Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

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bhm1712
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Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by bhm1712 » Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:54 pm

To cut a long story short the infamous ground clearance issues with long tubes have bitten me in the bum - bottomed out the drivers side header after a pot hole filled up with mud gave way under my wheels. It's ripped the wrap along the collector tube and so it's only a matter of time before it all loosens up and slips off.

I'm not removing the header to replace the wrap. Would you try and repair the damage by cutting back until the damaged section is removed and then covering over with a new piece and trying to secure it on the car or would it be best to just ditch the whole lot ?

To me a repair is the best bet but I also think it's unlikely to hold it all together.
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SUPERCHARGEDGTA

Re: Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by SUPERCHARGEDGTA » Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:16 pm

make sure you get a securing strap/tie round the good section before undoing the damaged wrap or it will all undo
then should be easy to re wrap (I did my Y pipe in more than one bit)

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Re: Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by Retro » Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:18 am

What's is the wrap made of ??)
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bhm1712
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Re: Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by bhm1712 » Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:30 am

Retro wrote:What's is the wrap made of ??)

fibreglass weave. Its quite robust but it stands no chance against tarmac/stones when being dragged across it. The damage was done when i had to slowly drive my car out of the pot hole.
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Retro
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Re: Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by Retro » Sat Apr 19, 2014 12:38 pm

I don't know much about this. But wouldn't ceramic or a metal heat shield be better? Its just the thought of oil at any point spraying onto the wrap and then igniting :-o. It would be almost impossible to put out ??)
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bhm1712
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Re: Header wrap - rescue or ditch?

Post by bhm1712 » Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:20 pm

It's possible but unlikely. Have you ever tried to light motor oil? It's doesn't ignite easily even when a blow torch is aimed directly on it!!

There is no room for a heat shield with headers. You can get ceramic coated headers but they still give off a lot of heat.
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