ceramic coated headers

[piantm]

Just finishing the final touches on a stroker build of my 340. I've got brand new cermaic coated TTI headers. The installation instructions mentioned not to run the headers on a new rebuild for first 500miles. Anyone know what this is about? What will happen if I do run the headers on a fresh rebuild?

 

[moparleo]

The reason they say that is if you don't have your fuel, timing adjusted properly, it could run lean and damage the coating due to overheating them. Also a fresh engine will generate a lot of frictional heat during brake in of cam and piston rings. Now if our engine was broke in and tuned on a dyno before install, you can disregard the warning. Better safe that sorry damaging the coating on your $700. plus headers. Just install the stock manifolds until you get her running smooth, than install your headers and enjoy.

 

[Bill]

A friend of mine said that he had a rebuilt motor that he did not have tuned up when he first started it and he said the headers got cherry red hot.

 

[moparleo]

Exactly.

 

[piantm]

Thanks for the info. How long to you do suggest I run the stock manifolds? Initial startup and tune, or xx miles? I don't have any exhaust now, so if I've got to run something else for a while, I'll have to deal with two different exhaust systems.

 

[moparleo]

Did you buy a complete TTI exhaust system ? If so, you only need to run pipes from the manifolds to the exhaust behind the collectors. This should be fairly cheap. It is only the headers that we are concerned with.

 

[piantm]

No exhaust purchased yet. Was thinking about the TTI system vs custom fab'd. Does the TTI system bolt up well. Any mods need to made?

 

[moparleo]

I purchased a complete kit, heads to rear bumpers and it was a simple bolt in. Unless you have modified your suspension, They are exact fit. They have the reputation of being the highest quality, best fitting exhaust available for any Mopar.

 

[piantm]

Thanks. I checked TTI's website, they've got the head pipes for the factory manifolds available. So my swap from factory exh over to the headers can be a bolt up. New question, H pipe or X pipe?

 

[moparleo]

X pipe for better flow.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

If you do what I do as soon as the engine fires up start tuning , once you have it up to 2000 rpm to break in the cam you can advance the timing until it start to pop out of the exhaust & back it off a little so it advanced enough then immediatly start tweaking the mixture screw to make sure it is not running lean , this way you won't hurt the headers
make sure you use a high Zinc oil for the break in if you have a flat tappet cam .