headers coated vs stainless

**skar** · 09-14-2005, 12:13 PM

pros and cons for my 99SS.
I like the 304 stainless steel headers (KOOKS , hooker or SW) they wont rust. But ? What about heat .
Coated ones ( like jet hot and others) keep the heat off other parts of the motor. But they seem to chip and rust with time. Do the stainless headers get to hot.
thanks

IROC-ZTT · 09-14-2005, 12:21 PM

Stainless headers don't get "too" hot, but the coated ones are far more effecient in terms of keeping the engine bay as cool as possible. It really all depends on your specific needs. Stainless headers look better than coated, so they're better for show. Coated perform better in high-heat conditions (such as FI).

Depends on what you do.

**nhraformula** · 09-14-2005, 12:25 PM

you can always coat the stainless if you want.
personally i got coated pacesetters and am happy with them.

**mcamp001** · 09-14-2005, 03:55 PM

Stainless headers don't get "too" hot, but the coated ones are far more effecient in terms of keeping the engine bay as cool as possible. It really all depends on your specific needs. Stainless headers look better than coated, so they're better for show. Coated perform better in high-heat conditions (such as FI).

Depends on what you do.

I think you have something backwards here, Stainless headers look better for a few days, but will turn a brown color, the coated ones will look better longer and don't turn colors. Either ones are good for heat, and cool down much quicker then the stock cast manifolds

**Liquifire** · 09-14-2005, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by nhraformula

you can always coat the stainless if you want.
personally i got coated pacesetters and am happy with them.

best of both worlds.......looks and effectiveness

chevyz28 · 09-15-2005, 10:51 AM

get the stainless kooks. i had the jet hots and the coating came off anf they rusted in a little over a year.

**skar** · 09-16-2005, 08:08 AM

Ok I think come spring I will go Kooks And it sounds like ther is no heat issues with them.

**skywalkrNCSU** · 09-18-2005, 04:47 PM

you are wasting money if you get coated headers. the coating will fall off pretty quickly for what you pay for

jimdavis · 09-20-2005, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by mcamp001

I think you have something backwards here, Stainless headers look better for a few days, but will turn a brown color, the coated ones will look better longer and don't turn colors. Either ones are good for heat, and cool down much quicker then the stock cast manifolds

I agree totally. I originally had a set of polished stainless headers on my street rod and they looked terrific.....for about a week. Then they turned brownish gold so I took them off and had them coated. Coating has now been on them for 13 years and basically looks the same as it did new. The coating process is on both the inside and outside so even on mild steel headers they will never rust. I have had several sets of coated headers over the years and the only time I ever saw any of the coating come off was I had an engine that went into an extreme lean condition and nearly melted the headers which caused the coating to flake and peel.