Okay looking at buying a set of Kooks long tube 1 7/8 headers for my 2016 Ford F150 5.0
I will be running 1 7/8 primaries along with a Kook off-road Y-pipe connected to a Magnaflow exhaust system. I am running 1 7/8 primaries due to the fact that in the future i will be running a Whipple 2.9 or TVS Genn II R blower.

Do you thinks its worth the cost of 300.00 to have them sent to JET HOT to have them coated and polished? Not so much for the cosmetics but for the reduction in under the hood temps and the improvement in thermal efficiency which in turn equals better scavenging and exhaust evacuation? Just wondering if its worth the time and money.

Any input from you all that are forced induction would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'd ask for some temp graphs.

 

Jet Hot has been a popular coat for quite a while, but i'm more sold on the high-temp wraps for reducing underhood temps (DEI fiberglass or other). Cheaper to do. Don't let anyone tell you they 'trap moisture'....that's freakin' BS.

 

I was looking at my Kooks, thinking of wrapping them.... what a nightmare. They won't be easy to do.

 

I'm sure others will chime in on the coating, but I am wondering what else you have planned besides a PD blower. If you are just planning on bolting on a blower "kit" (i.e., along with larger injectors, but nothing more than Whipple or TVS would supply), then messing with the exhaust may not be worth it seeing as you can easily make 500-600 whp without touching it. On the other hand, if you are planning a whole fuel system, etc., etc., to make really big power then you may need headers.

Sorry if you have considered all of this and moved on. Just asking since it seems like you are still in planning mode. When talking about my FI application, I've encountered a number of folks who assume that headers are a no-brainer, but we've seen them be a waste of resources (again, unless you are making big power).

 

Save the $300 as long as the Kooks are stainless. You will be better off spending the $300 on something like a good custom tune once you go FI.

 

If you plan to keep the vehicle long term get them coated. All header material will eventually corrode. The Jet Hot will extend the life. Regarding heat reduction, you won't see much difference. Do not wrap headers. The trapped heat will cause cracking over time. The also tend to absorb moisture and increase corrosion. On a street driven rig it is a bad idea.

I ran Kooks long tubes on my Lightning. Great headers. Mine were not coated. After about a year they looked rough. My buddy had his coated and his still looked new.

 

Like I said. Bullsh*t.

Think about it. The headers are getting exactly how hot? And the wrap...which is holding that heat in...is 'absorbing' moisture? At hundreds of degrees of heat, mind you.

 

Say for instance you drive your truck. Headers tend to get hot. Your are done driving for the day and park your truck. Hot header and cool air make condensation. Where does the condensation accumulate? Between the header and wrap. Guess and speculate all you want I have seen and dealt with the negatives of header wrap. Have done extensive testing with various materials from mild steel headers to inconel. In race applications wrapping the headers may be the only solution. On a daily driven street vehicle it is a waste of time, money, and will shorten the life of your headers.

 

You got only part of the scenario. It's when everything is cooling down, at some point, moisture is drawn in due to the difference between ambient temperature, the temperature of the wrapped headers, and the current dew point. Basic science. The moisture resides until the headers once again become hot enough. The amount of moisture drawn in on any given occasion can vary from nothing to a few cubic centimeters. Just depends on the temperature differential and the dew point. Again, basic science.