Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Looking to get headers coated and need some advise on who lately is the best company to use as they seem to be falling by the wayside .Who has the best coating and the best value - and will be in business long enough to get them done ? And should the inside be done - did it in the past but i'm not so sure its necessary .

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

NitroPlate, call Kevin Cradduck at 615-227-9899 extension 18.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

What he said x2!

JimR

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

I agree with Alan, as an alternate I've used Performance Coatings, Inc.in Jonesboro, GA without an issue at all. Their number is (770) 478-2775. I needed a really fast turnaround but perhaps Kevin can do the same for you if that's needed.


There aren't any merits for interior coating but don't recall all the techical specifics. A good thread that SSDiv6 (his line of work makes him a very credible resource on many things) and others chipped in on as well discusses this along with stainless matl use, I've included a link to that here. I also wouldn't hesitate to call Mark Lelchook at Performance Welding, he's VERY helpful and knowledgeable on all exhaust topics.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...llector&page=2

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Internal coating affect the speed and wavelength on the exhaust. Or something along those lines (over my head). The goal is to simulate as best possible to a stainless header which have the attributes which are desired.
Techline coatings offers these features and can be applied at home.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Back to back testing within 24 hours on one set of headers, under very similar conditions, showed an approximate 2% gain in HP on 500HP 406 small block, with tuning to compensate for the changes the coating created. The headers were coated with ceramic/aluminum coating inside and out. The coating raised the EGT's significantly, and required a jet change to richen the A/FR. The engine was tuned for peak HP with the uncoated headers, the headers were removed, coated, and re-installed the next day. The engine required a jet change or two (richer) to bring the EGT's back in line, and the result was about 2% more HP.

If you have your engine tuned to be as lean as possible in order to make maximum HP, with uncoated headers, when you coat the headers you'll find the EGT will go up, often by a significant margin, as much as 200 degrees or more. You may lose HP, or not gain any power, and you may discolor the coating, no matter whose coating it is. We have seen it necessary to go up 2 to 4 jet sizes to get the EGT back to where it was before the coating was applied.

If you leave mild steel headers uncoated on the inside, the unprotected side of the tubing will rust, header life will be reduced, and you may lose HP.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Metallic/Ceramic coatings both reflect and dissipate heat. Coating the inside of a header (steel or stainless), will significantly improve scavenging by moving the heat out of the exhaust port and away from the cylinder head more quickly. Coating the outside helps dissipate heat from the header surface.

Alan is absolutely correct about the dyno results. The performance gain isn't huge but it is real and it is very repeatable. The gain is achieved by improved scavenging, thereby enabling (requiring) additional fuel to be put into the motor.

And.....coated headers look way cool!

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

I like Central Connecticut Coatings, East Hartford,CT 860 528 8281

Excellant and long lasting

Supports our stock/superstock assoc.(ASRA)

Nice people

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Jack,FWIW I had Air Born do mine in 1999 and they still looksuper.The only area that is
getting rusted looking is where the tubes go into the collectors.Other wise they are good.
They were in Ct.then.Now I see they are in N.C.They did the headers,collector and pipe extensions and 8 special spacers to mount the header with the stock intake.It cost me
around $200 then.Today they charge around $300 for V-8 comp headers.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Jack are the headers new? If they are check with your header manufacturer first. Stahl Headers will not warrant their headers if they are ceramic coated. If there is no problem with header warranty, Nitro Plate seems to be a favorite of Class Racer members.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Central ct is the old Airborn. The company expanded to both locations(ct and nc) and then the company spit to 2 seperate co's. NC kept the Airborn name .Gene is the same person who has always run the CT location and he is good to deal with.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Calico coating is very good very nice to work with talk to jerry or david phone @ 704-483-2202

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

NitroPlate for sure. Afterall, its run by a class racer, you can't beat the product or the service. No other coating company does as much OEM work as NitroPlate if I'm not mistaken

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

X2!!!! Great customer service and a real pleasure to do business with!! Will not even cosider anyone else....

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

NITROPLATE x200 , Did not mean to hollar .,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,,.lol

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Jere is a friend of mine. He only requires that you pay to have the headers stripped if you need them repaired, he will not strip them, and they cannot be welded with the coating on. We have Stahl headers on the car. He tells customers that if the headers are coated, send them to be stripped, then send them to him. NitroPlate will strip your headers and send them to Jere, and re-coat them after Jere repairs them. Considering what it takes to remove the coating, Jere would have to have a hazmat setup at his shop, the cost and hassle would not be cost effective. And NitroPlate coating does not seem to have harmed our Stahl headers.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Jack,


Nitro-plate is the best by far & back their work for years later .....
Kevin, is a fellow racer who has been helping racers for years ...
Great to deal with & very quick turn-around .... Several types of coatings to choose from and has a huge OEM / Marine business .....
Call Kevin, you won't be Sorry ..................

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

NitroPlate all the way great folks, price and service.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

jack a place outside of baltimore, md

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Nitro Plate. Great product and great people.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

jack dave is right . gene is great to deal with . he started with hpc/ then airborne/ now he he's on his own with central ct coatings. ive been dealing with him the entire time, probly around 20 years or so. and never a complaint. he also does all my powder coating . he's close to my shop if you need anything from him.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

In case any of you are counting here are the tallies so far ---

NitroPlate -- 11

Central Conn.Coatings - 3

TechLine Coating 1

Performance Coatings - 1

AirBorn - 1

Calico Coatings - 1

Place outside of Baltimore - 1

Now i've got to make a few calls -- unless more of you have thoughts .

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Nitro Plate. Great product and great people.. Just like Greg Hill stated. My headers are there as we discuss this issue.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

No question about it nitroplate;)

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

Nitroplate... You will not be sorry. Great people and No better service could be found then Kevin provides.

Re: Header coatings - Who is best ?
 

At our speed shop we sell lots of headers. Almost every brand, but we won't sell a pre coated set.
Been there done that and NONE of the brands will hold up.
Most are flaking or tarnishing within 6 months and all we get out of the deal is a pissed off customer.

We only sell one coating. NITROPLATE.

If you want coated headers from us, we sell you a standard non coated header, and then send it down to Kevin and Co. at Nitroplate for the coating of your choice.
Dozens of satisfied customers including ourselves.