We figured a set of off-the-shelf Hooker headers would be more than suitable for our 1965 Mustang vintage racer, but Cobra Automotive’s Curt Vogt recommended having them professionally coated. Don’t just rely on the factory finish, he said.
Swain Tech Coatings has been coating exhaust headers and parts for decades, so we reached out. “There are two main types of exhaust coatings,” company owner Richard Tucker explains. “There are the ones which are primarily cosmetic, which may help some with heat, or a true ceramic like we apply, that does not look great but will help manage heat.”
He recommended his company’s White Lightning coating, a high-temp, 0.015-inch-thick ceramic product. Figure about $450 to coat a pair of V8 headers, while Swain Tech can treat used parts as well. Most cosmetic coatings, Tucker notes, measure only about 0.002 inch thick.
[Cooling off our headers with Swain Tech’s White Lightning ceramic coating | Project C5 Corvette Z06]
“Our White Lightning is an ugly coating which mars/scratches easily in normal shipping and handling, can be difficult to keep clean, and can change color and appearance when in use,” he cautions. “There are times some folks will see spike- or bead-like growths on the surface of the coating, and even times when the outermost layer can fracture.
“When the look of the coating is important, our coating is not a good choice,” Tucker continues. But for motorsports, it offers a major benefit: “When maximum heat insulation is important, it is a great choice.”
What about coating the insides of the tubes? “When it comes to coating the inside,” he explains, “that is only done with the cosmetic coatings, which are paint-based. They are so thin that coating over the flanges or mating surfaces will not cause a problem with fit.
“Many of those companies will talk about getting an internal coating because they often get coverage as deep as the eye can see, but we don’t believe there is really any lasting coating through much of the internal surfaces.
“To get a coating to bond, the surface needs to be blasted 360 degrees all the way through the tube. You need at least 3 inches of spray distance to properly atomize and spray, so though you may get spray all the way through the tube with the paint-based coatings, there is not likely any way it will stay bonded.
“Our coating is molten material being applied at near supersonic speeds,” he continues. “It is not like a paint, where you can draw it through with an extension or straw. This means we really are limited to the external surfaces.”
But, Tucker explains, White Lightning will have a tangible benefit. “Though it is more common to see a reduction of about 30% to 50% if you measure the radiant temperatures about 1 inch away from the part,” Tucker tells us, “it is not unheard of to see quite a bit less, and rarely do you see much more.”
We sent our headers to Swain Tech, and they came back a few weeks later coated and looking just fine. But we’re not as concerned about looks. We want to do what we can to reduce underhood temperatures.
Comments
There are times some folks will see spike- or bead-like growths on the surface of the coating, and even times when the outermost layer can fracture.
Can confirm. It sure looks like a failing coating when you see it, including chunks coming off.
I found DEI Floor and Tunnel insulation to be more effective at managing heat in the tunnel of my track V8 Miata. Even with White Lightning on the headers and exhaust, I was melting the adhesive backing of the Cool-it insulation in the cockpit. I measured a tunnel surface temp of 196F and the heel of my driving shoe at 147F using my tire pyrometer.
Adding the Floor and Tunnel on the inner surfaces of the tunnel helped quite a bit. I haven't repeated the pyrometer test but I can put my hand flat on the tunnel.
question not about coatings but about headers themselves: why not the baller stepped tri-Y headers from Cobra Automotive? oh wait, i think i smell a bolt-on comparison cooking. and i approve.
That would be an interesting comparison, because tri-Ys and 4-1s have different inherent characteristics. These things look to have pretty long primaries.
The lack of ACTUAL testing of the temp on these products is very disturbing.
GRM you could EASILY set up a before and after test.
#1 heat gun aimed down the port. let run to minutes to stabilize the temp.
Take readings as it heated up and cooled down. multiple locations.
Coat the part.
heat gun aimed down the port. let run to minutes to stabilize the temp.
Take readings as it heated up and cooled down. multiple locations.
Simple test.
how about comparing to straight black spray paint. or silver paint.
un coated? wrapped?
I have always been intersted in black vs silver intercoolers and radiators. could easily cover many many points with some simple day long temp reading tests. .
In reply to masterjr33 :
We love some comparison tests, but the car isn't actually together at this point. Soon, though, it will roar to life.
Ahhh, so you are saying you need two sets of headers. One coated and one un-coated so you can run back to back tests. lol
I really liked my jethot coating (inside and out) experience but the reality of their off-road application readyness is a total lie. Their off-road capable ceramic coating works in a desert on some trophy truck perhaps but one barely wet rally and I had it flaking off in section before the 1st loop was finished.
In reply to Noddaz :
Yes. Although we had to modify these before fitting them.
In reply to Tim Suddard :
I used their coatings on my Black Jack special. I know I was an early user. 1980's?
Go to the Packard Museum and if the hood is open you'll see those headers with their coatings still intact. Yes it cools things down.
Swain tech coatings sponsored my undergrads schools formula and baja car. Great guys.
Displaying 1-10 of 12 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You'll need to log in to post.
