headers & heat ! - Dodge Dakota Forum

Subject: headers & heat !
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Anyone experienced any problems of heat build up from headers? Just installed gibson s/st ones. a/c evatorator line (rubber) had to be wrapped. What about plugs wires, boots and other rubber hoses? Any idea on what tempature the headers actually get?
Last question. Anyone have these same headers? Do they rust over time? I used a magnet and they are not true s/st? Turned blue after first 12 mile trip.

R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2004
22:16:47

RE: headers & heat !
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They will turn blue unless they are ceramacoated.

Bowtie-ZL1
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
05:59:35

RE: headers & heat !
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If "s/st" is supposed to mean stainless steel... most s/s is magnetic, only a few types of s/s are non-magnetic.

Matt Blough
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
20:02:58

RE: headers & heat !
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any true stainless will rust under extreme circumstances, such as prolonged heat, chemicals, etc... they just don't rust as fast. the header heat is pretty damned hot... your exhaust gases can be in escess of 1000 degrees, but most of the heat doesn't transfer to the metal.. just keep a minimum space of 6 inches between wires and the header... you should have gotten ceramic coated. they are more expensive, but perform much better, and keep under hood temp down much better, meaning that the engine isn't sucking theat same heat right back in.

Just Looking
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
03:36:52

RE: headers & heat !
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well then i bet those headers are a 400 series ss
the magnetic kind of ss it has a higher steel content over non magnetic 316 ss and yes the 400 series rusts more easily cause of it... just remember keep them clean and dont over clean they need oxygen to stop from rusting so no oils or they cant make an oxidized protective layer
as for the blue color thats just how some metals react with heat and u probably also have a little red tint by the blue

its best to go with a 316 ss but seeing as how no one know this stuff even if u ask them its always unknown and if its unknown then more likely then not its the cheap stuff
cause most will brag if its 316 ss used they also brag about 314, 314 isnt bad but its still not as good as 316 in rust resistence

73duster
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
14:26:37

RE: headers & heat !
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J-mac, if you like some info on an industrial do-it-yourself ceramic coating, email me.
fitness7days@nospam.juno.com
remember to remove the nospam.

Dhull
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
14:41:05

RE: headers & heat !
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I have these headers on my truck. They have been installed for about two years now. They are starting to develope some surface rust but in all they are holding up pretty good. I have had no problem with any of my wires either.

j-mac
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2004
00:11:28

RE: headers & heat !
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thanks for the info.
I really like the headers. I could definately feel the difference, especially when in the power band over 2200 rpms. I'm just use to the 308 s/st "stainless steel grade" . It is by far one of the upper ends as far as stainless goes.
But, with the prices of metals these days (thanks china)with 308 grade they would be 1500.00 headers.

j-mac
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2004
22:09:57

RE: headers & heat !
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73duster,
I appreciate the offer, but i think i'll run them as is for now. If they start rusting then, i'll probobly take you up on the cermaic idea.

GraphiteDak
GenIII

5/24/2004
20:05:02

RE: headers & heat !
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Hey 73Duster. Reading your name, does that indicate you have a 73 Duster? My friend has a 1973 Duster still to this day. He bought it about 16, 17 years ago when we were young teens. One of the first cars we actually rebuilt the engine, tranny, rear end on. Those cars barely weigh 3100 Lbs or so. It has a 318, 727 tranny (904 just kept dying), and a 8.8 Ford rear end.

It's been sitting for several years now. The 318 was mostly stock except for cam, intake, headers, MSD, etc. About 5 years ago he started to build a nasty 360 built to the max. He lost interest or something. It's been machined, blueprinted, balanced, etc. Will run 8K RPM's if he ever decides to put it together. I'd help him but he's doing other things now. He did eventually get the front K-Member kit to give it strength to hold up.

Here's the car how it sits now.