You’ve probably seen the Fast and Furious and thought, “Dang, those cars are sweet!” But not all parts are created equal. Start by identifying your goals and expectations. Also, think about the long run. You might save a few bucks now by going with a new muffler, but if you pay a little more you can add a full exhaust and really see results.

I suggest you start by making a list of a few parts you are considering. Then research which ones work best for your vehicle and which order you would like to add them. Lastly, it is worth it to shop around online. Spending half an hour online comparing a few shops can save you a few hundred bucks.

This article will bring you up to speed on exhaust headers.

1. How much power can you get from exhaust headers?

No two vehicles are exactly alike, so it is impossible to assign specific numbers of horsepower or torque. In general, a set of performance exhaust headers will unlock around an extra 5-25 horsepower along with a noticeable boost in rear-wheel torque.

2. Will performance exhaust headers discolor?

Performance exhaust headers absorb some of the most punishing abuse of any part on your vehicle. They are constantly being cooked at temperatures of around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and time will eventually take its toll on any finish. Performance exhaust headers with ceramic coating are the most resilient and will retain their finish the longest. Stainless steel is also incredibly durable, but it will start to tinge slightly after a while. Nickel-chrome will also change color, especially if used for racing or towing. High-temperature paint usually stays the same, but it can be chipped.

However, discoloration does not affect the performance of your exhaust headers. They still work just the same on the inside no matter how they look on the outside. It just depends on your level of OCD.

3. Are performance exhaust headers street legal?

It depends on which performance exhaust headers you get and which state you live in. Most of the headers are 50-state street legal, which means that they don’t interfere with pollution-controls on your vehicle. Some headers are designed for off-road or racing vehicles that are exempt from smog certification, so they are not street-legal. Then again, some states have more relaxed pollution controls than others, so a set of off-road headers in California might be street-legal in Montana. If your state requires that you pass a smog test, get a set of headers that are 50-state street legal. If not, then they sky’s the limit. Either way, check with your local DMV.

4. Will performance exhaust headers void my vehicle’s warranty?

It depends. Vehicle manufacturers cannot refuse to perform repairs just because you have installed performance parts. However, if they can prove that the part itself contributed to the problem, or if your warranty expressly prohibits performance upgrades, then they can refuse to honor the warranty. Always take the time to read your warranty before installing any aftermarket parts.

5. Which performance exhaust headers have the most thermal protection?

Hands down, ceramic coatings have the greatest resistance to heat damage. Besides protecting the headers from burning out and discoloring, the ceramic coating insulates the header’s piping. This keeps the temperatures in your engine compartment down, which improves your overall efficiency.

6. Are performance exhaust headers difficult to install?

Bolting on a set of performance exhaust headers may seem like a daunting task, but it is a fairly straightforward installation. As long as you have the right tools, a sturdy floor jack, and some experience under the hood, you should have no problems. Of course, having a buddy around to lend a hand always helps. If you are concerned about installing your performance exhaust headers on your own, most garages and muffler shops can do the work for you.

7. Which performance exhaust headers are right for my vehicle?

Most online automotive stores have a vehicle selector, where they will display parts that specifically fit your vehicle. All you have to do is enter your vehicle information. Still have questions? Don’t be lazy! Pick up the phone and ask a professional about performance exhaust headers, cat back exhaust systems or any other parts for your vehicle.

• Ceramic coating by “HPC”
• Increases laminar airflow through the entire exhaust
• Low emissivity value of 21, reflects nearly 80 percent of heat energy
• Limited lifetime warranty against subsurface corrosion
• Exhaust components cool down quicker

Product Description
The New Rapid Flow High Performance Ceramic Exhaust Kits from Bully Dog Technologies uses a coating rather than stainless steel. This exhaust maintains its appearance, performance and longevity over any other exhaust system. All Ceramic exhausts are made with a 6 inch radius bend to provide maximum air flow and come with a ceramic coated tip…. More >>

Bully Dog 83200 4″ Ceramic Coated Turbo Back Single Exhaust Kit wit Tip

• Ceramic coating by “HPC”
• Increases laminar airflow through the entire exhaust
• Low emissivity value of 21, reflects nearly 80 percent of heat energy
• Limited lifetime warranty against subsurface corrosion
• Exhaust components cool down quicker

Product Description
The New Rapid Flow High Performance Ceramic Exhaust Kits from Bully Dog Technologies uses a coating rather than stainless steel. This exhaust maintains its appearance, performance and longevity over any other exhaust system. All Ceramic exhausts are made with a 6 inch radius bend to provide maximum air flow and come with a ceramic coated tip…. More >>

Bully Dog 81210 5″ Ceramic Coated Diesel Particulate Filter Back Single Exhaust Kit with Tip

• Ceramic coating by “HPC”
• Increases laminar airflow through the entire exhaust
• Low emissivity value of 21, reflects nearly 80 percent of heat energy
• Limited lifetime warranty against subsurface corrosion
• Exhaust components cool down quicker

Product Description
The New Rapid Flow High Performance Ceramic Exhaust Kits from Bully Dog Technologies uses a coating rather than stainless steel. This exhaust maintains its appearance, performance and longevity over any other exhaust system. All Ceramic exhausts are made with a 6 inch radius bend to provide maximum air flow and come with a ceramic coated tip…. More >>

Bully Dog 81201 4″ Ceramic Coated Turbo Back Single Exhaust Kit wit Tip

• Ceramic coating by “HPC”
• Increases laminar airflow through the entire exhaust
• Low emissivity value of 21, reflects nearly 80 percent of heat energy
• Limited lifetime warranty against subsurface corrosion
• Exhaust components cool down quicker

Product Description
The New Rapid Flow High Performance Ceramic Exhaust Kits from Bully Dog Technologies uses a coating rather than stainless steel. This exhaust maintains its appearance, performance and longevity over any other exhaust system. All Ceramic exhausts are made with a 6 inch radius bend to provide maximum air flow and come with a ceramic coated tip…. More >>

Bully Dog 81203 4″ Ceramic Coated Turbo Back Single Exhaust Kit wit Tip

• Ceramic coating by “HPC”
• Increases laminar airflow through the entire exhaust
• Low emissivity value of 21, reflects nearly 80 percent of heat energy
• Limited lifetime warranty against subsurface corrosion
• Exhaust components cool down quicker

Product Description
The New Rapid Flow High Performance Ceramic Exhaust Kits from Bully Dog Technologies uses a coating rather than stainless steel. This exhaust maintains its appearance, performance and longevity over any other exhaust system. All Ceramic exhausts are made with a 6 inch radius bend to provide maximum air flow and come with a ceramic coated tip…. More >>

Bully Dog 81202 4″ Ceramic Coated Turbo Back Single Exhaust Kit wit Tip

• Ceramic Coated: Bully Dog ceramic coated exhaust tips are the perfect compliment for your diesel truck. They offer a polished finish that will not corrode or discolor under extreme heat.
• Stainless Steel: Bully Dog Stainless Steel tips are fully polished for a mirror finish that looks great. Stainless steel is rust and corrosion resistant for durability and long life.
• 4″, 5″, & 6″ Sizes: Bully Dog offers several sizes of tips to fit just about any application.
• Rolled Edge & Turn Down Styles: Bully Dog Turn down tips are designed to direct exhaust fumes away from trailers and other towed items. Their standard exhaust tips feature a rolled edge that offers an elegant, finished look.
• Lifetime Warranty: All Bully Dog Exhaust Tips are backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

Product Description
Bully Dog offers a complete line of exhaust tips for your diesel truck. Dress up your existing exhaust system or personalize your Bully Dog exhaust with one of these tips. Choose from stainless steel that is fully polished and will never rust or the all new ceramic coated tips. Bully Dog ceramic coated exhaust tips offer all the same great corrosion resistance as stainless steel tips, but will not discolor with excessive heat making them ideal for late model truc… More >>

Bully Dog Stainless Steel Exhaust Tip 5″ Inlet to 5″ w/ Rolled End Polished Ceramic Coat

There is a long list of materials which are commonly used in roof construction; it includes metals, plastics, rubbers, fibers, glass, wood, rocks, ceramics etc. But building just a roof is not enough, its proper finishing and maintenance is something which is of foremost importance. That is why; it’s the need of time that the roofing contractors must also be familiar with the concept of roof coatings.

Roof coating is a monolithic and fully adhered fluid applied over the roofs. If applied properly, it helps to extend the life of the roof, ultimately saving the cost of re roofing. It has many outstanding features which makes it an important component of roof construction and finishing. When applied over the roof, it acts as a top layer over the underlying roofing system. Its high elasticity allows it to expand and contract back to its original position. But being the top most layer asks for tolerating a lot of environmental effects like UV and infrared, temperature extremities like rain, hail and the physical damage caused due to these factors. Therefore the roof coatings are specially manufactured keeping in view all these factors so that maximal protection is delivered to the roof from these roof weakening causes.

There are many benefits that roof coatings deliver. The most important benefit is the roof leaks repair feature. If the roof is leaking but not deteriorated to the extent of replacement, then the roofing cost is significantly reduced by use of roof coatings. Also some roof coatings are reflective in nature. They reflect heat and extensively reduce the summertime cooling costs. The elasticity feature does not introduce cracking on temperature extremities. Coatings also can serve cosmetic purposes. In some cases such as beneath a highway overpass, or next to high-rise structures where roofs are quite visible, coatings serve the purpose of improving roof aesthetics.

There are many types of roof coatings available in the market. Some of them include polymer-modified acrylic elastomers and polyureas, asphalt cutbacks and emulsions, silicones, SPF and high-performance urethanes. Also if broadly categorized, white roof coatings, tinted roof coatings, elastomeric, aluminum and metal roof coatings are some of the most commonly employed roof coatings. All these differ in their features and the roof coating should be chosen very carefully keeping in view your requirements for the coating and the roof surface on which the coating is to be applied.

White roof coatings are made opaque and reflective by adding transparent polymeric materials, such as acrylic, and a white pigment, such as titantium dioxide. When tints are added to white coatings, we get the colored coatings. The tinting process greatly reduces the solar reflectance.

Elastomeric roof coatings are very versatile and can be applied on a large variety of roofs such as single-ply, metal, asphalt, polyurethane foam or concrete roofs (CSPE, EPDM, TPO, PVC). An elastomeric roof coating creates a uniform, seamless surface that remains flexible even at low temperatures. It is also elastic and reflective in nature. They can both be employed in construction phase or the maintenance phase.

The importance of roof coatings can definitely not be ignored. Consequently the awareness of different type roof coatings among the roofing contractors and the building residents is very necessary. Therefore get yourself well aware of what type of coating you need and the type of roof you have so that you are able to apply the roof coating which is best for your roof.

HVOF spraying has been developed principally to produce high-quality ceramic coatings with superior properties to conventional flame spray processes. It is a dry process that can also produce a dense metallic coating whose desired physical properties are equal to or surpass those of hard chrome plating (HCP).

How does it work?

The HVOF process typically uses oxygen and hydrogen (although other fuels can also be used) as the fuel gases to produce coatings of the highest quality.

Mixing of the gases occurs inside the gun and the externally-ignited flame reaches a temperature of about 2700ºC.

The combustion process melts a metal-containing powder that is continually fed into the gun using a carrier gas (argon) and propels it at velocities approaching 550 metres/second towards the surface of the part to be coated.

Even so, this result in a lower average particle temperature compared to plasma spray.

Despite this lower average particle temperature, high coating densities are still achieved through the impact velocity which deforms particles that may not have been well melted. Some particle heating can occur on impact which further aids in producing a dense coating.

Because the high kinetic energy of particles striking the substrate surface does not require the particles to be fully molten in order to form a high quality ceramic coating which means it can be an advantage for the carbide cermet type coatings. This is where the process really excels.

HVOF coatings are very dense, strong and show low residual tensile stress or in some cases compressive stress, which enable very much thicker coatings to be applied than previously possible with other processes.

HVOF coatings are used in applications requiring the highest density and strength not found in most other thermal spray processes.

Metal powders are available in many compositions including WC/Co, WC/Co/Cr and Ni/Cr/Fe

Precise control of all spraying parameters, powder feed rates and the use of a robot to precisely position the gun, enables high quality metallic and ceramic coatings to be repeated on a large variety of different components.

The properties of HVOF coatings depend on a number of parameters. These include the part surface preparation, composition, morphology, size distribution and feed rated of the powder. Also to be taken into consideration is the precise control of gas flows, relative torch-to-part motion, stand-off angle of deposition and part temperature.

What are the benefits of this type of coating?

High bond strength (83 MPa – 12000 p.s.i.)

High density, low porosity

Low oxide content

High hardness (DPH 500 1000 – 1300 for WC/Co)

Fine as-sprayed texture, able to be ground or lapped to a fine finish (0.1-0.2 microns)

Excellent resistance to wear by abrasion, erosion or fretting

The only waste stream produced by HVOF is from the capture of the overspray. Current users either use a water-curtain filter system or a dry, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Although a line-of-sight process, it is possible to coat bores; the extent down the bore being generally equal to the diameter of the bore.

Added part cooling may be required where small or thin plate geometry is encountered

What are the main applications?

HVOF thermal spray main applications include:

· Wear and abrasion resistance

· Reclamation of worn components

· Rotary knife blades

· Gate valves

· Pistons

· Shafts

· Domestic & chef’s kitchen knives

• Ceramic Coated: Bully Dog ceramic coated exhaust tips are the perfect compliment for your diesel truck. They offer a polished finish that will not corrode or discolor under extreme heat.
• Stainless Steel: Bully Dog Stainless Steel tips are fully polished for a mirror finish that looks great. Stainless steel is rust and corrosion resistant for durability and long life.
• 4″, 5″, & 6″ Sizes: Bully Dog offers several sizes of tips to fit just about any application.
• Rolled Edge & Turn Down Styles: Bully Dog Turn down tips are designed to direct exhaust fumes away from trailers and other towed items. Their standard exhaust tips feature a rolled edge that offers an elegant, finished look.
• Lifetime Warranty: All Bully Dog Exhaust Tips are backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

Product Description
Bully Dog offers a complete line of exhaust tips for your diesel truck. Dress up your existing exhaust system or personalize your Bully Dog exhaust with one of these tips. Choose from stainless steel that is fully polished and will never rust or the all new ceramic coated tips. Bully Dog ceramic coated exhaust tips offer all the same great corrosion resistance as stainless steel tips, but will not discolor with excessive heat making them ideal for late model truc… More >>

Bully Dog Ceramic Exhaust Tip 4″ Inlet to 5″ Polished Ceramic Coat