Thank you for your post Ivan you are dead on !!! We found out during our testing that heat was the issue thus why we changed our design a few time to keep heat away from those areas which will long term suffer damage . We also notice heat transfer issue with the placement of the discharge ; we also notice excessive heating of the compressor housing was killing the power once we made just one run . Its VERY hard to make a good manifold of the X and make it work as it should it took us 4 designs to get the to where we're at now . Our final product will come a a heat shield

 

I'm really looking at the garage g force headers. How's the quality on them, anyone know?

Do you guys think it will make in increase in power since its a little better flow?

 

I'm really looking at the garage g force headers. How's the quality on them, anyone know?

Do you guys think it will make in increase in power since its a little better flow?

 

I'm really looking at the garage g force headers. How's the quality on them, anyone know?

Do you guys think it will make in increase in power since its a little better flow?

 

^Quality is top notch, no doubt. You will definitely increase in power. They have also produced a heat shield to match their manifold.

 

Have you tried the swain tech coating? I've heard that it's one of the best. I was thinking if you combined that coating with a heatshield of some sort, you might be sitting pretty good.

 

Garage G for parts are top notch quality, Ive had a couple in my hands before.

 

We have tried the Swain Tech coating. I personally like the look of it the best. Looks like sprayed on rough aluminum casting when done. After running for a while, the coating takes on a brown hue and looks like its dirty or rusty. The coating heats up enough to bubble and move around. The texture changes from run to run. Small pieces of it turn red hot and jump off the header looking like sparks during dyno pulls. Eventually it begins to peel. IMO, it does last longer than all other coatings I have seen though.

 

Just my personal experiences...

The Swaintech coating is the best available IMO. We've had quite a few headers done and relatively little issues. My biggest complain and why we dont' use them more is the lead time...a week shipping each way and their ETA varies..2 weeks can easily turn into 4-5.

HPC or HPC style coatings...This is really hit or miss IMO. We have had some last a long time, and others chip/flake within a few weeks. They are usually pretty good about re-doing the coating, but who wants down time?

I think what alot of it comes down to is in the prep.. Like painting a car, ****ty prep = ****ty product. We had a header that came back twice for the coating flaking...the 3rd time i brought it over the owner personally took care of it, i watched him do the prep work and coating, etc. Customer hasn't had a problem since, who knows if his 8hr laborer was taking as much time, etc? I think another issue is always making sure the header stays CLEAN..I see too many people spill oil/coolant/etc on the header while working on their cars, then immediantly start the car up and run it. Wiping everything down with some laquer thinner or acetone will keep everyting new looking much much longer.

Do i believe the coatings work? yes i do, we have 2 cars here with swaintech coatings on them, compared to the other uncoated headers on car's here its quite a difference...will the coating hold up forever? I dont' know, and frankly for its intended use in a race application i dont' expect anything to...

 

coating also sounds good but i think ill just go with the garage g force headers along with thier heat shield

 

I have also heard that with the swain tech, you can paint over the coating.. I'm not sure if this would increase longevity essentially having the coating plus another heat resistant paint on top of it. Then a heatshield on top of that, sounds like a solution maybe? at least for me Now just design me a nice manifold with a nice heatshield


Also can anyone post a pic of the Garage G manifold

 

What I don't understand is that there are a ton of materials available in the market for high temperature insulation. check out http://www.unifrax.com for examples of such products. Are these materials cost prohibitive for use in automotive applications, or are their heat insulation capacities insufficient? If any vendor/manufacturers would be kind enough to shed some light on this issue, it would be great.

EDIT: oops, just realized this is an old thread. SORRY

 

From that Unifrax site:

Fiberfrax® alumino-silicate fibers exhibit high temperature stability for continuous use at temperatures up to 1430°C (2600°F).

I'd say that's plenty of heat capacity for a turbo manifold.

 

Exactly! so why not use these materials?

 

This would be a sure shot solution to your keeping the heat off certain things.
1.) Swain Tech "white lightning" coat
A.) Manifold - $150 -$225
B.) Turbine Housing $90- $125
C.) O2 housing/Down Pipe. approx $170.00
http://www.swaintech.com/store.asp?pid=10971

Then....

2.) Add the CDOC Protective "gold foil" to your;
A.) Back side of Valve cover (turbo side)
B.) Brake Lines
C.) AC Lines
D.) EVERYTHING ELSE within the turbo side of the engine bay.
http://store.cdoc.com/detail.asp?id=34701&name=
It's $32.99 PER 1'X24" sheet. so do the math.


Doing both of those, "SHOULD" prevent an engine fire, and keep engine bay temps down.

Then on top of all that... me personally.... i'd have a heat shield built... out of the a thicker gauge metal... and then SwainTech "white lightning" coat the side that rest on the manifold, and use the gold foil on the side that is visable in the engine bay.


All said... it might be over kill..... but your better safe then sorry.

-Chris

ninja edit * Good luck to the OP .