Header Wraps

[Agemax]

You've shown me NO kind of experience in this one so who's the fool? If the shoe fits, it's probably on your foot. Ray.

change the shoe mate, i worked for honda for 6 years and that included a spell at HRC. i have built more engines than i have had sh!ts and i know how an engine goes together.

never in all my life have i built an engine, or been asked to build an engine with exhaust wraps on for any advantage whatsoever

[rapidray]

So, just because YOU have never used it means it doesn't work? Ignorance IS bliss I guess. Ray.

[dlanes]

solid proof required please

I have old dyno sheets that prove this. I would have to go get them reprinted if they even have them still. The reason why some rather not use it may be because it may look tacky to them. On my new car I decided not to wrap the headers since they were stainless. I was thinking about wraping them next time I pull the engine. I sold hundreds of rolls to guy with bikes and they seemed to like it and for the price you really cant go wrong.

[Hammered]

The only real downside to wrapping your pipes over coating them is the chance of increasing the rust factor. BUT if you pretreat the pipes in question, this wont be an issue. For looks, I still prefer coatings. Techline has a bunch of options. If youre looking for performance results, Google it. Theres a crap load of input from the Honda tuner forum to AVrider.com. So instead of wasting your effort typing a p1ssing match, look it up.


Technology, aint it grand.

[rapidray]

I prefer coatings too Hammered. I just know that the wraps show power gains. At least in the dyno testing I have done. Thanks for your post! Ray.

[Agemax]

So, just because YOU have never used it means it doesn't work? Ignorance IS bliss I guess. Ray.

who's ignorance are we talking about here ray?

[rapidray]

Gee, I hope the motors you build aren't as slow as you appear to be! Ray.

[Agemax]

Gee, I hope the motors you build aren't as slow as you appear to be! Ray.

sticks and stones mate, lol

[hampshirehog]

We messed with wrapping years back on proddy racing stuff. Sorry, I can't even picture what bike it was on but I do remember the concensus was that there although there was a small top end gain, setting up the bike to suit the weather conditions was too picky and it wasn't worth the carrot. There was about a 2 year period when it seemed everyone had a play with it in testing but I don't think I can remember anyone ever running with it in a race.

I'm pretty sure McClaren (and maybe others - I knew a few guys in the McClaren set up in those days) tested it in on their F1 car (early '80s pre- turbo days?) but again I don't recall it seeing it ever been used in anger.

And for my opinion bit - I've seen a couple of dry weather only cafe racer style bikes where I think it suits and others where it looks rubbish.

[don_gibb6512]

if that is aimed at me then you had better get your facts right before you start making a fool of yourself!

You might want to research RapidRay's posts. I've read a lot of them and he's been dead on accurate every time. I have seen no reason to doubt his word here.

Just my .02 worth.

Don

[Richharr]

You might want to research RapidRay's posts. I've read a lot of them and he's been dead on accurate every time. I have seen no reason to doubt his word here.

Just my .02 worth.

Don

x2, a real racer and mechanic. I'm with him. he also maintained a professional rapport when members were trying to drag him into a flaming match.

[Nessism]

No looking to jump into this fray but Ray's experience involves a sample of one. I'm also inclined to believe that if something as simple as header wrap consistently added hp to race engines then every race team in the world would be using the stuff.

[Hammered]

No looking to jump into this fray but Ray's experience involves a sample of one. I'm also inclined to believe that if something as simple as header wrap consistently added hp to race engines then every race team in the world would be using the stuff.

No the norm is to coat the system these days. In racing, as most understand, teams will shave grams to receive a gain. A 10th of a mm of coating weighs less than the same amount of wrap to cover that area. And any of todays coatings are more effective in blocking the thermal engry and keeping it in the pipe where it belongs. And since various ceramic/metallic have been on the market for as long as they have, theyre much less expensive than they were. Every NASCAR team uses some form of thermal blocking in their engine compartment. From exhaust coating to thermal sheilding on the firewall to internal coatings in the combustion chamber. Heat is the main killer in an engine. Hell your straight from the factory bland ass 2000 whatever uses thermal blocking material in some form. And with a quick Google, you can pull up as many charts and Dyno printouts as you want on the matter.

[posplayr]

And with a quick Google, you can pull up as many charts and Dyno printouts as you want on the matter.

I love the personal and professional experiences people have, and as Hammered says; if you need (or demand) written proof, then best to resort to Google

[Hammered]

I love the personal and professional experiences people have, and as Hammered says; if you need (or demand) written proof, then best to resort to Google

I 100% agree with Agemax on the "look" of wraps. They do not lend a clean, crisp look. Cost wise, not everyone has the resources to coat all the components. The one area wraps out perform is in ease of application. Since we're on a bike forum, think how much easier it would be to use a 1" tape to wrap the headers than to mask everything off and attempt to spray a coating on the entire area in question. Trust me, Ive tried and it aint easy. And as with all coatings, if you have a gap in the coverage, you have a place for the flaking and chipping to start. Not so with a nice wet applied tape. And then finish it off with a flex clamp and the tape will tighten over time with use of the exhaust.