Ceramic Coated Headers?

[msbaugh]

Hey y'all... It's about a month away from duck season here and I'm trying to get my 93 jeep ready for the year.  It turns out I've got a cracked exhaust manifold (a common problem with the straight 6) so I've ordered a new generic set up to get me by.  The jeep gets abused a lot and spends a ton of time in the salt water marshes.  Here's my question, the headers are stainless steel (not sure what kind), and I'm thinking about finding a place to ceramic coat them.  Is this worth the trouble honestly?

Also If I decided to save money I could try painting some rustoleum high temp instead, which is rated up to 1,000 degrees I believe.  What's the best bet? Thanks a lot!

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I once priced new ceramic coated headers vs. sending my old ones to Jethot to get coated. There wasn't a big difference in price., so I bought new.

Ceramic keeps the heat down. I definitely enjoy that fact. I really can't help with a paint recommendation if you go that way.

[72cudamaan]

If they're stainless, why do you want to coat them with anything?
Can't imagine that heat is an issue. 

[msbaugh]

Well the main issue is rust, but heat also.  The manifold is a big (1 piece) straight 6 unit, so there isn't much room for expanding or contracting under extreme change of temperature.  This is what causes cracking in the first place.
When we're overworking it and it's extremely hot, often cold water will splash up, hit the headers, and change the temp drastically.  This could contribute to cracking too couldn't it? I was thinking that maybe a ceramic coating could keep temp. down and help keep the cracking from happening again...

but then again that's just my way of thinking

[Rare_T_A]

I have had stainless headders on my ram for 5 years. There is not 1 speck of rust on them. The one thing they did do is get dark from the heat but they have never rusted. I don't think I'd coat them if I were you. Just my .02

[Rare_T_A]

I forgot to add the coated headers I put on my Roadrunner started to rust after 3 years. That car didn't get driven near as much as my ram.

[72cudamaan]

I guess  I should have said it this way. They are stainless, stainless can't rust.
As far as water splashing on the header, I don't think the coating will
make enough of a difference in protection to justify the cost.

[torredcuda]

GOOD QUALITY stainless doesn`t rust,cheap lesser grade stainless can rust as there is a % of carbon and iron  in stainless.

[torredcuda]

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/metalsandalloys/a/aa071201a.htm

['Cuda Hunter]

I use jeeps.
The exhaust manifold definitely likes to rust.  Even up here in the high rocky mountains.
I have had to replace several of these manifolds due to beating the crap out of them in the mountains.
There is one manifold that I have yet to break.  It has several relief bends in a few of the tubes.
So far that one manifold has lasted around 60K and I literally beat the crap out of the jeep.
Believe I got them from Checker auto.  They were Chinese made. 
Don't know about ceramic coating.

Hope that helps a little.