wrap doesn't last long. I smoked my wrap on the header and uppipe on the stock turbo. Only place it lasted was the downpipe. It's heavy too. Had my header, uppipe and downpipe coated at HiTech. Great job. Still looks clean and it's been years. Do it right the first time and coat it (outside only). I wouldn't bother with the downpipe, but they only charged me like $20 more for it.

San

 

^^ Yup I rather do it right the first time cuz I don't wanna have to pull out the uppipe since it's such a PITA.

 

I wouldn't wrap it as I have had bad experiences with wrap on my previous GT-4 DP. Especially since the elements are more crazy here in HI than they were in CA where I had the GT-4. I just got my header coated from a place called Swain Tech. They are in NY and prolly more expensive but this stuff is flat out awesome. It's pearl white, .015-.20 inches thick and after driving my car hard and with it still running, I can quickly touch the header without getting burned. It radiates very little heat. Also, I have had a bad experience with Jet-Hot coatings.

Here's a thread about the header and coatings and stuff.

https://www.i-club.com/forums/engine-power-non-turbo-all-non-turbo-imprezas-61/those-asked-about-swaintech-header-coating-pics-106572/

 

where's that video of the VW going up in flames....that answered my question about those wraps.

not worth the risk in my opinion, but what do i know, i like having a BOV

 

i just wrapped my headers last night(hands still itchy)...wow! what a difference...my car spools so much faster...i kindda lost the boxer sound though...the wrap will probably die in a year or so....i'll probably get it coated then...good luck...

 

good point...my header is probably like 3 inches away from the oil filter...so when i do change the filter, i have to extra careful not to get any oil on the wrap..or else...i got the wrap cheap so i figure what the heck...

 

Definitely not going to wrap,..Not worth the worry of a fire nor the pipe rusting or breaking apart after a few years,..

Will just get the dp coated and still thinking about the Helix flex uppipe,..the Helix just looks too nice to get coated in and out,...

 

Lol, that's the uppipe I got coated. The guy over there asked me why I wanted to coat it as it's chrome. I told him because it's so close to the cylinder that it can cause detonation when hot. Its also nice it's when it's coated also, it's a functional nice. Btw they can't coat the flex section for obvious reasons. Good luck man.

 

Trust me... black is teh sexay!!!!!!! It's more important to keep the heat in for the up-pipe.

 

If I ever get another WRX or better yet shove a STi drivetrain up my RS, I am sending the manifold and uppie to this place Swain. The heat retention is crazy. I drove my Celica today and was reminded how freakin hot a header can get, and I don't need that under the hood. If I knew I could def keep my Celica, I would pull the header off and send it in ASAP.

 

When was the last time anyone went to Hi Tech Coatings?

I went there today and unfortunately Ty wasnt in,...I left a message on his cell and hopefully he'll call me back tomorrow,..

Anyways,..the guy I talked to there said they dont do the black coating anymore as I asked for the "minimum 2000 deg) coating,...He said they had a bad experience baking it or something and they do the black coat.

He said they do the silver ceramic coat now, but I dont know what is the minimum temp that is,...He said that Ty was on an errand as I figured he was out to lunch (got there at 1130) but at 230pm I called and got his voice mail,...

Hopefully they can still do the black coat for my Helix flex uppipe and Stromung shorty dp,...

 

i went ahead and wrapped my headers, joint pipe, up pipe and down pipe, so far so good, now that they are wrapped i fel a change when im sitting for awhile, i dont get that heat soak problem as much.....i mean it not like wow what a change, but it did help..... Thanks to Dale for helping out.....and to Ryan at vakamon for tapping my EGT while the header was off!

 

no problem bobby. sometimes it helps to have a limber filipino for those hard to reach places...mahalos for letting me use the garage too.

 

Just talked to Ty,..He says the coating that he uses is the "therma-coat" type and he'll call me back on the minimum temp rating on it....It is silver in color,..

Im not concerned about the color, but am concerned about the temp rating as it should be 2000deg F minimum,....Im confident he can do it, but am wondering if this is the same coating other members got,...

Also, what did you pay for an uppipe and/or downpipe? I remember ~$75 for the up,..what about the dp??

thanks
Kevin

 

Well,..finally got the pieces back and paid $150,.

I really wanted to coat the Helix flex part, but Ty said that because of the flexing, he couldnt be 100% sure that it wouldnt flake, so I ask for him not to coat the inside for obvious reasons,..

When I picked it up today I didnt know what to expect and could only do a comparison to the Crucial pipes Ive seen thru the internet,.. the silver coat looks really nice, and the Helix flex isnt coated on the outside either, but looks good anyways,..I would post pics of the pieces, but gf is on Maui playing for the 3.5 Womens tennis regionals and has the digital camera...

So, I guess until I get to meet some more I-clubbers personally at a meet, I wont ask for a uppipe install day,..Have the tools and even compressor etc, and I figure I could do the shorty dp install no problem in the meanwhile,..but will wait on the uppipe just in case I need some guidance in case worse case scenario some bolts break or exhaust leaks etc. Its only cause FAQs says its a little more time consuming,.

Next post will be pics on Monday,..