Headers

[Heath]

Can anyone tell me what the advantage is (if any) of going with ceramic coated headers compared to the plain old stainless steel???

My explorer drivetrain is still stock for now... But I figure if i have to change o2 sensors and fix the gasket leak I might as well do this at the same time if I can swing the $$$...

 

[Alec]

They keep underhood temps down and keep the exhaust at a more efficient temperature (for the cats). It makes a large difference in underhood temps and heat risk to surrounding components.

 

[james t]

heath- as some one who has the FRPP headers, let me give my advice. GET THE CERAMICS. i really, really wish now that i would have. the stainless is a cheap low grade kind and it will corrode. i dont even have mine on yet, and they are already corroding just sitting on a shelf in my garage. oh, and the ceramic will also help hold the heat in the exaust better, decreasing underhood temps. (what alec said).

 

[mattadams]

well I dont think they will corrode quite as bad as he said... but if it doesn't cost too much extra I'd go with the coating... for the headers on my F-150, they retail for about $600, and the ceramic coating is an extra $200, so thats a third of the price of the headers themselves. Not entirely sure its worth it on those. Fortunately for me, I found a pair on ebay for about $300 and they weren't ceramic coated so I figure I'll deal with it .
Not like the old exhaust manifolds don't easily corrode too...

 

[james t]

the stainless X headers list for $175
the ceramics list for $225

go for the ceramics. and im not worried about the corrosion, just dont like the look under hood...

 

[mattadams]

yeah for an extra $50 definately go ceramic. You guys are lucky your headers are cheap! LOL.

 

[leenjen]

slighty lower underhood temps are basically a side effect of the ceramic coated headers. one of the main reasons to buy them is the increase in torque. the ceramic coating insulates the headers which causes hotter exhaust gasses. hotter exhaust moves faster. faster moving exhaust = more torque

 

[MikeTEC]

Good posts, guys. I am considering headers for my 96 5.0 but am concerned about LOOSING torque. As I tow a travel trailer with my Explorer, my main concern is keeping or increasing torque, not necessarily HP, as torque pulls.... My X is stock and I plan to keep it that way other than headers.

Questions for those of you who headers: Do they increase noise level? What about durability? Necessary/advisability of wrapped insulation on new headers.. Also, please give me your thoughts as to the torque loss/gain issue. Thanks. Mike

 

[section525]

Mine actually quieted down the noise level. It was a nice suprise. I've had the stainless ones on for half a year now and had/have no problems with them.

Before I put mine on, I asked a guy you use to race dragsters if I should wrap them or anything. He advised not to saying it was unessesary. I just took his word for it.

I'd say I lost a tiny bit of low-end torque. And I really wish I had it back sometimes. But the gains out-weigh the the losses, imo.

 

[Phat_Bastard]

So to understand correctly, are there real power gains going to headers?? I have a 93 with all stock exhaust currently.

 

[section525]

Oh yeah. In the higher rpm range, like passing power and pulling power.. there was a huge difference. I totally reccommend going with headers.

 

[Phat_Bastard]

GREAT thanks

 

[MikeTEC]

Section525: Would you say you noticed the increase/loss between1000-2000 RPM or 2000-3000 RPM? Our stock 5.0s reach maximum torque at 3200 RPM with their OEM stock exhaust manifolds.

Most of my towing is done in the 2500-3000 RPM range. With my 3.73 axle, my tack shows 3000 RPMs at 63 MPH towing my trailer. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks.. Mike

 

[Heath]

Well, looks like I'm going with the stainless... Ceramic coated is no longer availiable... So do you guys think I should wrap them or have any reccomendations for me???

 

[section525]

Section525: Would you say you noticed the increase/loss between1000-2000 RPM or 2000-3000 RPM? Our stock 5.0s reach maximum torque at 3200 RPM with their OEM stock exhaust manifolds.

Mike, I noticed a loss at lower end... probably under 2k. But there was tons of gain in the 2.5k+ range. I tow a 200 gallon slurry tank with mine, and I noticed tons of improvement.

Heath, I wouldn't worry about wrapping them at all. Mine have given me no problems, and like I said, I've had them on for about 6 months.

How can the ceramics not be available anymore? What do you mean there?

 

[Heath]

Guys at ford said they can't get them with the coating anymore...

 

[section525]

Did you email torrie @ fpn?

 

[SteveVB]

wrap them

Heath,

I wrapped mine- my 4.0 headers. The wrap keeps the underhood temps down- biggest benefit IMO-, keeps the heat in the exhaust, and makes them a bit quieter. I wrapped them and sprayed them with silicone coating then installed them. They have been on for a couple of years and I have not any problems with them.

 

[Heath]

Originally posted by section525
Did you email torrie @ fpn?

Thats who I'm buying them from... Here is the recent e-mail I got from them...

Heath,

The M-9430-E51 is not available anymore. You will need M-9430-E50
instead which costs $174.99. We ordered your parts and should have them
in our warehouse to ship to you within 1-4 days. The freight cost for
your order will be $10.

 

[section525]

bummer...