spaugh

HPC has three different coatings that they can put onto the headers. I think the middle grade 1600 is the right one for my application. Does anyone else have an opinion on this?

rimpainter.com

I thought TRD headers were already coated?

I can dig up my receipt for you if you wish. What did HPC recommend? If I remember right, my headers were about $175 to coat.

TRDOLMAN

My TRD headers have no coating----look as good as the day I put them on 2 years ago. I have no excess heat under the hood. Is there a reason you feel they need to be coated?

spaugh

i was worried about the extra heat and rust/corrosion, but if yours are doing good, I guess I will cross that mod off the list, the headers were expensive enough as it is. what about the self install? I am scared since I don't have a lift or a jack to lift the engine etc... I think paying 400ish at the local exhaust shop will be the best deal.

TRDOLMAN

I installed my headers. I did have a lift, have all the right tools, and have been bending wrenchs for longer than I want to remember. It's not that bad of a job but could be a bitch for a rookie. The best advice I can give you is to get your Sawzall out to take out the stock crossover pipe. It is possible to remove it in one piece but after two hours of screwing with it, I got out the saw. If money is not an issue with you---hell yeah let them do it!!!

Edit: I don't have a problem at all with heat. The headers are stainless. Rust and corrosion??

WATRD

Same thing here. Mine have been on for 5 years, around 90k miles and other than having blued a bit, they look like new.

I looked at coating them when I bought them, but the consensus was that it wasn't necessary... That has proven to be the case.

spaugh

good to hear! WATRD, did you do the install also? I am a rookie at cars, but I am an electrical engineer and am pretty mechanically inclined, just don't have much experience with cars. I know I can do the supercharger install no problem, but the headers worry me. Is it a must to raise the engine to get the new headers in?

WATRD

I do all my own installs, from the supercharger to the axle swap, etc, but I paid to have the headers done. There's way too many skinned knuckles in that job and when the gaskets leaked, instead of having to tear into it myself, I took it back to the dealer and said "fix it!".

rimpainter.com

Here's the graph HPC has on their site:



How you proceed is up to you.