I was looking at some headers with a friend for his 1993 Accord, and we basically kept finding 2 types of headers: ceramic and stainless steel. No one seems to be able to tell us what the difference is between them.

Does anyone out there know which is better? I guess a better question is, what are the advantages/disadvantages to each.

And if it is important, he basically uses his car as a grocery getter. No ricing or racing. I told him to get OEM from Honda, but he really wants the upgrade.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

hey man ceramic and stainless or even painted ones are realy for looks. it depends what finish you want. but im pretty sure the stainless is cheaper. but they will start looking like **** later on. aight man
peace

 

I got a Spoon Sports header on order for my '95, stainless steel. Camnt wait to install it on my car.
Ceramic coated headers are not for looks, they dont put out as much heat as the stainless ones and stock units. Stainless are stainless. Will last forever, I'm not sure about looking like crap though, but I'm sure they will turn different colors, due to the exhaust heat.

 

You mentioned his car isn't used for anymore than to get from point A to point B; With that in mind i'd suggest looking through the classifieds and finding an inexpensive ceramic OR stainless header since he isn't looking for horsepower gains or has long term goals.

 

Well ceramic is generally cheaper(at least thats what i've seen) and like honcord said ceramic headers dont put out as much heat. I've also heard though that if your planning on throwing a turbo on your engine then to get stainless, something about that ceramic might crack. I dont really know just tellin you what i heard. Again Honcord is right the stainless do change colors due to the exhaust heat. pretty much (from what i've heard) if your not gonna boost then go with ceramic and save yourself an extra 75-100 bucks, but if you're gonna boost, go with stainless. Someone please correct me if any of this info is wrong. this is all i know from other posts i read.

 

As far as the differences between the ceramic and stainless goes, you go it.
Although, if you plan on going turbo, it wont matter cause the header would be replaced with a turbo manifold. If you plan on supercharging, you might wanna stick to a stainless.

 

About ceramic header cracking. Its not fully ceramic.
Correct me if I'm wrong. Its a <U>ceramic coated </U>mild steel header.

 

And if he got an LX model and wants a cheap upgrade. Tell him 2 get an EX header or as a factory terminalogy. Exhaust manifold with a front pipe. lol

 

its part ceramic part stainless..but the ceramic are easier to crack..i hit a deer and i cracked the left pipe

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mattf22b1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its part ceramic part stainless..but the ceramic are easier to crack..i hit a deer and i cracked the left pipe </TD></TR></TABLE>

left pipe was broken after hitting the deer...?!...
....poor deer!

 

umm a cheap upgrade? the F22b1(EX) header will NOT FIT ON A LX(f22b2) !

 

And may I ask you, why it wont fit? U probably tha only one that thinks that way on this site. This has been asked too many times, even I asked that a long time ago. And the answer is YES it will fit.
Just telling you what I have been told before. Dont reply with unthoughtfull and unresearched answers.
I learned my lesson.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 75thRanger &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but if you're gonna boost, go with stainless.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What? Hello. Turbo manifold.

Tell him to get the cheapest one he can find.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H2290 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What? Hello. Turbo manifold.

Tell him to get the cheapest one he can find.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dude!!! Its a get around car. He is not looking for turbo setup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HONCORD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Dude!!! Its a get around car. He is not looking for turbo setup.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I realize that. Someone else posted that if he ever wanted to go boost that he should get a stainless header. I was commenting on the fact that the header won't matter if he goes boost because he will have to replace it with a turbo manifold.

 

I see what you saying. I hate when people throw the whole thread of the topic. Specially when the guy explained the situation. Why cant we just answer his question without tryin to convert his car to a 9sec race machine. lol.

 

I appraciate the suggestions. TW is just gonna go with the cheaper of the two he can find in stock at his local NAPA. Thanks guys.

 

i didnt know they had headers at napa.

 

NAPA sells stock replacement parts. I guess he is going with the EX setup. Whatever works right? Good luck with the job guys. Dont forget to get some gaskets while you at it.

 

I ran a DC Sports ceramic header under hard conditions and never had a problem.

Even had a old lady in a 70's boat size station wagon hit me in the front. No damage done what so ever to the header. I must have put 60k on the header before I sold the car and it still looked fine.

Painted will be the cheapest, then ceramic, and stainless being the pricey one. I've never seen a stainless look bad either after some good useage.