Headers: chrome vs. ceramic

G

GTFTW

Member

Jun 9, 2010

51

1

6

Mar 21, 2011

#1

• Mar 21, 2011

• #1

What are the pros and cons of chrome vs. ceramic headers?

Are there any real risks with running non-ceramic headers?

 

JymboSlice

Member

Dec 9, 2008

385

0

17

Mar 21, 2011

#2

• Mar 21, 2011

• #2

just get chrome and then coat them. youll save some money by not having to pay for ceramic.

 

Dark04GT

10 Year Member

Apr 27, 2008

758

62

59

NC

Mar 21, 2011

#3

• Mar 21, 2011

• #3

GTFTW said:

What are the pros and cons of chrome vs. ceramic headers?

Are there any real risks with running non-ceramic headers?

Click to expand...

Ceramic headers reduce heat transfer from the hot exhaust gases to the engine compartment (read: engine compartment is cooler in temperature). How much of an effect they have, I don't have any numbers, I don't know. With non-ceramic headers make sure that no lines are close or touching the LTs and if there are than ask your installer to make sure they secure all nearby lines.

 

B

Badd GT

Founding Member

Mar 7, 2002

418

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17

Kansas City

Mar 25, 2011

#4

• Mar 25, 2011

• #4

most (if not all) wrap around your steering shaft. you can search rag joints going out of steering shaft while people are driving and you will see why i bought the ceramic hookers about 8 years ago. my engine bay is cooler than anybody's. i do also have a 180 t-stat, i have the C&L intake and maf tube (aluminum and way cooler than the chrome ones) and also my oem hood scoop is drilled out and functional.

the rag joint is the real issue here though.
the steering shaft replacement from flaming river is one of the best mods you can do. and for what you save not getting the ceramic tubes you can buy the steering shaft then the heat issue is not really an issue.

 

bigbird04

Active Member

Jul 15, 2010

106

7

38

Decatur Al.

Mar 25, 2011

#5

• Mar 25, 2011

• #5

Ceramic headers flow better because they keep more heat in the tubes . They also reduce under hood temps. They won't turn colors or rust and last a really long time in my opinion it's worth the extra to get coated headers.

 

G

GTFTW

Member

Jun 9, 2010

51

1

6

Mar 25, 2011

#6

• Mar 25, 2011

• #6

Thanks for the input guys, i went ahead and ordered the ceramics

 

screamin gt

5 Year Member

Apr 9, 2007

393

6

28

central CT

Mar 27, 2011

#7

• Mar 27, 2011

• #7

no input on the mustang I only have the ford racing headers. no opinion on them. they were cheap and I wasnt gonna put the stockers back after they were off.

I did get a nice set of Stainless steel headers for my wifes traans am. made by Stainless Works, and they were very expensive. I'm sure I got ripped off on that whole project but they are very nice headers, only a little blue-ing near the ports after a year or so of use. Got those because they were the only performance headers made for the car that retained all the emmissions items.

 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 10, 2002

9,457

1,377

234

Ontario, Canada

Mar 27, 2011

#8

• Mar 27, 2011

• #8

Going on 5-years with my Kooks Jet Hot coated headers on my Cougar. Still look as good as the day I bought them.

 

GDawg

Founding Member

Mar 22, 2002

1,469

19

68

Nevada

Mar 27, 2011

#9

• Mar 27, 2011

• #9

You really can't see our headers from the engine bay. I would forget the dress-up and go for the functional, and get the ceramics.