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Header Wraps

  • Thread starter Thread starter PoppaDre
  • Start date Start date
We messed with wrapping years back on proddy racing stuff. Sorry, I can't even picture what bike it was on but I do remember the concensus was that there although there was a small top end gain, setting up the bike to suit the weather conditions was too picky and it wasn't worth the carrot. There was about a 2 year period when it seemed everyone had a play with it in testing but I don't think I can remember anyone ever running with it in a race.

I'm pretty sure McClaren (and maybe others - I knew a few guys in the McClaren set up in those days) tested it in on their F1 car (early '80s pre- turbo days?) but again I don't recall it seeing it ever been used in anger.

And for my opinion bit - I've seen a couple of dry weather only cafe racer style bikes where I think it suits and others where it looks rubbish.
 
Agemax said:
if that is aimed at me then you had better get your facts right before you start making a fool of yourself!
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You might want to research RapidRay's posts. I've read a lot of them and he's been dead on accurate every time. I have seen no reason to doubt his word here.

Just my .02 worth.

Don
 
don_gibb6512 said:
You might want to research RapidRay's posts. I've read a lot of them and he's been dead on accurate every time. I have seen no reason to doubt his word here.

Just my .02 worth.

Don
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x2, a real racer and mechanic. I'm with him. he also maintained a professional rapport when members were trying to drag him into a flaming match.
 
No looking to jump into this fray but Ray's experience involves a sample of one. I'm also inclined to believe that if something as simple as header wrap consistently added hp to race engines then every race team in the world would be using the stuff.
 
Nessism said:
No looking to jump into this fray but Ray's experience involves a sample of one. I'm also inclined to believe that if something as simple as header wrap consistently added hp to race engines then every race team in the world would be using the stuff.
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No the norm is to coat the system these days. In racing, as most understand, teams will shave grams to receive a gain. A 10th of a mm of coating weighs less than the same amount of wrap to cover that area. And any of todays coatings are more effective in blocking the thermal engry and keeping it in the pipe where it belongs. And since various ceramic/metallic have been on the market for as long as they have, theyre much less expensive than they were. Every NASCAR team uses some form of thermal blocking in their engine compartment. From exhaust coating to thermal sheilding on the firewall to internal coatings in the combustion chamber. Heat is the main killer in an engine. Hell your straight from the factory bland ass 2000 whatever uses thermal blocking material in some form. And with a quick Google, you can pull up as many charts and Dyno printouts as you want on the matter.
 
Hammered said:
And with a quick Google, you can pull up as many charts and Dyno printouts as you want on the matter.
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I love the personal and professional experiences people have, and as Hammered says; if you need (or demand) written proof, then best to resort to Google
 
posplayr said:
I love the personal and professional experiences people have, and as Hammered says; if you need (or demand) written proof, then best to resort to Google
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I 100% agree with Agemax on the "look" of wraps. They do not lend a clean, crisp look. Cost wise, not everyone has the resources to coat all the components. The one area wraps out perform is in ease of application. Since we're on a bike forum, think how much easier it would be to use a 1" tape to wrap the headers than to mask everything off and attempt to spray a coating on the entire area in question. Trust me, Ive tried and it aint easy. And as with all coatings, if you have a gap in the coverage, you have a place for the flaking and chipping to start. Not so with a nice wet applied tape. And then finish it off with a flex clamp and the tape will tighten over time with use of the exhaust.
 
On vintage bikes, I've seen people wrap headers mostly as a simple, cheap way to hide ratty looking pipes -- perhaps the chrome is long gone, but the pipes are still functional and solid.

And, of course, where you need insulation between the pipes and bodywork or somesuch.

As far as the (apparently arguable) performance gains, wraps have mostly been replaced by coatings.
 
posplayr said:
I love the personal and professional experiences people have, and as Hammered says; if you need (or demand) written proof, then best to resort to Google
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Checked Google but can't find any evidence.:eek: Got link?
 
posplayr said:
No evidence here Ed; Like I said Goggle is BEST
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I used Google and still could not find anything. Didn't spend a lot of time digging though. Just though someone here might have a link semi ready at hand.
 
There was just a show on Spike's Sunday line up. Horsepower Tv was doing a 454 build. At the end of the show, they had an LS on the dyno. They wrapped the headers, recieved the power boost mentioned and reduced the over all temp by 100*. I dont see a way to link to an online link of the show, but Im sure it will run again sometime. IIRC, the increase in HP was roughly 15%. I wont say you will see that from wrapping a set of bike pipes but... They were using the DEI Titanium Wrap kit.
 
Hammered said:
There was just a show on Spike's Sunday line up. Horsepower Tv was doing a 454 build. At the end of the show, they had an LS on the dyno. They wrapped the headers, recieved the power boost mentioned and reduced the over all temp by 100*. I dont see a way to link to an online link of the show, but Im sure it will run again sometime. IIRC, the increase in HP was roughly 15%. I wont say you will see that from wrapping a set of bike pipes but... They were using the DEI Titanium Wrap kit.
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I could accept, maybe, 1.5% increase. 15%? umm, no F'n way.
 
Nessism said:
I could accept, maybe, 1.5% increase. 15%? umm, no F'n way.
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Watch the show. A Dyno reading doesnt lie. This is like any other bolt on performance product. First you have to know how to install it. And wrapping exhaust isnt as easy as some may think. After its cured, some tuning needs to happen. And after all, this was on a 454 power build. Exhaust flow is key to building HP at range. At 6000 the engine was building 422 horses. And as many of you here have said in relation to using pods, the better and smoother an engine breaths, the better it will build power. And remember, i didnt claim you could see that just wrapping your bikes pipes.
 
I'm with Ed - 15% doesn't come along anywhere near that easily. The key to power isn't just about exhaust flow - it's about total flow through the motor (speed, volume, composition and pattern).

The sponsors of that show weren't DEI Titanium Wrap were they? ;)
 
15% is a p!ss take, you are lucky to get 3% with an exhaust change, but 15% just by covering it in a blanket? haha.

maybe if i cover my engine with a sleeping bag i may gain another 40% power?
 
Hammered said:
Watch the show. A Dyno reading doesn't lie. This is like any other bolt on performance product. First you have to know how to install it. And wrapping exhaust isn't as easy as some may think. After its cured, some tuning needs to happen. And after all, this was on a 454 power build. Exhaust flow is key to building HP at range. At 6000 the engine was building 422 horses. And as many of you here have said in relation to using pods, the better and smoother an engine breaths, the better it will build power. And remember, i didn't claim you could see that just wrapping your bikes pipes.
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Is it possible you would see a much greater percentage power increase on a car with a 454 and carburetor under a hood than a bike because
the bike's motor is out in the wind? I believe there are old muscle cars that lose a lot of HP with headers because of all that heat in the engine
compartment. This causes less oxygen to get in the engine as a result.
A bike would not have this problem.
 
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