[Neil]

John:

What's cermachrome?? Is it a mix of chrome and ceramics? The advantage of ceramics is of course weight and heat dissipation, but are they still as delicate as they used to be? BTW what did you pay for yours? Of course shipping to Hawaii is going to be a b***** Thanx for your help!
greg

Greg,

The headers aren't made of ceramic. There's a ceramic coating applied to the metal. The weight is the same. The most widely used ceramic coating is Jet Hot but there are others. It doesn't dissipate heat but insulates and keeps it in the exhaust which will help make more power. Also because it insulates, it'll keep the engine bay cooler.

The GSM are the best but cost a lot. Consider the Mopars. They're the next best header and are cheaper.

 

[Neil]

Note, not all brands of ceramic coatings metal or finishes are the same. Stainless may rust, there are a number of brands or ceramic and some are ceramic coated stainless.

- Ceramic is the best coating. It's the most durable, stays the coolest and will stay looking good the longest peroid. Ceramic will stay silver but not as bright as chrome.

- Chrome will tend to turn colors and will stain from oils. It may rust over time (a long time.)

- Stainless may surface rust depending on the grade of stainless. I have JBAs but there's better PPH/Mopar or GSM. Dyno data is at the GSM site. JBAs made the least power. Stainless JBAs will surface rust. I know someone who had ceramic coated JBA and the coating flaked off. The back primaries on the JBAs make changing the 4-5, 7-8 plugs a PITA. I got the JBAs right after I got the truck based on their Mustang header quality and they're good but there's better now.

Painted is the lowest end and is the least durable.

 

[Neil]

There are only two brands of headers that offer a longer tube I.e. where the primary length to the collector is longer than stock. Again those are the previously mentioned GS and Mopar headers. All the other headers out there are designed to mate to the stock Y-pipe location. You can get Mopar headers through Sam at http://www.socalDakota.com/performance_mopar_DakotaDurangoram_engine_headers.html