problem with heat wrap in impreza headers

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:03 am

I fitted my gt-spec headers the other week, and wraped them in some good quailty heat wrap,and used stainless steel locking wire to hold it all in place.

the problem is, after a week the wrap is riping in a few places, and i do not think it will last long as it is starting to come off in a few places all ready.

is all most looks like the pipes expand to much for the wrap, and this causes it to tare.

i wraped each tube on its own, as far as i could.

so is there a problem with my wraping, or the wrap its self?

what wap do you use?

would like to sort it asap as getting car mapped very soon

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:57 am

Are the headers hitting the subframe causing it to cut? The offside edge of the subframe needs to be bent or cut clear of the headers.

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:41 am

no, nothing touching them, some of the tairs are from between the pipes, one up near where it joins onto the flange onto the block

when the engine is cold, you can move the wrap abit with your hand now, and when hot, it is very tight

stockcar · Post by **stockcar** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:17 am

did you put it on wet, and what make of wrap is it??

never had any issues...........

Dunc. the knocking/touching issue is only with new-age cars...........

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:03 am

no needed to wet it, from what i was told
this is the stuff
http://thermallogic.co.uk/page6.html

the xtreme stuff as used bt Zen, RCM

have used it on my down pipe, and that has been fine.

the compainy has sent me another roll free, but i dont want to fit it and it ends up doing the same thing, as it is alot of work removing and re fitting the headers

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:49 am

There seems to be two types of wrap. The shiney stuff in your link and a coarser dull finish from Rally(?), can't remember the full name atm. The dull stuff is the one to wet, the shiney one, definitely don't wet it as it loses it's shape and becomes a mess.

I found the shiney type didn't last very long at all and would soon split and shred. It seemed to not like being wetted by rain, etc. and maybe the salt gets to it?

The duller stuff is thicker and more dense and more difficult to fit. I found stainless jubilee clips best for fitting. Theyy cost a lot more but so much easier to work with than locking wire that soon breaks.

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:58 am

i have got the darker stuff, the xtreme.

how does this compair to the dei stuff?

i just dont want it to happen again, as it is alot of work

will try and get some pics today

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:12 am

Didn't notice there are two types on the link page. The darker one looks the better of the two.

The stuff I'm thinking about would be very difficult to put on tight without wetting first.

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:15 am

this stuff dry, is like a bandage very easy to work with

Ian (DaOne) · Post by **Ian (DaOne)** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:23 am

here are some pics of the wrap, even now, you can dig your finger nail into it, and not much more to rip it.
hope pics are ok, as taken on phone