Date:         Thu, 11 Jul 2002 12:02:08 EDT
Reply-To:     CMathis227@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Mathis <CMathis227@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Performance...any ideas?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The manufacturers of various header tapes and wraps all warn that their
products will shorten the life of the headers.  No matter how well you wrap
the pipes and coat the wrappings there will be some gap between the tape and
the pipe.  This provides an ideal place for moisture to collect.  How long it
takes for the pipes to rust through depends on the quality of the metal,
quality of the welds and quality of the surface coating on the pipe.  The S&S
headers I have seen are bordering on flimsy and their factory paint job is
really garbage, so wrapping them will greatly reduce their life.  Ceramic
coatings bond with the surface better and will better protect the pipes from
rust.  Certain types of coatings also reduce heat loss doing basically the
same job as tape.

I had my Dansk OEM style system (non-stainless from Bus Depot) ceramic coated
locally a year and a half ago.  The only places showing any rust are the
brackets that got some rough handling during the installation.  I have
thought about wrapping the ceramic coated pipes to further enhance the effect
of the coatings but have been just too lazy to do it.

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Westy - 'Roland the Road Buffalo'

In a message dated 7/11/02 10:13:02 AM, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

>Date:    Thu, 11 Jul 2002 15:18:46 +0100
>From:    Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
>Subject: Re: Performance...any ideas?
>
>Depends how well you wrap them and with what and how good your prepartion
>is - surely?
>It certainly does the opposite of causing condensation INSIDE the manifold
>and exhaust system - another reason for doing this, apart from better
>cylinder filling and lower engine bay temperatures.
>Industrial chimneys are sometimes thermally lined, obviiusly to 1st prevent
>damage to the brickwork or materials but also, to maintain flue velocity
>and
>prevent premature condensation.
>
>Clive Smith
>'88 Syncro Transporter
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Darren" <dfazio@BELLSOUTH.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 3:22 PM
>Subject: Re: Performance...any ideas?
>
>
>> There have been a number of posts (Can't remember if here or on type2
>> list) advising against wrapping the header pipes.  They claim it traps
>> moisture and causes rust.
>>
>> I just had my S&S system ceramic coated a couple of months ago.  I like
>> it so far but it is probably too early to tell.
>>
>> Darren.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Any one have any advice about ceramic coating the headers or wrapping
>> them with header tape?
>>
>> AB