I know that header wrap will cause my headers to rust out and crack but can anyone tell me how it will take for that to happen? I want to lower my underhood temps for when it starts to get hot out. My plan is to get ceramic coated headers by mid to late summer. But i cant garentee thats when I can get them. The headers I have are already starting to rust (cheap header paint didnt stick) and Im wondering if I should. I already have the wrap also.

 

I ran header wrap for several summers and the headers were still solid when I replaced them with ceramic coated ones. The wrap did catch fire once, but I think it's because I pickled them in gasoline and oil first. I certainly wouldn't worry about a couple of months.

 

When painting headers you must media blast them and dry them with a heat gun or torch to chase the water away before painting and the paint will stick beautifully for many years.

You will be shocked how wet they are in normal atmospheric conditions.

 

I never thought of cooking them before painting, I'll have to try that. What brand/type paint have you had success with?

 

I put mine on a large BBQ grille after blasting them.. The paint they ship them with is just to keep them from rusting and is a dip paint.. they even tell you to remove it before painting or running them for the fire risk. It will burn off and make your paint fall off too...I used ceramic VHT paint and it held up great... Wrapping headers defeats there purpose to get the heat out of the cylinders quicker among other things like exhaust flow and less restriction...Bill