So over the winter I picked up a new set of Tomei Extreme V2 Headers. I'll be taking my car out of storage and want to get these installed.

I've done a bit of research on heat wrapping and ceramic coating and would like to know what direction you would recommend. A local Canadian company has a new patented XMC coating that can reduce heat up to 65%. The cost of the coating is not cheap... $400 vs $275 for ceramic coating. I'm sure heat wrapping would be the cheapest route but considering the headers were close to 1K i'm looking to a heat management solution for the long term.

I've attached a link to the company I'm considering:

http://www.fireballcoatings.com/inde...tpage&Itemid=1


Thanks for any input/direction on this topic.

 

I would wrap the headers just because its cost effective. If you wanted to spend the extra money, coating will work as well. I guess it looks better, but you cant really see the headers in our cars anyways. I've read about ppl saying the wrap causes issues, but I haven't actually seen results showing the wrap caused the issues. I'll be wrapping my headers and downpipe soon.

 

I would consider your future plans - it doesnt seem like much but wrap and tie wire will add an 1/8" or so to the dimensions of headers...it doesnt seem like much but if youre going to install other items it may conflicts - so just be proactive.

I wrapped my greddy tt headers and it encroached/soaked up some of the clearance that greddy built in(which wasnt much to start) so it.

 

As someone who has actually wrapped headers with performance heat wrap in my Nissan GT cars, I can only say it's a temporary solution. The amount of vibration in a racecar always loosened the wrap within a few months. I was always rewrapping those things!

Went to ceramic coating and NEVER looked back...

 

Dave,
I used rebar tie-wire (1/16" metal wire) every 2" or so...the metal zip ties I got with my kit were beyond worthless!!

 

i thought the tomei v2 comes with a heat shield piece with insulation tape already

is it insufficient?

 

I've read that wrapping can cause pipes to sweat. For the pain in the Butt that a header install is I would ceramic coat once and be done.

 

Great point... However my mechanic suggested using heat wrap on them. Not sure if any members have installed these and can chime in on the best practices for installing these. Personally I'm leaning to paying the extra dollars and having them ceramic coated.

 

those look like a massive pain in the dick to wrap...coating is looking a little better all of the sudden...

 

^^Very true^^

 

Do not wrap.

Fabricate some heat shields or get it coated. I would go the heat shield route.

 

I wrapped mine with DEI ti and used safety wire liberally.

 

I ended up going with ceramic coating... Picking them up tomorrow.

 

pictures (tomorrow)?

 

good choice. post up some pics when you get them back.

 

For sure... I'll post up some pictures tomorrow.

Price was quite reasonable... $225.

 

Mark at Fireball Performance Coatings did an awesome job... I went with the polished coating.

 

^yeah those look like top quality work done on 'em.

 

Yeah... Much better than heat wrap.

Thanks for the recommendation guys!

 

one thing to add.
we had wrap on my race cars headers.
the headers had a crack in them and we didn't know because it was covered by the wrap.
didn't know till it got bad, then its to late.

another reason to go ceramic