I need some opinions or more expert advice here. I'm considering getting my headers wrapped while the car is being tuned in order to get a good tune going. I know what the benefits are as far as reducing underhood temperatures (aided significantly by the hood vents I have installed), but its some of the disadvantages that concern me.

I've read that with some headers, wrapping them and driving them in the winter is a bad idea. The concept is that if they get wet, salt gets underneath, and starts corroding the headers from underneath the wrap, potentially creating exhaust leaks.

The headers I'm using are SpeedDaddy headers, which are SLP knockoffs, and are stainless. They appear to be built very well.

Any thoughts on this?

Not sure if you'll really want to wrap those headers. It'* a PIA when they are off the car and probably nearly impossible to do a really good job of it while they are on. You would probably get the benefit from a headtshield under the TB and a well insulated air intake plenum

The headers are off the car right now, so if I wanted to do it, now would be the time to do so.

Any thoughts on the salt/rust issue?

IMO, don't wrap them. I think it looks bad. Also, they will start rusting at the welds.

Any bad chrome areas and or welds will start to rust. IMO would not.

Agreed, I never understood why people like the look of wrapped headers, I like to show them off haha.

I wouldn't wrap them if I were you, I doubt there would be much of a noticeable difference, and like Dan said, it looks kinda bad.

I disagree with everyone. I never have a problem with getting them wet or dirty. Now I know your headers will drop down a lot more than my logs do. I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Getting salt trapped inside and having them start to corrode is a very large disadvantage if it is indeed true. There'* also the ~$75 disadvantage. They don't have to get soaking wet, just damp from moisture enough to where the dusty salt that'* on the outside starts to seep through.

IMO

leave em unwrapped and show em off...theres nothing better than a nice clean shiney engine bay..and header wrap takes away from that

also i do have to agree with Kevin..if anything look into getting a heat sheild to go in between your TB and the header

and look into a well insulated intake..the last thing you wanna be doing is sucking HOT air into a modded motor LOL

the other thing i have against wrapping is i dont see how that would help you, yes it would keep the engine bay temps down..but you said you already have hood vents..therefor the vents kinda neutral out the added heat of the headers..

in short..if it were me..let the engine shine..and function..and header wrap is not something you want on a FWD car..let those nice headers shine..i know the ones your talking about..now i could see maybe if you wanted to wrap some cheap PLOG'* but your talking about wrapping expensive stainless steel headers that arent meant to be wrapped

another school of thought: the wrap TRAPS moisture that gets drawn to the headers when they are cooling and causes them to rust.

not sure if it applies to stainless as much(especially this specific grade(since e don't know what it is?), some stainless is truely stainless and will never rust, others are better desribed as rust resistant), but for regular steel, that'* a major issue.