Header coating recommendations

[LS6 Tommy]

Well, it's almost October, when I get my annual project car fund installment (aka Holiday Club check).

I'm going to be calling Jody to order a Legend LGT700 trans and then maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to actually get my engine into the car.

The headers need to be sitting in the chassis before the engine goes in, so I'm looking for input as to what coatings you all feel are best. I know to stay away from Jet Hot and I'm leaning towards Nitro Plate. Seems like they're the only ones that say you can have them on a new engine without concern. I have had one guy tell me his Nitro Plate coated headers did rust a little in tight spots.

Any reviews?

Tommy

[minendrews68]

I'm interested as well. My Hooker headers have rust everywhere.

[65 drop top]

I had my headers done with a product called cermakrome. I'm not sure if you can break-in an engine with it though.

[nokones]

Why not Jet-Hot? Just curious.

[j-rho]

Used Swain White Lightning on many projects over many years, been extremely happy with the results-

http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/race-coating-descriptions/white-lightning-exhaust-coatings/

[LS6 Tommy]

The thing is about Jet Hot is How many complaints I've heard about how the product quality has gone downhill over the last few years. Also, they've been sold/bought out/financially reorganized more than once and I've heard of instances of little-to-no customer relations and/or "lifetime" warranty coverage problems.

Tommy

[lowrider]

I would recommend using Cerakote high temp ceramic air cure paint. You can do the application and the only critical requirement is that the surface is blasted with aluminum oxide so the product will adhere. Look them up on the web.

[nokones]

The thing is about Jet Hot is How many complaints I've heard about how the product quality has gone downhill over the last few years. Also, they've been sold/bought out/financially reorganized more than once and I've heard of instances of little-to-no customer relations and/or "lifetime" warranty coverage problems.

Tommy
Thanks for the response to my question.

[TheJDMan]

The thing is about Jet Hot is How many complaints I've heard about how the product quality has gone downhill over the last few years. Also, they've been sold/bought out/financially reorganized more than once and I've heard of instances of little-to-no customer relations and/or "lifetime" warranty coverage problems.

Tommy

Most every complaint I have seen is the result of the customer using the 1200deg coating when they really need the 2500deg coating.

[LS6 Tommy]

Most every complaint I have seen is the result of the customer using the 1200deg coating when they really need the 2500deg coating.

Thanks for the response. Any insight on the complaints about bad customer service, warranty work being turned down, just being ignored or not being completed properly?
Ive used Jet Hot in the past with good results, but it was back in the late 80's.

Tommy

[all4sho]

we have had really good luck with Performance Coatings in Jonesboro, Ga

they have done headers and full exhausts and mufflers for us and all have turned out AWESOME!!

http://www.headercoatings.com/

[sam 74]

i used Jet Hot on my headers about 10 or so years ago and they still look good, but i live in a dry area, very little water and no snow, and no salt.

[TheJDMan]

Thanks for the response. Any insight on the complaints about bad customer service, warranty work being turned down, just being ignored or not being completed properly?
Ive used Jet Hot in the past with good results, but it was back in the late 80's.

Tommy

Do you have any specific instance with actual facts from an actual customer? Otherwise, all that is just gossip and opinion which could easily have been started by a JetHot competitor for all you know. Unfortunately, there is far too much gossip on the internet these days and without facts there is nothing to comment on.

[IMPALA MAN]

I thought I could help out with some technical knowledge I have learned over the years.
First up, the ceramic coating process is a lot like the painting process. If you have dirt, oil or rust under paint, of coarse it will eventually make its way to the surface. Ceramic coating is the same way.

Second up, the issue of breaking in an engine and ruining the coating. Ceramic coating has a high content of aluminum in it. The melting point of aluminum is 1221 F. No mater what you do, if the header surface is heated to a temperature over 1221 F, the aluminum in the coating will melt. This of coarse will cause the finish to dull. So if you get it re coated by another company, and heat it up to 1221 F again...you guessed it, it will dull again.
HELPFUL TIP: Since ceramic coating has a high content of aluminum, you can polish it like aluminum. If they dull (like all bare aluminum does) you can actually re polish them with aluminum polish.

Third up, more on the process. Remember any header that is built will have grease and oil on it. The tubing must be coated with oil to keep from rusting. Also anytime you bend tubing you are required to put a lube on it to make the process easier. This oil must be completely removed (just like on a paint job) before the header can be coated. Most companies have a thorough process of doing this, (Baking, then sand blasting, then a wash) Every company has their own process.

Regarding coating companies, I have really not had bad luck with any of the major companies. I have also heard complaints about every company. Although, keep in mind ANY company can make a mistake at one time or another and bad news spreads fast. Also how many times does a customer get a set of headers coated by company X, break in the engine and heat up the tube above 1221 F, then get the headers re coated AFTER the engine is broke in by another company. In these cases it's just whoever gets to coat the headers second that looks like the good guy and whoever coated them first is the bad guy. Believe me most coating companies have been in both positions at one time or another.

I hope this information helps and unless there are some new mixtures for the coatings, this is usually how it all works. Just like paint, if oil makes it to the surface with one brand, it most likely with other brands as well.

[LS6 Tommy]

Guys, I'm aware of issues with brand new headers because of manufacturing oils, etc. i'm also aware of the dopes that do something stupid and whine about it. I can't list specific instances, but from searches I've done, I've read enough threads at multiple car/bike/sled/motorsports sites from people stating they were refused lifetime warranty, were asked for more money after the initial quote, were told what they had asked for wasn't possible AFTER they had been quoted to have it done and received unacceptible product or had to have pipes redone by Jet Hot multiple times just to get what they were originally promised and it still failed or was unacceptible. Jet Hot also states right on their website that the product will fail if the headers they coated are used to break in an engine.

You can look up the business history and its multiple failings on your own.

Believe it or not, if enough of you tell me Jet Hot is the shiznit, i'll try them again.

I'm not looking for people to rebuke the negative things Ive heard, just looking for input on waht people here have had good results RECENTLY and from whom.

My headers have to go into the car before the engine, so I really don't want to have to jack up my engine to remove them if the coating craps out.

Thanks!

Tommy

[vintageracer]

exhaust manifolds will solve the "coatings" issue.

[LS6 Tommy]

exhaust manifolds will solve the "coatings" issue.


No doubt. Unfortunately, it would also negate about 75% of the money I spent to get 550+/- horsepower out of my engine.
Not to sound snarky. I appreciate any and all input from you guys.

Tommy

[TheJDMan]

As a general rule of thumb, if you do any competition driving you will likely over heat a 1200 deg header coating. The 2500 deg coating is not as pretty and is more expensive, but it is a true ceramic with no aluminum content to melt.

[LS6 Tommy]

Thanks, JD. Although the car probably won't see full-on competition driving, it will get driven relatively hard, and frequently. Coating performance over beauty is my main concern. I don't need the shiniest stuff or a stainless/chrome lookalike. I just want to hold the heat in and protect from the general rust headers get over time.

Tommy

[minendrews68]

Tommy,
Who did you wind up going with?

[Zspoiler]

I had both the headers on my 1979 Z-28 RS Camaro, and my 1981 El Camino SS.and they have turned out great.In my Camaro has a supercharged small block Chevy and puts out 15 pounds of boost.Which puts out a lot of heat.And sill no problems.

[LS6 Tommy]

Tommy,
Who did you wind up going with?

I didn't yet, but after a long converstaion with curt I'll probably go with CCP...

Tommy