[s-cars] 50k mile mild steel header update

[SigDesign at aol.com]

Dave,
 
Is that one of the RS Tuning manifolds from our group buy, or something  else?
 
Mark
 
 
In a message dated 6/27/2006 12:17:20 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
djdawson2 at aol.com writes:

As a  point of reference, I figured I'd post an update on the life of a mild 
steel  header.

At this point, the header has lasted past the 50k mile mark...  after 1 year 
and 7 months of service.  So far, I couldn't be happier, as  it has worked 
like a champ without fail.  The Swain coating has peeled  significantly, and 
started within 6 months of its installation.  The  header has been through drag 
strip use, as well as an abnormal amount of high  speed / high load use, as I 
have been working in the "wild" west the vast  majority of the time that this 
engine has been in my car.  I'm currently  working in Montana, so the 
opportunity for fast mountain driving is ever  present.  On many occasions, this header 
has been glowing red from the  cylinder head to about 8 inches down the 
downpipe.  The header was  installed with no external support bracketry.  One really 
nice feature...  I've never had to tighten a loosened stud to the head... and 
never had a leak  between the flange and the head.

Sadly, however, there will be no  further mileage reports on this header... 
if anyone cared.  Recently,  with 4 people in the car, I went over an 
abnormally large speed-bump that  resulted in a substantial blow to the downpipe.  The 
result was that the  downpipe was bent into the side of the trans, and the 
header was cracked at  the flange where the turbo mounts.  So, it will require 
repair.  I  was hoping to see how long it would last, but unfortunately, the 
test has come  to an end due to the speed-bump.  The good news... the header is 
very  easy to remove, and will be simple to repair.

Anyway... my .02 says a  mild steel header on a street car works pretty darn 
good...  FWIW.

Dave