Hey guys,

I am about to order a set of nice headers for my rebuilt 289 and would like your opinion on something. I am going with Hooker Super Competition Long tubes (my car is not lowered so clearance should not be a problem) and I am hesitating between the black ones and the ceramic ones.

Black ($500) http://mustangunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=H6111+01
Ceramic ($680) http://mustangunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=H6111C+01

There is basically a $200 difference and I was wondering if it was worth it. I see pros on three axis but I may be wrong:

- Better look
- Lowered temperature
- Lighter?

Thanks for your help! I will give you a complete before/after feedback.

 

The black paint burns off and you're left with a metal header that gets exposed to moisture and developes surface rust. Ceramic don't have that issue, but you have to heat cycle them properly when you first install them, otherwise the coating gets screwed up.

 

did you ever consider stainless steel? my black flowtech headers look like hell, and my car hasnt even seen the street yet. as soon as i fired it up for the first time for the cam break in cycle, they heated up and were smoking lol. so im also im the market for new ones thats wont look ugly.

 

mine did the same thing
however they went in easily and sealed perfectly so i am not taking them off until rust eats them through

 

If you can afford the difference I vote CERAMIC....

I would consider a cheaper brand header in order to afford the ceramic coating,,,, hey wait a minute, that is what I did...

Boughtthe much cheaper Headman ceramic coated headers....

 

It's worth the money for the coating....

 

I would go with the ceramic ones. Are they polished ceramic or is black ceramic available, or does color even matter? I have those exact ones, except the black paint, i have them on my truck and have had them for about 1 1/2 years and the paint is still on them and has never smoked, chipped, or cracked. They're good headers but you could find cheaper ones in ceramic, i found mine used andy've been great so i got them cheap. My best friend has side pipes that are ceramic coated black and they look awesome and and still look great to this day. some pics of my headers. one has the light shining on it and it looks like spot rust but it isnt.

[IMG]local://upfiles/88449/2BEE57417F504E4A95A330FC6F3E972A.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/88449/A8659EC7E7064E32AC3E12115D66C6D8.jpg[/IMG]

 

It's not the moisture that causes the rust, it's the heat. The heat pushes all of the carbon out of the steel, making it much more corrosion-prone. Ceramic coating is much harder and more durable, keeping the steel nice and sealed up so that you don't get that same corrosion.

 

Id spend the money on ceramic coated for 2 reasons it looks good no ugly rusty headers and they will never rust.And it also keeps the heat in the exhaust instead of your engine bay.You can buy them bare and have the coated someone local to you.

 

Can also buy a set and have then powder coated whatever color you'd like. No idea what this would cost but its an idea.