Needing to know what HEADERS(ceramic chrome.ones that will stay best show quality ) to put on a Pontiac 400 engine I'm building to go in my 1965 Pontiac Lemans

Any preference on custom exhaust would be appreciated as well.  Thank's in advance. ..tom

 

Hi Tom, I'm no expert here since I run factory reproduction exhaust manifolds on my car, so I will defer to my colleagues who do run headers.

That said, I've read that the ceramic coated headers will hold up the longest because the ceramic coating helps dissipate heat away from the engine.  Normal chrome/stainless headers will turn blue over time due to the heat. 

Header and exhaust recommendations are like opinions, everyone has one. Doug's Headers is one the largest Pontiac header manufacturers. Hooker and Hedman are top notch brands too.

I run a Pypes 2.5 mandrel bent exhaust with a cross over (or X-pipe) - it is stainless steel with performance mufflers that still let you hear the radio. There is nothing wrong with Magnaflow, Borla, or anyone else either. I am not a Cherry Bomb or glass-pack muffler fan.

Edited January 23, 20197 yr by Frosty

Hooker Super Competition headers with a Ti Tech coating or ceramic coating. You can get a silver, close to chrome finish that will look good for quite some time before turning chalky or showing signs of rust and good for @1500 degrees or get a darker charcoal metallic content finish that withstands higher heat temps @2500 degrees and have them look good and last near about forever.

 

https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/5-Top-Reasons-to-Ceramic-Coat-your-Exhaust-Headers-and-Turbo-Parts

 

https://www.jet-hot.com/articles/2018/6/29/5-important-reasons-you-should-ceramic-coat-your-exhaust-headers-and-turbo-parts

 

 

Edited January 24, 20197 yr by 360Rocket

Can't go wrong with the ceramic coating they look good...Plus the added benefit of....Cooler under hood temperature....

On 1/23/2019 at 3:27 PM, Frosty said:

Hi Tom, I'm no expert here since I run factory reproduction exhaust manifolds on my car, so I will defer to my colleagues who do run headers.

That said, I've read that the ceramic coated headers will hold up the longest because the ceramic coating helps dissipate heat away from the engine.  Normal chrome/stainless headers will turn blue over time due to the heat. 

Header and exhaust recommendations are like opinions, everyone has one. Doug's Headers is one the largest Pontiac header manufacturers. Hooker and Hedman are top notch brands too.

I run a Pypes 2.5 mandrel bent exhaust with a cross over (or X-pipe) - it is stainless steel with performance mufflers that still let you hear the radio. There is nothing wrong with Magnaflow, Borla, or anyone else either. I am not a Cherry Bomb or glass-pack muffler fan.

Thank you.  Tom