Ceramic coating on headers

notch22 · Nov 15, 2007

Will ceramic coating on BBK longtubes keep them from heating the starter up so much? The starter heat sink is a pretty big deal-breaker for me.

Darkwriter77 · Nov 15, 2007

A ceramic coating will help some, but you'll still get more heat soak with ANY kind of LT's than you will with shorties ... not to mention the fact that LT's are a pain to install, kill your ground clearance, make your exhaust actually quieter in most cases (unless you're going for that result), and really don't give you enough of a power gain over shorties to warrant the cost and hassle. Unless you absolutely, positively NEED them, and your car isn't a DD or driven frequently on the street, don't bother with 'em.

FWIW, you might still be able to get away with adding some heat wrapping tape and/or a starter blanket to protect your starter from heat soak.

notch22 · Nov 15, 2007

Hmm, well this car is a daily driver and will most likely never see the track. What about FRPP stainless shorties, non-equal length?

MrXCESSIVESPEED · Nov 15, 2007

I can honestly say ive never had a heat soak issue on any of my Mustangs, all of which had long tubes; even with a stock starter. Ceramic coating definitely helps.

notch22 · Nov 15, 2007

MrXCESSIVESPEED said:
I can honestly say ive never had a heat soak issue on any of my Mustangs, all of which had long tubes; even with a stock starter. Ceramic coating definitely helps.

Were they daily drivers? I just dont want to have to worry about going to a store and come back out and have to wait for the starter to cool off so I can leave.

MrXCESSIVESPEED · Nov 15, 2007

notch22 said:
Were they daily drivers? I just dont want to have to worry about going to a store and come back out and have to wait for the starter to cool off so I can leave.

They have served daily driver duty from time to time...and they both were driven (hard) often. The LX still is

notch22 · Nov 15, 2007

Well heck, they may end up alright then. It's not like I take the car shopping, but I was just giving an instance where it may be too hot.

MrXCESSIVESPEED · Nov 15, 2007

notch22 said:
Well heck, they may end up alright then. It's not like I take the car shopping, but I was just giving an instance where it may be too hot.

I dont know what caused the people that had heat soak issue to have them, but i have never had them, even just a trip down to the store or whatever. I know plenty of people that have them on DDs and street cars that have no issues. So long as your headers arent touching the starter it should be good. Mine never did, even with 1.75" headers.

ill advised · Nov 15, 2007

I had what I thought was an LT heat soak problem for a while. If I drove the car on the street for 30-45 minutes it would need a 10 minute cool down before it would restart it. This was back when the car was still my daily (PITA doesn't begin express the frustration). Turned out my car was just running too hot and the LTs radiated the extra heat to the starter. The ceramic coating, which is what I have, I don't think will make much of a difference in temperature. I had a couple of issues with my cooling system including a crap guage.

Now that the cooling system has been straightened out I havn't had a problem since. I've driven up to 100 miles in the 95 degree heat and the car will fire right up afterwards. And let me tell you I don't "baby" this car at all. lol

Darkwriter77 · Nov 15, 2007

I know my buddy with his '90 notch and LT's has had nothing but headaches with those things, including (but not limited to) the starter heat-soak issue. Again, unless you're just doing it for the "cool factor," LT's are still overkill and not worth the cost/hassle. Score a set of stainless unequal-length FRPP shorties and fugeddaboudit until you get around the 250rwhp mark.

notch22 · Nov 15, 2007

I dont do anything based on "cool factor". I do it for the power, plain and simple. I want torque, and I know that LTs will give me more than shorties, which is why I want them.

cenok is family · Nov 15, 2007

i've got long tubes that pretty much 'blanket' my starter and i've NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER had a starting problem. and i daily drive my car EVERYDAY. i HATE these particular headers though (stupid 3 bolt flange and bought them used...big mistake), i'm going to get some BBK's eventually.

Darkwriter77 · Nov 15, 2007

notch22 said:
I dont do anything based on "cool factor". I do it for the power, plain and simple. I want torque, and I know that LTs will give me more than shorties, which is why I want them.

That extra 5 ft. lbs. of torque is really worth it?

SVT32VDOHC · Nov 16, 2007

at 32K I installed BBK L/T on my 96 Cobra. It now has 54K with no problems. The coating is gone at teh collectors, but the starter is fine.

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