WTB Racing Beat Header 94-97

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OZMDD

If TDR is taking the position that header wrap will damage a good header on a street/track Miata when properly installed, I'm gonna ask for more facts than what has been posted so far. If you're just saying you don't like header wrap, that's an opinion you're entitled to.

---

I'll take option #2. I am not speaking for anyone but myself. Please don't take anything I say as "it's coming from TDR" unless it is on a TDR website or account. That would be like me saying all your beliefs and everything you say are that of the school district in which you work. I give advice, like anyone else, based off my experiences and knowledge. I will be the first to tell you I don't know everything about Miatas but I do know a lot. Very few things in this world are black and white beside penguins and pandas. No one claim suits every application as you stated with the apples and watermelons comment. Still, the fact that there is controversy should give anyone pause to consider header wrap as a solution. In comparison, ceramic coating and even the TDR heat shield have nothing but positive comments from everything I've heard. If people understand and accept the risks of using header wrap well then bully to them.

BTW, I am also not trying to push product on here. I get no commission. If I suggest something to anyone, it's because I believe it may help them. No ulterior motives on anything I tell people regarding their Miatas or anything else.

Just wanted to clarify that.

Fair enough. :)

Header wrap almost killed me.

I used to have an experimental airplane (a Velocity). This airplane was a canard design with a pusher propeller and updraft cooling of the air cooled engine, which meant the cooling air went past the exhaust header prior to going through the cylinder fins. Wanting to increase the efficiency of the air cooling, I put header wrap on the headers.

Aircraft was hangered in Houston (pretty high humidity). About 6 months later, I was cruising along at about 1500 feet on a beautiful morning. It was smooth. Aircraft was running great and flying fast. One of those really nice moments.

All of a sudden . . . BANG! followed by a huge vibration. I looked around for a field and all I could see were pine trees (that's the crop in Houston). I got really lucky and barely deadsticked into 6R3 (Cleveland, TX). What had happened is that a section of the exhaust had corroded/cracked, broken off and gone through the propeller, taking about half of one of the propeller blades with it. Thank goodness it was a wooden propeller so it didn't have the inertia of a metal propeller. That would have ripped the engine off the plane.

I made a number of changes after that:
1. Put on new headers and had them ceramic coated.
2. In single-engine aircraft, I always fly much higher. In fact, I created a glide-range depiction display which is patented and sold commercially.
3. Eventually, I sold the Velocity. I avoid aircraft with pusher propellers and tend to avoid single-engine aircraft too (fly a Baron most of the time now).
4. I always grab hold of the exhaust pipe (after checking for heat) and give it a good shake on preflight.
5. I've never, ever used header wrap on anything I own again. Fool me once . . . .

And that's all I have to say about that.

Just curious, how long was the wrap on the plane's header?

Not very long. Aircraft headers tend to be short and simple. Kind of like this:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...cityehaust.php

Mild steel?

The one that broke was mild steel. The replacement that I had ceramic coated was a stainless, but I can't remember the composition. This happened about 15 years ago. I was younger then and thought I was smart. Now I'm older and know I'm dumb.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hornetball

Header wrap almost killed me.

---

That's all the reason I need. ::Bleh::

Use header wrap and you will DIE!!!!! ::Drive2::

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hornetball

The one that broke was mild steel.

---

So you used silicone spray before applying the wrap and on the wrap as it says is required especially for mild steel to prevent accelerated corrosion?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by black roadster

That's all the reason I need. ::Bleh::

Use header wrap and you will DIE!!!!! ::Drive2::

---

Great logic... Like saying "I almost died when I didn't torque my wheels and the wheels fell off... So if you use lug nuts you will die"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slowchildmiata

Great logic... Like saying "I almost died when I didn't torque my wheels and the wheels fell off... So if you use lug nuts you will die"

---

No if you use wheels you will die. Nader logic....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hornetball

Header wrap almost killed me.

I used to have an experimental airplane (a Velocity). This airplane was a canard design with a pusher propeller and updraft cooling of the air cooled engine, which meant the cooling air went past the exhaust header prior to going through the cylinder fins. Wanting to increase the efficiency of the air cooling, I put header wrap on the headers.

---

For those that don't know this is a Velocity
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/velwrgcf.jpg


Experimental Type Cert.
A special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category is issued to operate an aircraft that does not have a type certificate or does not conform to its type certificate and is in a condition for safe operation. Additionally, this certificate is issued to operate a primary category kit-built aircraft that was assembled without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder.

I have seen some scary shit done to homebuilts, that would never be signed off on a standard type cert.