Ceramic Coated headers

[Brew61]

I have a set of Hooker Ceramic coated headers. Now Hooker says not to break in a new cam with new headers because it will destroy the coating. New headers need to go through heat cycles. So my question is, if I have a set that has already been run on a car and gone trough the heat cycles can I leave them on for a cam break in?


Thanks
Bruce

 

[mmissile]

My coater's header-coatings, have no weird stipulations

 

[ruffcut]

Why not?

 

[Darter6]

if I have a set that has already been run on a car and gone trough the heat cycles can I leave them on for a cam break in?

yes

 

[66 Sat]

I have a set of Hooker Ceramic coated headers. Now Hooker says not to break in a new cam with new headers because it will destroy the coating. New headers need to go through heat cycles. So my question is, if I have a set that has already been run on a car and gone trough the heat cycles can I leave them on for a cam break in?


Thanks
Bruce

You have a new cam with old headers (i.e. they are not new headers as they have already been run on the car). So no issue according to Hooker themselves.

 

[Budnicks]

Just use to old headers (especially if still on the car)
to do the break in process

 

[Brew61]

Just use to old headers (especially if still on the car)
to do the break in process

The thing is I have brand new headers, the motor is out and I am getting ready to install it back in. I am thinking this would be the best time to put the headers in. I am not installing the new cam as of yet. I still have to do body work and paint. So I would like to car up and running again so I can move it around, load it onto a trailer and stuff. Later down the road once the body and paint have been done and I reinstall all the interior and everything else I plan on installing the cam and new intake as well as a bunch of other goodies. I may even plate it and drive it a few miles before I move onto the next step.

By that time I think the headers will have quite a bit of running time and heat cycles done on them. So I would assume that they would be ok with breaking in a new cam. It would save me a bit of work and time if I can do it that way.

Thanks
Bruce

 

[66 Sat]

You're overt

The thing is I have brand new headers, the motor is out and I am getting ready to install it back in. I am thinking this would be the best time to put the headers in. I am not installing the new cam as of yet. I still have to do body work and paint. So I would like to car up and running again so I can move it around, load it onto a trailer and stuff. Later down the road once the body and paint have been done and I reinstall all the interior and everything else I plan on installing the cam and new intake as well as a bunch of other goodies. I may even plate it and drive it a few miles before I move onto the next step.

By that time I think the headers will have quite a bit of running time and heat cycles done on them. So I would assume that they would be ok with breaking in a new cam. It would save me a bit of work and time if I can do it that way.

Thanks
Bruce

I think your idea is fine and you should carry on as planned. Hooker's advice would only apply to brand-new headers only on an engine being run for the first time e.g. engine assembled, headers on, fire it up and run-in the cam (maybe even on a dyno).
Once they've been on and run for even a couple of heat cycles I wouldn't worry. If you've driven the car half a dozen times and got it up to operating temperature that should be more than enough.
Swapping headers would be pointless and a big pain in the ***.

 

[WileE]

I've done exactly what you intend to do. Hookers on one of my cars. They were already cured previously. Broke in a new cam with those same headers. No problem.

 

[OKDart]

The concern is most likely an out of tune engine causing excessive exhaust temperature. If you have a known good used carb and distributor lying around, I'd use them during break in without any worry. It's good practice even without new headers.

 

[themechanic]

I installed new TTI ceramic coated headers on my already broken-in engine. They finish is dull now after less than 1000 miles. And they cannot be polished to bring back the shine.

So, don't expect them to look like new forever.

 

[1967coronet]

Seen them glowing red before with the distributor to far retarded and a rich carb.

 

[WileE]

I installed new TTI ceramic coated headers on my already broken-in engine. They finish is dull now after less than 1000 miles. And they cannot be polished to bring back the shine.

So, don't expect them to look like new forever.

They need to be cured before regular use.

 

[OKDart]

I installed new TTI ceramic coated headers on my already broken-in engine. They finish is dull now after less than 1000 miles. And they cannot be polished to bring back the shine.

So, don't expect them to look like new forever.

Here's my TTI headers that I installed around the turn of the century. They served as daily driver status for about 5-7 years, and had about 25,000-30,000 miles on them. I pulled them to put in another car and polished the top one in the pic with Cerma-Glow, the bottom one in the pic I started to polish the #2 & #4 primary tubes before I took the picture. I'm happy with the results considering the age of the headers.

Car Chemistry CGHP6 Car Chemistry Cerma-Glow Metallic Ceramic Header Polish | Summit Racing

 

[themechanic]

Here's my TTI headers that I installed around the turn of the century. They served as daily driver status for about 5-7 years, and had about 25,000-30,000 miles on them. I pulled them to put in another car and polished the top one in the pic with Cerma-Glow, the bottom one in the pic I started to polish the #2 & #4 primary tubes before I took the picture. I'm happy with the results considering the age of the headers.

Car Chemistry CGHP6 Car Chemistry Cerma-Glow Metallic Ceramic Header Polish | Summit Racing

View attachment 1978909

View attachment 1978910

Looks clean not shiny.