Swaintech coated SW headers/exhaust

[DirtNasty]

So i got my headers/exhaust back from swaintech this last week and it looks amazing.

I sent them the "first box" that contained the headers, x pipe, some pipes for coating. (yes i know over kill, but i was busy, lazy and figured id get as much heat as i could past the tranny as i want to put on full skid plates)

Initially i thought that they (swaintech) would have their work cut out for them given the tolerances between the runners on the headers and the collector, i was expecting to see blobs or other signs of "its to close of tolerances to get a solid bond" but much to my surprise the pictures below tell a different story. This coating is really nice and thick, and as all my research proved out it has a nice sand paper texture to it. All i need to do now is get it spray with some black VHT and get it all installed.

I am also now seriously debating sending the other box of exhaust piping to them for coating as well as i am no also the owner of 4 sheets of UHMW-PE to use for covering up some aluminum skid plates (as well as make some mud flaps, W00T!). So it is not as pointless as it normally would be I suppose...

Kudos to them for also assembling the entire exhaust and making sure not to coat the portions that are used in the slip joints. (they also did a good job of grinding off the over spray on the mating surface for the exhaust ports) Based on that grinding i can tell that this stuff does not come off easily, my only gripe is i wish it came in black.


some pics (i didnt unpack it all):

 

[iHaveGas]

Fantastic pictures! Where are they?

 

[DirtNasty]

Fantastic pictures! Where are they?

Damn work called in the middle of adding them, then i hit the refresh button nuking my previous efforts.. they are incoming.

 

[ray101381]

is that the white lightening? either way they look great and now you have me seriously rethinking whether to supercharge or not

 

[WarSurfer]

stop being a *** and get them installed already

 

[DirtNasty]

is that the white lightening? either way they look great and now you have me seriously rethinking whether to supercharge or not

You should do both! (no really you should, that would be awesome)

Yes it is their white lightening coating, im pretty happy with the outcome and now pondering sending the second box of exhaust parts to get coated as well, i suppose i need to get under the truck and see how far past the tranny the existing coated pipes get me. Actually the best bet is to get the damn skid plates ordered and see how hot/warm they get with the stock exhaust and see if i even have an issue at all if i was to put the skids+UHMW sheets on.

And yes warsurfer, it will eventually get put on the truck. At least that is the intention

 

[ray101381]

You should do both! (no really you should, that would be awesome)

Yes it is their white lightening coating, im pretty happy with the outcome and now pondering sending the second box of exhaust parts to get coated as well, i suppose i need to get under the truck and see how far past the tranny the existing coated pipes get me. Actually the best bet is to get the damn skid plates ordered and see how hot/warm they get with the stock exhaust and see if i even have an issue at all if i was to put the skids+UHMW sheets on.

And yes warsurfer, it will eventually get put on the truck. At least that is the intention

really have you gotten anything installed yet? i'm at least getting my parts pile loaded in the truck tonight and dropping the truck off on friday(UCA's, FOX RPG 3.0's, Tie rods, Spindle Gussets, RPG stage 3, ford racing valve covers, icon skids) kinda wish i had ordered headers and had them put them on too. oh well next time. i'm thinking cost to benefit ratio, SC with install and tune is about 10k, headers would be about 3k for swaintech coated headers and exhaust and shipping, plus install at about 1k, plus tune and intake another 800 so about 4800 total, so for 5k i'm getting about 30-40 whp. can't decide what to do?!!?

 

[DirtNasty]

Yeah that is a tough call (headers vs SC), I would prob go cautious and get the headers/exhaust/reflash route and then if i wanted more drop a whipple into the mix as a finisher.

And yes, i know i have a pile of stuff to install in the garage. Maybe when work slows down ill be able to schedule time to have some/all of it put on. MAYBE!

 

[Big Brother]

Looks good. What are the claimed benefits of the coating? Is it coated on the inside like a ceramic coating?

 

[DirtNasty]

Looks good. What are the claimed benefits of the coating? Is it coated on the inside like a ceramic coating?

It is not coated on inside, all my reading/research show no real gains from doing the insides of the pipes. For the level of effort/expense to do that right it is almost impossible to get a solid spray on the inside of most pipes (with curves, etc).

That being said the coating reduces the underhood temps, which means i should be sucking in air that is a bit cooler and make a few extra HP. It should also afford me slightly better longevity for various underhood components. Really it comes down to dropping underhood temps for me, and getting better heat scavenging for the headers/exhaust. Only good things come from lowering underhood temps 20-60 degrees. Which reminds me i need to buy some sensors to log that drop in temps.

You can read swaintechs propaganda at the below link
White Lightning Exhaust Coatings | Swain Tech Coatings | Industrial Coatings | High Performance Racing Coatings