Monday so I'll let you know how that goes. Simon (JGM) will be weaving his magic on Friday to try a wring a bit more out of the turbo along with the fixed fuel leak, tumbler deletes and manifold phenolic spacers.

[Frenchie]

Why did you get a show jumper to port your headers?

[Hongkongfooi]

Originally Posted by Frenchie

Why did you get a show jumper to port your headers?

You soo funny!

Originally Posted by Jolly Green Monster

seems to be some misunderstandings here..

not only do you increase the gas speed the main gain is in keeping heat out of the engine bay it has nothing to do with getting every last bhp.. with regards to fire and issues I have seen more melted looms and engine fires with unwrapped headers than wrapped.. oil leaks are simple to check for and unless the leak is an instant failure in which case unwrapped or wrapped you are likely to have an issue you shouldn't be on track with an oil leak anyway.

Ceramic headers work well but the ceramic doesn't last forever and peels off over time, although wrap depending on make doesn't last forever either, but is easy to repair in situe and can be used on old headers where as ceramic needs spotlessly clean headers.

I have ceramic coated on one of my cars and wrapped on the other.. the wrapped headers keep the noise in much better, the ceramic sound like there is leak.. but the ceramic coating (in white) would show any leak..

Given the choice I would wrap them with decent quality wrap, there is no option of leaving tubular headers bear imho.. too much risk of melting something or fire if a sudden leak.

As to Det it actually reduces it.. the gas flow is increased therefore on the exhaust stroke the cylinder is cleared of the exhaust gas better, leaving the cylinder emptier of left over combustion gas for the next cycle.. so you gain power, torque and less chance of det as the charge is much cleaner/ fresher in the cylinder.. also intake temps are reduced as well as engine temp in general as the engine bay temperature is lower, back pressure is reduced.

Simon

Errrr that will be wraped then Greig

Originally Posted by Nige

Errrr that will be wraped then Greig

I reckon so

[RobEvo5]

Following on from this, how much heatrap is needed to cover a 4 into 1 manifold/uppipe?, and cheapest place to purchase some and some metal ties ?.

Cheers

Mate, it is horrific how much it costs! Especially the metal ties!!

I got mine from Agriemach www.agriemach.com

They have a factory unit in Uckfield and an office in Copthorne.

[Scott.T]

Car Builder Solutions in Staplehurst £46 for 16M inc 10 ties http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/exhaust-w...rp50-454-p.asp

Think Auto £1.49 per Meter, no ties http://www.thinkauto.com/cgi-bin/ca000001.pl

Ebay http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_t...All-Categories

[SpecB]

Not from my own experiance but the headers I have from Harvey used DEI heatwrap and a neat trick of twisted stainless steel wire in place of the 'cable ties'.

[Spooky]

there is no point going for cheapy wrap as it will break up and go tatty and need renewing after a short space of time. buy cheap by twice!

If your going to do it, do it properly with DEI titanium wrap. This is what i have, and we had to cut it using tin snips. And it looks cool

Thats the very stuff I bought. Top gear

[RobEvo5]

Feck me, That's mighty nice stuff but that wrap will cost me more than my car is worth lol . I here what you say about buy cheap buy twice, but I'm on a budget with this car so looking for a budget solution that will last the time I have the car .......... Mmmm ebay has my calling.

I get all the mumbo jumbo tecky science and reason behind the need for it - But in truth my only real motivation for some is in case I have a bad oil leak at any point, in which case the heatrap might just give me just that little bit more warning of an impending fire. And I wouldnt mind deadening the tinny noise down a bit.

Looks like I need allot of it, what ever brand make I go for though.!

[RobEvo5]

Probably going to plumb for this one.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tchlink:top:en

That'll do nicely matey.

[Spooky]

Originally Posted by RobEvo5

Probably going to plumb for this one.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tchlink:top:en

You'll need 2 rolls of that to do your headers, up-pipe and downpipe.

You may have a little left over.