b18bvtec4drteg

Well I finally had time to wrap my US DC 4-1. PLease bear with me as this is my first time wrapping the header. I decided to only wrap the top half since this is a ceramic header. My engine compartment was waay too hot for the Texas heat.
I made two mistakes.

1) I ordered the 1"X 50 feet and almost ran out.
2) I should have wrapped the tube # 3 going to the outside of tube #4

Steps that I used to help ease:
1) You must take the header off to wrap. I tried doing with it on..(It wont work)
2) I separated the 50 feet and cut it in half.
3) Wear long sleeve shirt and gloves is a must. (Im still itching) haha
4) Do get the header wrap semi-wet but don't soak into water. Its easier to work with.
5) I started with the top of tube #4 wrapping all the way down and working my way back up to tube #3 You will notice the bottom of the crossover of tube 4 going to tube 3 on the front of the header. Make sure you pull the wrap tight on each turn!!
5) Since that was ugly (I did not want to take it off again), I wrapped tube #2 first working down and up to tube #1. The crossover for that is not seen because is on the back of the header.
6)Make sure you get the clamps tight. I also sprayed the heat protective spray on the header.
7) I had a small piece left over so I wrapped the A/C line too. (not necessary)

Impressions:
1) Very noticeable temp drop under the hood.
2) A/C cools much faster than without it.
3) After driving 2 hours in traffic the engine heat is still not as high as with OEM header with heatshield.

I am very happy with the results. Suggestions and comments welcomed. So how did I do?? Yeah dirty engine bay!! haha

non-VTEC

not bad............but you didnt have to use the stainless steel ties on the top of the manifold........you could have started your way from the top and work down and use the ties on the bottom of the header............




[Modified by non-VTEC, 11:35 PM 8/29/2002]

jon619

It looks pretty good. I went w/ the thermotec jackets because I didn't feel like taking the header out.

Rocket

Nice. That stuff can be itchy as hell.

b18bvtec4drteg

It doesn't matter I bought it dirt cheap..

Most of the time if a header is wrapped all the way to the bottom, rain and moisture will be held by the wrap; in turn will rust/crack the header. The header is still exposed on the bottom for heat dissipation.

Westrock2000

I plan on wraping my header and maybe exhaust soon. BTW, did the o2 sensor not come out easily?

Mista Bone

wrapped mine all the way to the O2 sensor. 5 years later it hasn't fell apart.

BTW it is a Stillen ceramic coated D series header.




[Modified by Mista Bone, 6:57 AM 8/30/2002]

S13 slide

do those clamps come with the wrap? or are they the ones that you get at any store? and where do you put em, i see 4 for the top, do you put on big one on the bottom? thanks

jdmillusion

"mom! i learned something new today!"

what is the "generic" name for these wraps? (manufacterer name would be helpful as well)

appreciate it techies.

CM

b18bvtec4drteg

Westrock200: The O2 doesn't need to come out, Just needs to be unplugged from the harness. Very easy to do.

MistaBone: Looks very nice! Stillen headers are great but $$

S13slide: The clamps doesn't come with the wrap. You can get some 2" hose claps that will do the job. I bought mine at autozone for $.99 for each package of 2. Well You only do the clamps on the starting point and the finish point. Since I started on top of tube 4, there is one on the top. When I looped it back to the top of tube3, the ending needs to be clamped as well, so thats why all the tubes have a clamp on it. Remeber I also cut the wrap into two pieces. You can also do it all in 1 piece, but it is very hard to manuver the wrap. Everyone says that I should have done it on the bottom instead. I reeally disliked putting it on the bottom because hose clamps may rust at a later time.

jdmillusion: They are made by Thermotec. Cool it! You can get them from Jegs, Summit racing and similar places.

beakert216

my friend was saying something about using fire blankets or some crap to wrap the headers, it's cheaper and supposed to be better than the wraps made by thermotec, dei and etc. Is he pulling my leg? the blanket is really cheap so i'm thinking about trying this. i guess what he's gonna do is cut long strips off the blanket and wrap the header that way. any opinions on this?

Mista Bone

all stainless steel clamps came from AutoZone.

No rusting!

Stillen header was only $249 + shipping, I got in on the first batch.

kb58

I've been told by many knowledgable people that header wrap is very bad for the header - the metal gets baked. Unless you're using 321 stainless or inconel, the header's life will be greatly shortened. On real race cars the header's life is one season, so it doesn't matter, but on a street car it does.

This is from people who know, ex-GTP and Indy mechanics. Take it for what it's worth.

Edit: Another hint that this bad news for the header is that most/all header manufacturers do NOT warrantee their product if wrap has been used. Think about why that is!


[Modified by kb58, 8:43 PM 8/31/2002]

Mista Bone

Well, my header is 5 years old and was wrapped from day 1.

So if this is greatly shorten life, I guess it would last longer than I'd live.


[Modified by Mista Bone, 6:02 PM 8/31/2002]

Westrock2000

Thats great

Did you guys also use that spray protectant too? Aside from keeping heat out of the bay, won't it also keep the exhausts momentum, since it stays hot?

GreenR

Rapped my DC header and Apexi Dunk

Wear long steeves and pants, that stuff can really make you itch lol

zcivic91

i just got a 1" by 50 foot on the way..the thing is that i have a 1 peice header and it would be difficult to remove it..so can i manage just leaving it in and wrapping it? also if i cut it up into 4 peaces it would be easier right?

how much does it reduce underhood temps?? can u touch the header when its hot...since u got the wrap on it?