Fabspeed headers: Coating vs. Blanket

I just fitted Fabspeed headers to my 360.
Used them on my 348s for a while.

As with all things in life, budget is the issue.

But that said...

Fit & Finish
All have fitted just fine no issues with the products I've had.


Ceramic coated
Just keeps them looking nice for longer.
It makes precious little difference to heat - for that you need the UK guys that do all the F1 boys.

Blankets
You WILL need the blankets or similar.
Really - you will NEED the blankets - unless you enjoy melting your hand brake cables.


If budget is not an issue but the Capristo with their own blankets.

 

Almost seems like a waste. Beautiful pieces of metal art covered up by ugly blankets. Speaking just aesthetically, they would do so much to enhance our engine bays if you didn't have to hide them. The stock headers are the ugliest things on earth.

 

I have AP headers on my F430 which are ceramic coated. I ended up buying Capristo blankets as there were many people here who had issues (melted brake parking cables) with ceramic coating alone.

If you get the ceramic coating from zircotec, you won't need the blankets (I had my S-Line exhaust ceramic coated by Zircotec and that brought down engine bay temps). Regarding header blankets, they work great. You can even touch them right after a nice drive. To install the blankets, it's pretty easy....you just have to remove the undertray and that's about it.

Good luck.


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The blankets keep the heat inside (preventing melting other components like ebrake cable) so the headers get hotter and transmit that heat to the catalytic converters making them work better, remember you are removing 2 of the 6 cats when you remove the stock headers.
AND.... for a smog visual inspection is always better to not being that obvious, I just passed smog a couple of weeks ago and the technician kept pointing at my headers with the blankets, I told him the blankets were there to prevent heat in the cabin and he passed me, I am sure he would have failed me if he sees "beautiful pieces of metal art"


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Nope, I gots a 99

 

Then you are fine!! But I have heard passing smog (at least in California) with 99s is very tricky, two fails and you are automatically in a gross polluter list and you need to take it to a specific station every 2 years, and because 99s still need the tailpipe emissions to be measured, 2000+ are only OBDII, no CEL, no codes and readiness monitors completed and you pass, only problem is the visual inspection.


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Don't waste your time or money on the Fabspeed ceramic coating. Totally worthless.

Fabspeed + ceramic coating = Melted Ebrake cables on a 360 every time .

By the blankets and enjoy the new sound.

 

I live in a Po-dunk north Georgia town, we dont have to worry about emissions here...I know of several cars in my area with gutted cats.

 

You may want to consider the Fabspeed mini cats extenders to eliminate CEL codes.

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I disagree with others. Ceramic coating works. It has been used in racing for centuries and they work just fine. I don't know if Fabspeed uses quality coatings though. I used my local coating plac (Embee) for my f430 header but also added the blanket. And also have used jet hot. Both worked great

 

The Op has a 99 360, not a 430. I don't know about heat issues on a 430 but on a 360 you will melt your Ebrake cables. Maybe the Op should get a guarantee from Fabspeed. Do you think he'll get one?

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Installed Fabspeed Headers on my F430. I had them Cerakoted Glacier Black, along with the Cats too.

Didn't take long for my Parking Brake Cables to be affected by the heat. However I will add that they were already past their best as prior to the Header swap the Parking Brake was not the smoothest operator !

Anyway, instead of going down the Blanket route I tried something a little different.
As the Cables were being replaced I ordered some "Design Engineering Aluminium Heat Sheath Sleeving".

I asked the tech at the dealership to slide these over the Cables while he was installing them.

The product is designed to reflect over 1000 Degrees C of Radiant Heat.
Ample protection for the job in hand !

And so far so good
As it stands right now the Parking Brake is operating perfectly and no signs of heat inflicted damage.


Oh, and the cost of these Sheaths ?

£45 (about $55 USD)


Pic of my Cerakoted Headers & Cats before going on the car:
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You don't mention if you'll remove the headers or simply add a blanket. If you are removing the headers then you can consider another option....http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/541887-headers-titanium-exhaust-wrap.html

 

I have an F430 with aftermarket headers .. no heat blankets or ceramic coating. No heat issues so far with 2k on the headers. I mentioned the ebrake issue to my mechanic and he said no way .. he went as far as saying will replace it for free if it happens.

 

My Mechanic is doing this with mine when I get them installed in a few weeks. He says its a nice alternative to the blankets.

Chris

 

I have AP headers and Tubi exhaust. Headers are ceramic coated. Been on for 2 years. No heat issues.

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My Fabspeed headers are coated, and I have blankets....and the extra heat-shields.
Engine bay is noticeably lower temp.

 

I have no affiliation with TechFlex. Just an FYI for those wrestling between blankets and a heat resistant wrap ... here is a link to the specs for a good quality wrap using volcanic pumice as an integral part of the fabric ...

https://www.techflex.com/prod_vwn.asp

I believe most people have stated that 100' of 2" wide wrap is enough to do one set of headers.

If you go online to purchase, make sure to get SS ties to secure the ends.

Steve

 

the fabspeed headers are excellent, it did cook my parking cables which cost over $1k to fix

 

the heat has to go somewhere, blankets will not increase engine life

 

Whoa...that's like wearing long-johns over sunscreen on a beach.