Hi, I am looking for Downey header to put on my 02 4Runner and I looked at truckperformance.com, they have 2 choices for my 4Runner. I can get either the Nickel-Chrome Plated one or the Ceramic Coated one. Since I don't have any experience with the header, I need you guys help please. Which one would you recommend that will last the longest and provide maximum performance ? Nickel-Chrome or Ceramic Coated ? I have heard from one guy that the ceramic coated header tends to crack after a long period of useage, but I can't confirm if it is true or not. Let me know what you think, thank you

 

You said longest lasting so thats gotta be ceramic coated. Heat scavenging is better with ceramic coatings.

 

nickel for bling ceramic for long lasting

 

You want to keep that insane heat in your exhaust, not melting engine parts.... ceramic all the way

 

Go with the ceramic coated headers. The ceramic coating cuts back on engine compartment heat and protects the headers from heat oxidation and corrosive environments (salt). Not to mention, it helps maintain the silver appearance.

 

fs;

I think this was part of what you asked me in email today, but lemme answer you here... I would _NOT_ recommend that you get headers unless you have a supercharger waiting in the wings. The performance to be had from _just _ adding headers is simply not worth the money.

Headers are meant to help scavenge the exhaust quicker and more efficiently, but with the stock air flow through at the front, then there's just not much more to pull through the engine.

But... if you're really set on doing it, then like others have said, you want ceramic.


And please search around a bit here, get to understand what the install will be like. From what you and I have talked about, you'll want to line up someone to do the install for you. It's takes a lot of time and paitence.

And something else you asked in email, you'll want to weld things up - clamps will leak more times than not.

 

I'm in that stage! But hey im aiming for the best NA peformance setup.

 

Top N/A performance - without major engine work - will come from (in no particular order) opening up the air box, ISR mod, electric fans, free-flow exhaust, headers (they'll help, but not enough to justify the cost), free-flow air filter, O-ring mod, TB boring, piggy-back computer, plug wires, spark booster... that's about all I can think of right now.

But when you look at the cost of doing all that, you could drop a S/C in there and have a lot more fun.

 

Ceramic is better