Because you can get shorties that are CARB certified. Remember that when you are dealing with Kali Smog *****, the PART must be CARB certified. If you cannot find long tubes that have been issued an E.O. number by CARB, then they will not pass the visual part of the inspection.

 

are there any longtubes that are carb legal? would it be a big deal if i didnt have carb legal headers?how often do they check

 

Long tubes are the way to go. And no, they aren't going to melt stuff. Unless maybe you run it really hard when it's really lean. Then they will glow red and melt everything.

Never wrap them.

If you get the wrap wet, and kill it before it dries (and it does happen, the wrap is cool enough on the outside not to burn off the water when cold), you will rot rust holes in your headers.

But, the ultimate reason never to wrap headers is simply this....

If you ever have a valve cover leak, with exposed headers, you will smoke like a train. But if they are wrapped, the oil will soak the wrap, get in it really good, and catch on fire, burning your pretty truck to the ground. I saw this happen with a Mustang once. He was running next to me and we saw a nice yellow glow under the car. I screamed at him to kill it. He popped the hood (like an idiot) and the driver's side header was on fire. Within about 10 minutes, his 93 Cobra was a smoldering pile. All that from a silly valve cover leak! Ain't that a b!tch!?

Ceramic, ceramic, ceramic!

If you have to wrap, it had better be a turbo car and it had better be on a trailer!

And if you do ever wrap, take those clamps that come with the wrap and throw it straight in the trash. Those cut-to-fit clamps are razor sharp when installed. Whenever you are working around the headers, you WILL be cut to the bone, I PROMISE. Yes, I have the scars to prove it. Just use regular hose clamps. Your hands will thank you.