Just ordered Kooks headers, do i need heat coating?

[darebren]

I forgot if some of you with Kooks headers had them ceramic coated or not for heat protection. The headers now come in stainless 304 so maybe that takes care of it?

[FordNut]

I forgot if some of you with Kooks headers had them ceramic coated or not for heat protection. The headers now come in stainless 304 so maybe that takes care of it?
Mine are stainless and I had them coated. I believe Barry also had his coated. Kooks claims they don't need coated. I personally feel that this approach is fine as far as header lifetime is concerned, but when the big picture is taken into account it makes sense to coat them. Make your own decision, but you should search the forums for the numerous threads discussing the pros and cons before you decide.

[TooManyFords]

Maybe Nick @ Kooks could weigh in here on this. I know I got mine ceramic coated as there is a definite under hood heat benefit with this. Not sure that just plain old stainless is any better than uncoated headers.

Nick??

[BillyGman]

Mine are ceramic coated too, but they're not the stainless steel ones either. I'd get them coated if i were you even if you have to send them out yourself to some place to have them done. Not because of the corrosion factor(since SS is better for that anyway) but for the heat reduction that ceramic coating provides.

[BruteForce]

While ordering my Kooks system last week, I asked about this very issue. Was told by Nick that ceramic coating doesn't work well on SS and that over time it will come off. He also was of the opinion that heat wrap was uneccessary as well. I trust his judgement. :cool4:

[darebren]

Nick told me same thing, there is no underhood heat problems these headers pose

[Constable]

One thing I've been wondering about: Anyone think we might eventually run into "hot-start" issues due to the passenger side header being so close to the starter? My trusty tech is pushing me to get a heat shield for my starter to possibly prevent a problem that hasn't happened yet.

[FordNut]

One thing I've been wondering about: Anyone think we might eventually run into "hot-start" issues due to the passenger side header being so close to the starter? My trusty tech is pushing me to get a heat shield for my starter to possibly prevent a problem that hasn't happened yet.
The only shield I've found is the wrap. I believe Billy installed it when he put his headers on. I would say if you don't ceramic coat, you better install heat shield. If you do ceramic coat, it's probably just good insurance.

[FordNut]

While ordering my Kooks system last week, I asked about this very issue. Was told by Nick that ceramic coating doesn't work well on SS and that over time it will come off. He also was of the opinion that heat wrap was uneccessary as well. I trust his judgement. :cool4:
That's the same thing Nick told me. But other companies coat their stainless headers and the coating doesn't come off. And the companies that apply the coating claim it stays on stainless just fine. And I can turn my car off and don't get burned by the headers when I reach in. And they will still look nice and shiny long after the bare stainless is blue and cruddy looking.

[stevengerard]

I have read where the ceramic coating not only reduces under hood temperature but also keeps the exhaust gases hotter helping the evacuation process. I wonder if it all matters in a 13 second MM or just makes a difference in a 7 sec car.

[BillyGman]

It might not matter in the way of ET's like you've implied. But as far as the heat issue, in addition to the ceramics, I also heat wrapped the starter like FordNut made reference to. The way I saw it, I was already right there while performing the header installation. With the exhaust manifolds off, the starter and starter solenoid are right there staring you in the face. So why not wrap them?

I used a starter heat wrap that has a strip of velcro to secure it, amnd I just cut it to the size and shape that was needed while leaving the velcro edges intact. It merely took an extra 15 or 20 minutes, and IMO was well worth it. I got the starter heat sheild wrap from www.summitracing.com You'll want to wrap both the starter and solenoid w/the stuff since it's really the solenoid that is known to get the "heat soak" condition as far as I know. it's happened to me before w/my 73 Vette, and using that same wrap prevented it. And it also greatly prolonged the life of the starter too. Before I used it in my Vette, I was going through starters every 3 months because of the heat from the headers.

Ofcourse the headers on my Vette aren't ceramic coated either. But like I said, i was right in there anyway, so why not do it?

[Logan]

Coat 'em. 'nuff said.

[CRUZTAKER]

Nick reassured me as well of the no-need to coat. This is precisely why he only sells the headers in ss now. Mine are NOT coated. The race builders at C&M Ohio that did my install also felt no need for coating, nor any type of heat shields or covers for items under the hood. This is what they build and assemble all day, every day...and I fully trust their opinion as well.

Other than that, my ss headers have now turned a rich bronze color from heat, and look totally cool, particularly the KOOKS logo engraving on the driver side header. Nice, very nice. :up:

[junehhan]

You can get the Kooks headers in T304 Stainless now? I thought that they were just available in regular stainless steel? Will Kooks ceramic coat these for you if you choose to?