[ace996]

Any thoughts of heat-wrapping the stock manifold? I believe that underhood temps would be slightly cooler. I'm familiar with the arguement that wrap will destroy the manifold in due time, but that would be a reason to go headers when that time comes. In the mean time, I think it'd be a cheap way to lower temps and possibly increase exhaust velocity, no?

-ace

 

[04CTSVFLA]

why would it destroy the headers?

 

[ace996]

Sometimes the manifolds can't take the high heat that's retained, that and the ability of the wrap to absorb moisture can lead to cracking. I don't think it would be a big deal, as the stock manifold is pretty beefy...usually you hear the failure stories from stainless headers, but since nobody's done it..we don't really know.

 

[04CTSVFLA]

anyone got any info on this? this may significantly decrease heat (IMO a issue in the V's) in the engine compartment.

 

[Guest]

Moisture Can Screw It Up

 

[04CTSVFLA]

But with all that heat......where would moisture come from....and if it did come it would be a small amount - small enough so the heat would evaporate it...NO?

 

[Guest]

You Get The Moisture From When It Starts To Cool. A Condensation Effect. Just Like Starting Your Car Then Turning It Off. Same Idea. After Time Rust. Game Over. Lol

 

[trukk]

Marty (lasstss) had his stock manifolds extrude honed, and jethot coated. I couldn't find his original post (search doesn't seem to be working right?) Here is link where I went into some detail about it dicussing going with Stock Manifold + RT Cats vs. Headers:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=438759&postcount=11

I still need to meet up with him to check it out.

-Chris

AHHAAA! Found it:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=403491&postcount=6

 

[willsctsv]

I have the B&B headers and there wrapped with Thermo-Tec Ace.
No problems, just fried 2 cats, but others fried the cats without the wrap so I think it was not related. NO more cats now, no problems..
Under hood temps are cooler, and the heat comes out with the exhaust.
Wrapping the manifolds, probably a waste of $$ and time.. IMO!

 

[Luna.]

I have no experience whatsoever when it comes to the CTS-V, but I wrapped the headers on my 1970 Z28 Camaro and I can tell you that the underhood temperatures were significantly decreased.

While many may argue there was some performance benefit (maybe, but I sure as heck couldn't feel any), the decrease in the underhood temperatures was very big. What was once extremely hot to the touch now became completely tolerable, if not cool.

Personally, I was impressed to hell from that perspective.

How well this works on the V I offer no assurance, but I suppose I find it hard to beleive that the underhood temps wouldn't decrease by a noticeable amount.

 

[ace996]

That's the real benefit...cooler temps. And again, after a few years when the moisture eats the manifolds...which are very beefy, it may take decades...long-tube headers would replace them and I wouldn't feel bad about it.

The current heat-wrap offerings have a coating spray...a high temp silicone(I think) that should keep the cooling condensation to a minimum. Really, I don't fear the moisture thing. And doing the Extrude hone on the stock headers may be the best "stealthy" mod I've heard. Can't imagine the dealership would ever find out...
-ace

 

[Peet]

On the topic of heat, there is a big discussion on this in the Infinit forums... seems that those pretty (or in the V's case not that pretty) plastic covers act as a giant cup holding heat underneath. Not that big of a deal except that this is where the intake plenums live. In essence these plastic covers act like little ovens and heat up the intakes. Anyone care to do some dyno with cover and normal engine temp and no cover? I'm guessing it's good for around 5 hp.

Not a bad freebie.

 

[trukk]

On the topic of heat, there is a big discussion on this in the Infinit forums... seems that those pretty (or in the V's case not that pretty) plastic covers act as a giant cup holding heat underneath. Not that big of a deal except that this is where the intake plenums live. In essence these plastic covers act like little ovens and heat up the intakes. Anyone care to do some dyno with cover and normal engine temp and no cover? I'm guessing it's good for around 5 hp.
Not a bad freebie.

I took that big Fugly 'soap box' off in the first week or so of ownership. I can't say I noticed a difference in performance (but I wasn't really pushing it before, as I was still in break in). The engine certainly sounds better, you can hear it a lot more. No ill effects to the coil packs or anything as of yet, with it off. I must say though that the LS6 aint too purty with nothing on top. Those valve covers look like that came from Costco.

-Chris

 

[ace996]

I've replaced my engine cover with the StealthV Z06 covers...first mod I did...actually had them before I picked-up the car.

 

[BadCad]

I've read that some manufacturers will void their warranties if wraps are used on the headers or manifolds; too much heat retention I guess. You better check with the individual manufacturer(s).